Respiratory syncytial virus phosphoprotein has NTPase and helicase-like activities.

ABSTRACT: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a non-segmented, negative-sense RNA virus (NNSV) in the family Pneumoviridae, represents a significant global health burden causing severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants and immunocompromised adults. While RNA helicases are essential for viral replication through their RNA remodeling functions, the presence of such enzymatic activities in RSV remains unclear. Here, we reveal that the RSV phosphoprotein (P), despite lacking canonical helicase motifs, demonstrates nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) activity and directional 5'-to-3' RNA helix-unwinding capacity in an NTP-dependent manner. Through mutagenesis assays, we establish a functional coupling between NTP hydrolysis and helicase-like activity. Importantly, reverse genetics experiments,

SUBMITTER: Shu T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12548401 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature