title: Hantavirus structure--molecular interactions behind the scene.
abstract: Viruses of the genus Hantavirus, carried and transmitted by rodents and insectivores, are the exception in the vector-borne virus family Bunyaviridae, since viruses of the other genera are transmitted via arthropods. The single-stranded, negative-sense, RNA genome of hantaviruses is trisegmented into small, medium and large (S, M and L) segments. The segments, respectively, encode three structural proteins: nucleocapsid (N) protein, two glycoproteins Gn and Gc and an RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase. The genome segments, encapsidated by the N protein to form ribonucleoproteins, are enclosed inside a lipid envelope that is decorated by spikes composed of Gn and Gc. The virion displays round or pleomorphic morphology with a diameter of roughly 120-160 nm depending on the detection method. This review focuses on the structural components of hantaviruses, their interactions, the mechanisms behind virion assembly and the interactions that maintain virion integrity. We attempt to summarize recent results on the virion structure and to suggest mechanisms on how the assembly is driven. We also compare hantaviruses to other bunyaviruses with known structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Peptide and Protein Laboratory, Infection Biology Research Program, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hepojoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Peptide and Protein Laboratory, Infection Biology Research Program, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strandin
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Peptide and Protein Laboratory, Infection Biology Research Program, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Hilkka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lankinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Peptide and Protein Laboratory, Infection Biology Research Program, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaheri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004199:Disease Vectors; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006476:Orthohantavirus / Q000502:physiology*; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D020543:Proteome / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D019065:Virus Assembly / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins