RNA-induced Allosteric Coupling Drives Viral Capsid Assembly.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the mechanisms by which single-stranded RNA viruses regulate capsid assembly around their RNA genomes has become increasingly important for the development of both antiviral treatments and drug delivery systems. In this study, we investigate the effects of RNA-induced allostery in a single-stranded RNA virus-Levivirus bacteriophage MS2 assembly-using the computational methods of the Dynamic Flexibility Index and the Dynamic Coupling Index. We demonstrate that not only does asymmetric binding of RNA to a symmetric MS2 coat protein dimer increase the flexibility of the distant FG-loop, inducing a conformational change to an asymmetric dimer, but also RNA binding reorganizes long-distance communications, making all the other positions extremely sensitive to the fluctuation of th

SUBMITTER: Hamilton S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12356212 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature