title: Characterisation of the RNA binding properties of the coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus nucleocapsid protein amino-terminal region.
abstract: The coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein binds viral RNA to form the ribonucleocapsid and regulate RNA synthesis. The interaction of N protein with viral RNA was investigated using circular dichroism and surface plasmon resonance. N protein underwent a conformational change upon binding viral RNA and the data indicated electrostatic interactions were involved in the binding of the protein to RNA. Kinetic analysis suggested the amino-terminal region facilitates long-range non-specific interactions between N protein and viral RNA, thus bringing the RNA into close proximity to N protein allowing specific contacts to form via a 'lure' and 'lock' mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: Kelly-Anne
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Julian A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hiscox
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D001351:Infectious bronchitis virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins