title: The non-structural protein Nsp10 of mouse hepatitis virus binds zinc ions and nucleic acids.
abstract: The non-structural protein Nsp10 of coronaviruses is a small cleavage product of the viral replicase polyprotein that has been implicated in RNA synthesis. Nsp10 of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) displays an apparent molecular mass of 13-16kDa in reducing SDS-PAGE and analytical gel filtration, while dynamic light scattering suggests the existence of oligomeric forms. Atomic absorption spectroscopy reveals two metal ions per Nsp10 monomer, with a preference for Zn(2+) over Fe(2+/3+) and Co(2+). These are probably bound by two Zn-finger-like motifs. Moreover, MHV Nsp10 interacts with tRNA, single-stranded RNA, double-stranded DNA and, to a lesser extent, single-stranded DNA as shown by gel-shift experiments. The K(d) for tRNA is 2.1+/-0.2 microM.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck, 23538 Lubeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matthes
authors.forename: Jeroen R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mesters
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coutard
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Canard
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Snijder
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hilgenfeld
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009696:Nucleic Acids; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D015032:Zinc