Figure 9.

Model of NSP2-dependent +ssRNA Assortment. RV +ssRNAs (here only 3 RNAs are shown schematically) do not form stable RNA–RNA contacts with each other. NSP2 binding to +ssRNAs results in their structural rearrangements concomitant with the exposure of otherwise sequestered complementary sequences (interspersed sequences shown in red, blue and green) capable of inter-segment base-pairing. The exposed complementary sequences form stable sequence-specific inter-segment contacts (RNA helices shown in red, green and blue) during the +ssRNA assortment process. The resulting multi-RNA ribonucleoprotein complex (containing all 11 +ssRNAs) would then be encapsidated by a VP2 core assembly intermediate for genome packaging. Image modified from reference [96] with permission. Copyright Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).