title: Domains of the measles virus N protein required for binding to P protein and self-assembly.
abstract: The nucleocapsid protein (N, 525 amino acids) of measles virus plays a central role in the replication of the viral genomic RNA. Its functions require interactions with itself and with other viral components. The N protein encapsidates genomic RNA, a function reflected in its ability to self-assemble into nucleocapsid-like particles in the absence of other viral proteins. The substrate for the packaging of nascent RNA during RNA replication is a complex between the N and phosphoprotein (P). The domains on the N protein that promote binding to P protein and self-assembly have been identified utilizing a series of N protein deletions. Two noncontiguous regions, amino acids 4-188 and 304-373 of N protein, are required for the formation of the soluble N-P complex, while deletion of amino acids 189-239 did not affect N-P binding. Amino acids 240-303 appear to be necessary for the stability of the protein. The N-terminal 398 amino acids are all required for the formation of organized nucleocapsid-like particles, since deletion of the central region from amino acids 189-373 completely abolished N-N interaction, and deletion of amino acids 4-188 and 374-492 caused the formation of unstructured aggregates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0266, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bankamp
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Horikami
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Billeter
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; C055859:P protein, Sendai virus; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C058314:nucleoprotein, Measles virus