Figure 5.

A trans model for the second step in influenza RNA replication. The diagram presents the proposed process for generation of progeny vRNPs. (A) cRNP template; (B) A non-resident polymerase complex (NRP1, -semitransparent-) would access the 3′-end of the template and initiate de novo. As the vRNA product is produced, a second nonresident polymerase (NRP2, -semitransparent-) would recognise and protect the 5′-terminus, inducing the association of NP. Oligomerisation of additional NP monomers would continue protection and encapsidation of the vRNA product. Subsequent initiation events by additional NRP1 complexes could increase the replication efficiency on the same template; (C) Progression of the replication complexes formed by NRP1 would eventually displace the resident polymerase (opaque) from the 5′-terminus of the cRNA template, thus allowing complete replication; (D) Structure of the progeny vRNP.