Plays a major role in assembly and budding of virion. Completely covers the ribonucleoprotein coil and keep it in condensed bullet-shaped form. Inhibits viral transcription and stimulates replication. Plays a major role in early induction of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in infected neurons (By similarity). Homomultimer. Interacts with nucleoprotein and with the cytoplasmic domain of glycoprotein (By similarity). Late-budding domains (L domains) are short sequence motifs essential for viral particle budding. They recruit proteins of the host ESCRT machinery (Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport) or ESCRT-associated proteins. Matrix protein contains one L domain: a PPXY motif which potentially interacts with the WW domain 3 of NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligase (Potential). Most abundant protein in the virion. Belongs to the lyssavirus matrix protein family.