Figure 3.
Arenavirus genome and virion structure. (a) Genome organization of the two RNA subunits packaged into arenavirus particles. The large (L) RNA encodes the matrix (Z) and polymerase (L), and the small (S) RNA encodes the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) and nucleoprotein (NP). Both RNAs are ambisense. The scheme for generating the mRNAs for the L and Z RNAs is shown; a similar process occurs for the GPC and NP RNAs. The intergenic region (IGR) between the RNAs controls both RNA transcription and translation.
(b) Diagram of the assembled viral particle.