title: The structure analysis and antigenicity study of the N protein of SARS-CoV.
abstract: The Coronaviridae family is characterized by a nucleocapsid that is composed of the genome RNA molecule in combination with the nucleoprotein (N protein) within a virion. The most striking physiochemical feature of the N protein of SARS-CoV is that it is a typical basic protein with a high predicted pI and high hydrophilicity, which is consistent with its function of binding to the ribophosphate backbone of the RNA molecule. The predicted high extent of phosphorylation of the N protein on multiple candidate phosphorylation sites demonstrates that it would be related to important functions, such as RNA-binding and localization to the nucleolus of host cells. Subsequent study shows that there is an SR-rich region in the N protein and this region might be involved in the protein-protein interaction. The abundant antigenic sites predicted in the N protein, as well as experimental evidence with synthesized polypeptides, indicate that the N protein is one of the major antigens of the SARS-CoV. Compared with other viral structural proteins, the low variation rate of the N protein with regards to its size suggests its importance to the survival of the virus.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101300, China.
authors.forename: Jingqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xiaoqian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jianfei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Haipan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yongwu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiangjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Xuehai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Ningzhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Huanming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019295:Computational Biology; D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins