scholarly journals 1H, 13C, and 15N backbone chemical shift assignments of the C-terminal dimerization domain of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie M. Korn ◽  
Roderick Lambertz ◽  
Boris Fürtig ◽  
Martin Hengesbach ◽  
Frank Löhr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Shift ◽  
Nucleocapsid Protein ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Drug Binding ◽  
Chemical Shift Assignments ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Dimerization Domain ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Backbone Chemical Shift

AbstractThe current outbreak of the highly infectious COVID-19 respiratory disease is caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). To fight the pandemic, the search for promising viral drug targets has become a cross-border common goal of the international biomedical research community. Within the international Covid19-NMR consortium, scientists support drug development against SARS-CoV-2 by providing publicly available NMR data on viral proteins and RNAs. The coronavirus nucleocapsid protein (N protein) is an RNA-binding protein involved in viral transcription and replication. Its primary function is the packaging of the viral RNA genome. The highly conserved architecture of the coronavirus N protein consists of an N-terminal RNA-binding domain (NTD), followed by an intrinsically disordered Serine/Arginine (SR)-rich linker and a C-terminal dimerization domain (CTD). Besides its involvement in oligomerization, the CTD of the N protein (N-CTD) is also able to bind to nucleic acids by itself, independent of the NTD. Here, we report the near-complete NMR backbone chemical shift assignments of the SARS-CoV-2 N-CTD to provide the basis for downstream applications, in particular site-resolved drug binding studies.

scholarly journals Identification and molecular characterization of mutations in nucleocapsid phosphoprotein of SARS-CoV-2

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10666
Author(s):  
Gajendra Kumar Azad
Keyword(s):  
Rna Binding ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Dimerization Domain ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Regions ◽  
Protein Functions ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Key Residues ◽  
Viral Genomic Rna

SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes four structural proteins that include the spike glycoprotein, membrane protein, envelope protein and nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N-protein). The N-protein interacts with viral genomic RNA and helps in packaging. As SARS-CoV-2 spread to almost all countries worldwide within 2–3 months, it also acquired mutations in its RNA genome. Therefore, this study was conducted with an aim to identify the variations present in N-protein of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we analysed 4,163 reported sequence of N-protein from United States of America (USA) and compared them with the first reported sequence from Wuhan, China. Our study identified 107 mutations that reside all over the N-protein. Further, we show the high rate of mutations in intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of N-protein. Our study show 45% residues of IDR2 harbour mutations. The RNA-binding domain (RBD) and dimerization domain of N-protein also have mutations at key residues. We further measured the effect of these mutations on N-protein stability and dynamicity and our data reveals that multiple mutations can cause considerable alterations. Altogether, our data strongly suggests that N-protein is one of the mutational hotspot proteins of SARS-CoV-2 that is changing rapidly and these mutations can potentially interferes with various aspects of N-protein functions including its interaction with RNA, oligomerization and signalling events.

scholarly journals The SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid phosphoprotein forms mutually exclusive condensates with RNA and the membrane-associated M protein

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Lu ◽  
Qiaozhen Ye ◽  
Digvijay Singh ◽  
Elizabeth Villa ◽  
Don W. Cleveland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
M Protein ◽  
Rna Packaging ◽  
Dimerization Domain ◽  
Virion Assembly ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Regions ◽  
C Terminus

The multifunctional nucleocapsid (N) protein in SARS-CoV-2 binds the ~30 kb viral RNA genome to aid its packaging into the 80-90 nm membrane-enveloped virion. The N protein is composed of N-terminal RNA-binding and C-terminal dimerization domains that are flanked by three intrinsically disordered regions. Here we demonstrate that a centrally located 40 amino acid intrinsically disordered domain drives phase separation of N protein when bound to RNA, with the morphology of the resulting condensates affected by inclusion in the RNA of the putative SARS-CoV-2 packaging signal. The SARS-CoV-2 M protein, normally embedded in the virion membrane with its C-terminus extending into the virion core, independently induces N protein phase separation that is dependent on the N protein's C-terminal dimerization domain and disordered region. Three-component mixtures of N+M+RNA form condensates with mutually exclusive compartments containing N+M or N+RNA, including spherical annular structures in which the M protein coats the outside of an N+RNA condensate. These findings support a model in which phase separation of the N protein with both the viral genomic RNA and the SARS-CoV-2 M protein facilitates RNA packaging and virion assembly.

scholarly journals Backbone and nearly complete side-chain chemical shift assignments reveal the human uncharacterized protein CXorf51A as intrinsically disordered

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-448
Author(s):  
Christoph Wiedemann ◽  
Kingsley Benjamin Obika ◽  
Sandra Liebscher ◽  
Jan Jirschitzka ◽  
Oliver Ohlenschlãger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Shift ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Protein ◽  
Genome Project ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Chemical Shift Assignments ◽  
Uncharacterized Protein ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Side Chain Chemical Shift

AbstractEven though the human genome project showed that our DNA contains a mere 20,000 to 25,000 protein coding genes, an unexpectedly large number of these proteins remain functionally uncharacterized. A structural characterization of these “unknown” proteins may help to identify possible cellular tasks. We therefore used a combination of bioinformatics and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to structurally de-orphanize one of these gene products, the 108 amino acid human uncharacterized protein CXorf51A. Both our bioinformatics analysis as well as the $$^1$$ 1 H, $$^{13}$$ 13 C, $$^{15}$$ 15 N backbone and near-complete side-chain chemical shift assignments indicate that it is an intrinsically disordered protein.

