The preference signature of the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid NTD for its 5'-genomic RNA elements.

ABSTRACT: The nucleocapsid protein (N) of SARS-CoV-2 plays a pivotal role during the viral life cycle. It is involved in RNA transcription and accounts for packaging of the large genome into virus particles. N manages the enigmatic balance of bulk RNA-coating versus precise RNA-binding to designated cis-regulatory elements. Numerous studies report the involvement of its disordered segments in non-selective RNA-recognition, but how N organizes the inevitable recognition of specific motifs remains unanswered. We here use NMR spectroscopy to systematically analyze the interactions of N's N-terminal RNA-binding domain (NTD) with individual cis RNA elements clustering in the SARS-CoV-2 regulatory 5'-genomic end. Supported by broad solution-based biophysical data, we unravel the NTD RNA-binding preference

SUBMITTER: Korn SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10246530 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature