Viral Polymerase vRNA (Genomic):NP Complex Initiated vRNA-cRNA Complex NTP Initiation of cRNA Synthesis Authored: Bortz, E, Garcia-Sastre, A, 2007-02-12 19:39:05 EC Number: 2.7.7.48 Pubmed12072510 Pubmed12771209 Pubmed15163719 Pubmed16474140 Pubmed16933365 Pubmed3462695 Pubmed8189550 Pubmed8642663 Reactome Database ID Release 43192832 Reactome, http://www.reactome.org ReactomeREACT_9513 Reviewed: Squires, B, 2007-02-12 19:39:22 Viral vRNA, complexed with NP protein, is bound by the trimeric viral polymerase complex in a stable secondary structure-dependent manner, referred to as a panhandle, fork or cork-screw (Fodor, 1994; Brownlee, 2002; Park, 2003; Crow, 2004). This RNA structure is made of both the 5’ and 3' ends of the vRNA. The polymerase is thought to first bind the 5' end of the vRNA and then the 3' end. Synthesis of cRNA initiates without a host cell methylated RNA cap as a primer (Beaton, 1986; Galarza, 1996; Deng, 2006; Engehardt, 2006).