SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein forms condensates with viral genomic RNA.
PLoS Biol
; 19(10): e3001425, 2021 10.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1463301
Preprint
This scientific journal article is probably based on a previously available preprint. It has been identified through a machine matching algorithm, human confirmation is still pending.
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This scientific journal article is probably based on a previously available preprint. It has been identified through a machine matching algorithm, human confirmation is still pending.
See preprint
ABSTRACT
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a pandemic that seriously threatens global health. SARS-CoV-2 propagates by packaging its RNA genome into membrane enclosures in host cells. The packaging of the viral genome into the nascent virion is mediated by the nucleocapsid (N) protein, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that the N protein forms biomolecular condensates with viral genomic RNA both in vitro and in mammalian cells. While the N protein forms spherical assemblies with homopolymeric RNA substrates that do not form base pairing interactions, it forms asymmetric condensates with viral RNA strands. Cross-linking mass spectrometry (CLMS) identified a region that drives interactions between N proteins in condensates, and deletion of this region disrupts phase separation. We also identified small molecules that alter the size and shape of N protein condensates and inhibit the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 in infected cells. These results suggest that the N protein may utilize biomolecular condensation to package the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome into a viral particle.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins
/
Viral Genome Packaging
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
PLoS Biol
Journal subject:
Biology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Journal.pbio.3001425
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