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Structural Analysis of the Roles of Influenza A Virus Membrane-Associated Proteins in Assembly and Morphology

ABSTRACT The assembly of influenza A virus at the plasma membrane of infected cells leads to release of enveloped virions that are typically round in tissue culture-adapted strains but filamentous in strains isolated from patients. The viral proteins hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix protein 1 (M1), and M2 ion channel all contribute to virus assembly. When expressed individually or in combination in cells, they can all, under certain conditions, mediate release of membrane-enveloped particles, but their relative roles in virus assembly, release, and morphology remain unclear. To investigate these roles, we produced membrane-enveloped particles by plasmid-derived expression of combinations of HA, NA, and M proteins (M1 and M2) or by infection with influenza A virus. We monitored particle release, particle morphology, and plasma membrane morphology by using biochemical methods, electron microscopy, electron tomography, and cryo-electron tomography. Our data suggest that HA, NA, or HANA (HA plus NA) expression leads to particle release through nonspecific induction of membrane curvature. In contrast, coexpression with the M proteins clusters the glycoproteins into filamentous membrane protrusions, which can be released as particles by formation of a constricted neck at the base. HA and NA are preferentially distributed to differently curved membranes within these particles. Both the budding intermediates and the released particles are morphologically similar to those produced during infection with influenza A virus. Together, our data provide new insights into influenza virus assembly and show that the M segment together with either of the glycoproteins is the minimal requirement to assemble and release membrane-enveloped particles that are truly virus-like. IMPORTANCE Influenza A virus is a major respiratory pathogen. It assembles membrane-enveloped virus particles whose shapes vary from spherical to filamentous. Here we examine the roles of individual viral proteins in mediating virus assembly and determining virus shape. To do this, we used a range of electron microscopy techniques to obtain and compare two- and three-dimensional images of virus particles and virus-like particles during and after assembly. The virus-like particles were produced using different combinations of viral proteins. Among our results, we found that coexpression of one or both of the viral surface proteins (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase) with the viral membrane-associated proteins encoded by the M segment results in assembly and release of filamentous virus-like particles in a manner very similar to that of the budding and release of influenza virions. These data provide novel insights into the roles played by individual viral proteins in influenza A virus assembly.