{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "819b75ef395d4a20bf5a47b2d1857d36", "timestamp": "2026-08-10T22:40:29.850Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/819b75ef395d4a20bf5a47b2d1857d36.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/819b75ef395d4a20bf5a47b2d1857d36"}}, "title": "Open and closed forms of assembled henipavirus nucleoprotein suggest structural basis of genome access", "authors": [{"family": "Jayachandran", "given": "Rupesh Balaji", "initials": "RB", "orcid": "0009-0000-4969-6991", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/871970f1ea9641518a8e76e8c4d9e028.json"}}, {"family": "Quignon", "given": "Erwan", "initials": "E", "orcid": "0000-0001-7929-8847", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/87589236770e400bbe113139d9c04d62.json"}}, {"family": "Renner", "given": "Max", "initials": "M", "orcid": "0000-0001-9885-8256", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/6dec10d9f96e400b800647eb4437a6c9.json"}}], "type": "journal-article", "published": "2026-05-15", "journal": {"title": "Sci Adv", "issn": "2375-2548", "volume": "12", "issue": "20", "pages": "eaed8300", "issn-l": "2375-2548"}, "abstract": "Henipaviruses, such as Nipah virus, can cause deadly illness and constitute WHO blueprint priorities due to their pandemic potential. Their genomes are packaged within a nucleocapsid consisting of viral nucleoproteins (N). Now, it is unclear how the encapsidated genome is released from N to allow the viral polymerase to read its sequence. Here, we present the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of a helical N-RNA filament from Langya henipavirus (LayV), allowing us to identify vertical interactions crucial for assembly. We show that assembly efficiency is sequence-dependent and prefers 5'-genomic sequences. Further, we solve the structure of an RNA-free assembly of LayV-N. Structural comparison of the RNA-bound and RNA-free LayV-N shows a conformational opening and closing, even within the assembled state. Our data suggest that N within nucleocapsids may undergo local conformational changes, switching between closed and open states, to temporarily allow access to the encapsidated RNA without nucleocapsid disruption.", "doi": "10.1126/sciadv.aed8300", "pmid": "42127178", "labels": {"Cryo-EM": "Service"}, "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC13170654"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-06-23T07:54:07.878Z", "modified": "2026-08-09T18:35:16.012Z"}