The resolution revolution of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has made a significant impact on the structural analysis of the Pneumoviridae multifunctional RNA polymerases. In recent months, several high-resolution structures of apo RNA polymerases of Pneumoviridae, which includes the human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV), have been determined by single-particle cryo-EM. These structures illustrated high similarities and minor differences between the Pneumoviridae polymerases and revealed the potential mechanisms of the Pneumoviridae RNA synthesis.
Keywords: Pneumoviridae; cryo-EM; human metapneumovirus; human respiratory syncytial virus; polymerases; structure.