Structural properties of the C terminus of vesicular stomatitis virus N protein dictate N-RNA complex assembly, encapsidation, and RNA synthesis.

ABSTRACT: The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) nucleoprotein (N) associates tightly with the viral genomic RNA. This N-RNA complex constitutes the template for the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase L, which engages the nucleocapsid via its phosphoprotein cofactor P. While N and P proteins play important roles in regulating viral gene expression, the molecular basis of this regulation remains incompletely understood. Here we show that mutations in the extreme C terminus of N cause defects in viral gene expression. To determine the underlying cause of such defects, we examined the effects of the mutations separately on encapsidation and RNA synthesis. Expression of N together with P in Escherichia coli results predominantly in the formation of decameric N-RNA rings. In contrast, nucleocapsid complexes cont

SUBMITTER: Heinrich BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3421751 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature