SARS-CoV-2 structure and replication characterized by in situ cryo-electron tomography

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the COVID19 pandemic, is a highly pathogenic β-coronavirus. As other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 is enveloped, replicates in the cytoplasm and assembles at intracellular membranes. Here, we structurally characterize the viral replication compartment and report critical insights into the budding mechanism of the virus, and the structure of extracellular virions close to their native state by in situ cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging. We directly visualize RNA filaments inside the double membrane vesicles, compartments associated with viral replication. The RNA filaments show a diameter consistent with…

• CS
  CHS Stiftung
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: 240245660, 415089553, 41607209, SFB1129-240245660, 112927078, TRR 83, SFB 1129
• CA
  Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation