Structure of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus L protein elucidates the mechanisms of viral transcription initiation

Abstract

Segmented negative-sense RNA viruses (sNSRVs) encode a single-polypeptide polymerase (L protein) or a heterotrimeric polymerase complex to cannibalize host messenger RNA cap structures serving as primers of transcription, and catalyse RNA synthesis. Here, we report the full-length structure of the severe fever with thrombocytopaenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) L protein, as determined by cryogenic electron microscopy at 3.4 Å, leading to an atomic model harbouring three functional parts (an endonuclease, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and a cap-binding domain) and two structural domains (an arm domain with a blocker motif and a carboxy-terminal lariat domain). The SFTSV L protein has a compact architecture in which its cap-binding pocket is surprisingly occupied by an Arg finger of the blocker motif, and the endonuclease active centre faces back towards the cap-binding pocket, suggesting that domain rearrangements are necessary to acquire the pre-initiation state of the active site. Our results provide insight into the complete architecture of sNSRV-encoded L protein and further the understanding of sNSRV transcription initiation.