Toho-1 β-lactamase: backbone chemical shift assignments and changes in dynamics upon binding with avibactam

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varun V. Sakhrani ◽  
Rittik K. Ghosh ◽  
Eduardo Hilario ◽  
Kevin L. Weiss ◽  
Leighton Coates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Shift ◽  
Chemical Shift Assignments ◽  
Backbone Chemical Shift

scholarly journals The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid phosphoprotein forms mutually exclusive condensates with RNA and the membrane-associated M protein

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan Lu ◽  
Qiaozhen Ye ◽  
Digvijay Singh ◽  
Yong Cao ◽  
Jolene K. Diedrich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Stress Granule ◽  
M Protein ◽  
Rich Region ◽  
Virion Assembly ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Regions

AbstractThe multifunctional nucleocapsid (N) protein in SARS-CoV-2 binds the ~30 kb viral RNA genome to aid its packaging into the 80–90 nm membrane-enveloped virion. The N protein is composed of N-terminal RNA-binding and C-terminal dimerization domains that are flanked by three intrinsically disordered regions. Here we demonstrate that the N protein’s central disordered domain drives phase separation with RNA, and that phosphorylation of an adjacent serine/arginine rich region modulates the physical properties of the resulting condensates. In cells, N forms condensates that recruit the stress granule protein G3BP1, highlighting a potential role for N in G3BP1 sequestration and stress granule inhibition. The SARS-CoV-2 membrane (M) protein independently induces N protein phase separation, and three-component mixtures of N + M + RNA form condensates with mutually exclusive compartments containing N + M or N + RNA, including annular structures in which the M protein coats the outside of an N + RNA condensate. These findings support a model in which phase separation of the SARS-CoV-2 N protein contributes both to suppression of the G3BP1-dependent host immune response and to packaging genomic RNA during virion assembly.

scholarly journals Trimeric Hantavirus Nucleocapsid Protein Binds Specifically to the Viral RNA Panhandle

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (15) ◽  
pp. 8281-8288 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Mir ◽  
A. T. Panganiban
Keyword(s):  
Nucleocapsid Protein ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Sin Nombre Virus ◽  
Viral Capsid ◽  
Genomic Rna ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
N Protein ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Negative Sense

ABSTRACT Hantaviruses are tripartite negative-sense RNA viruses and members of the Bunyaviridae family. The nucleocapsid (N) protein is encoded by the smallest of the three genome segments (S). N protein is the principal structural component of the viral capsid and is central to the hantavirus replication cycle. We examined intermolecular N-protein interaction and RNA binding by using bacterially expressed Sin Nombre virus N protein. N assembles into di- and trimeric forms. The mono- and dimeric forms exist transiently and assemble into a trimeric form. In contrast, the trimer is highly stable and does not efficiently disassemble into the mono- and dimeric forms. The purified N-protein trimer is able to discriminate between viral and nonviral RNA molecules and, interestingly, recognizes and binds with high affinity the panhandle structure composed of the 3′ and 5′ ends of the genomic RNA. In contrast, the mono- and dimeric forms of N bind RNA to form a complex that is semispecific and salt sensitive. We suggest that trimerization of N protein is a molecular switch to generate a protein complex that can discriminate between viral and nonviral RNA molecules during the early steps of the encapsidation process.

scholarly journals Structural Basis for SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Recognition by Single-Domain Antibodies

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaozhen Ye ◽  
Shan Lu ◽  
Kevin D. Corbett
Keyword(s):  
Nucleocapsid Protein ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Single Domain ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Dimerization Domain ◽  
Health Event ◽  
Single Domain Antibodies ◽  
Rna Binding Domain ◽  
Antigen Tests

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, is the most severe public health event of the twenty-first century. While effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been developed, there remains an urgent need for diagnostics to quickly and accurately detect infections. Antigen tests, particularly those that detect the abundant SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein, are a proven method for detecting active SARS-CoV-2 infections. Here we report high-resolution crystal structures of three llama-derived single-domain antibodies that bind the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein with high affinity. Each antibody recognizes a specific folded domain of the protein, with two antibodies recognizing the N-terminal RNA binding domain and one recognizing the C-terminal dimerization domain. The two antibodies that recognize the RNA binding domain affect both RNA binding affinity and RNA-mediated phase separation of the Nucleocapsid protein. All three antibodies recognize highly conserved surfaces on the Nucleocapsid protein, suggesting that they could be used to develop affordable diagnostic tests to detect all circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.

scholarly journals Double-stranded RNA drives SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein to undergo phase separation at specific temperatures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Roden ◽  
Yifan Dai ◽  
Ian Seim ◽  
Myungwoon Lee ◽  
Rachel Sealfon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Rna Structure ◽  
Nucleocapsid Protein ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Genome Packaging ◽  
Rna Motifs ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Binding Domains

Betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infections caused the global Covid-19 pandemic. The nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) is required for multiple steps in the betacoronavirus replication cycle. SARS-CoV-2-N-protein is known to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) with specific RNAs at particular temperatures to form condensates. We show that N-protein recognizes at least two separate and distinct RNA motifs, both of which require double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for LLPS. These motifs are separately recognized by N-protein's two RNA binding domains (RBDs). Addition of dsRNA accelerates and modifies N-protein LLPS in vitro and in cells and controls the temperature condensates form. The abundance of dsRNA tunes N-protein-mediated translational repression and may confer a switch from translation to genome packaging. Thus, N-protein's two RBDs interact with separate dsRNA motifs, and these interactions impart distinct droplet properties that can support multiple viral functions. These experiments demonstrate a paradigm of how RNA structure can control the properties of biomolecular condensates.

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