Fig 6.

Proposed model of the role of N-terminal phosphorylation of P in facilitating viral RNA-specific encapsidation by N and functional template formation. P prevents N not only from aggregating but also from binding to cellular RNAs. Instead, the N⁰-P complex forms and maintains N-specific encapsidation of viral genomic RNA. P3A prevents N from aggregating but is unable to prevent it from binding to cellular RNAs. Alternatively, N binds to any RNAs in the presence of P3A, irrespective of sequence specificity (see the text for details).