Cryo-electron tomography of Nipah virus structural protein complexes in virus-like particles.
Upadhye, V.V., Lee, J.F., Ercanli, N., Ricana, C., Hinsley, A.C., Obr, M., Autin, L., Schur, F.K.M., Aguilar, H.C., Dick, R.A.(2026) bioRxiv 
- PubMed: 42523209 Search on PubMedSearch on PubMed Central
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.16.738223
- Primary Citation Related Structures: 
9NQY - PubMed Abstract: 
Nipah virus (NiV) is a BSL-4 zoonotic paramyxovirus with ~75% human mortality. The matrix protein (M) of NiV and other paramyxoviruses binds the inner leaflet of the cellular plasma membrane, orchestrating virion assembly by bringing together transmembrane glycoproteins (F/G) and ribonucleoprotein complexes (N). However, the interactions of these full-length proteins within membrane complexes remain elusive. Using cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging of virus like particles (VLPs), we interrogated the protein:protein interactions of the main NiV structural proteins M/N/F/G. The M lattice structure determined to 7Å revealed a novel M-dimer arrangement that yielded two distinct repeating holes. Notably, F-trimers were arranged above only one of the two holes, dependent on F's cytoplasmic tail. G was enriched in regions of higher M-VLP curvature, while N dramatically increased M-VLP pleomorphism. This work provides novel insights into paramyxoviral protein complexes, structures, and morphology.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY.
Organizational Affiliation: 
















