Saddle curvature association of nsP1 facilitates the replication complex assembly of Chikungunya virus in cells.

ABSTRACT: Positive-sense RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-1 and -2, DENV, and CHIKV, replicate in curved membrane compartments within host cells. Non-structural proteins (nsPs) critically regulate these nanoscale membrane structures, yet their curvature-dependent assembly remains elusive due to the challenges of imaging nanoscale interaction on curved surfaces. Using vertically aligned nanostructures to generate pre-defined membrane curvatures, we here investigate the impact of curvature on nsPs assembly. Taking CHIKV as a model, we reveal that nsP1 preferentially binds and stabilizes on positively curved membranes, with stronger accumulation at radii ≤150 nm. This is driven by hydrophobic residues in the membrane association (MA) loops of individual nsP1. Molecular dynamics simulations further confi

SUBMITTER: Miao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12062417 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature