File:Viruses-02-00995-g002.png

English: Interpretive drawings illustrating the new vesicular stomatitis viruses (VSV) structure. (a) shows an external view of the N (red) and M (blue) helices as they are found in the trunk region of the mature virion. A portion of the M helix has been removed to illustrate the underlying N helix. The membrane and the glycoproteins are not illustrated. Note that N molecules in one helical turn lie between two N molecules in the turn above. Note also that: (i) the M helix lies between turns of the N helix linking the two N turns together; (ii) there is one M molecule for each N; (iii) M molecules make lateral connections with each other providing stability to the overall structure; and (iii) N protein molecules are tilted slightly upward (27°) with respect to horizontal plane. (b) shows a cross-sectional view of the virion in the trunk region. Note that there are 37.5 N molecules in each helical turn and N protein molecules are connected externally by M and in the middle by the virus RNA (black).