Dissecting Interactions between RNA and Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins Using Native Mass Spectrometry.

ABSTRACT: The nucleocapsid protein is the most abundant protein in the SARS-CoV virus and plays critical roles in RNA packaging and storage, yet the nature of the protein's interactions with RNA remain elusive owing to the presence of multiple disordered regions of the protein. Here we evaluate the protein-RNA and protein-protein interactions of nucleocapsid proteins from the SARS-CoV-1 WT, SARS-CoV-2 WT, and SARS-CoV-1 omicron to better understand how the interactions are modulated by sequence variations. By using native mass spectrometry, we reveal that all three nucleocapsid proteins exist as both monomers and dimers that bind up to two RNA molecules per monomer, suggesting dual RNA binding sites. Ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) was used to localize the RNA binding sites found in the RNA bin

SUBMITTER: James VK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12517277 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature