Multiple roles of the matrix protein Z in arenavirus infection — a structural perspective

Abstract

Arenaviridae (class of Bunyaviricetes) are a group of negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. They can cause severe human disease after zoonotic spillover from mostly rodent reservoirs, with no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments available. Limited understanding of the processes within an infected cell is hampering the development of medical countermeasures. Although arenaviruses contain only a few proteins, they all serve multiple purposes during the viral life cycle. Here, we focus on the matrix protein Z, a small protein with multiple important roles during infection. We summarize the current state of literature linking structure and function and highlight open questions.