FIG. 8.

Proposed model of N phosphorylation and its function in viral transcription and replication. N, once synthesized, interacts with P and/or L. At this stage, the N is not phosphorylated. It is possible that through the interaction of N with (encapsidation of) genomic RNA, the N goes through conformational changes, which expose the site for phosphorylation. Once the N is phosphorylated, the charge repulsion between the genomic RNA and N helps the L gain access to the genomic template for the initiation of viral RNA transcription and replication.