Structure of the LCMV nucleoprotein provides a template for understanding arenavirus replication and immunosuppression.

The X-ray crystal structure of the Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus nucleoprotein C-terminal immunosuppressive domain (LCMV NPΔ340) was determined to 2.0 Å resolution. The structure indicates that LCMV NPΔ340, like the other structurally characterized arenaviral nucleoproteins, adopts the fold of an exonuclease. This structure provides a crucial three-dimensional template for functional exploration of the replication and immunosuppression of this prototypic arenavirus.