title: The coronavirus nucleocapsid protein is dynamically associated with the replication-transcription complexes.
abstract: The coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein is a virion structural protein. It also functions, however, in an unknown way in viral replication and localizes to the viral replication-transcription complexes (RTCs). Here we investigated, using recombinant murine coronaviruses expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged versions of the N protein, the dynamics of its interactions with the RTCs and the domain(s) involved. Using fluorescent recovery after photobleaching, we showed that the N protein, unlike the nonstructural protein 2, is dynamically associated with the RTCs. Recruitment of the N protein to the RTCs requires the C-terminal N2b domain, which interacts with other N proteins in an RNA-independent manner.
authors.affiliation: Virology Division, Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monique H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Verheije
authors.forename: Marne C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hagemeijer
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulasli
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reggiori
authors.forename: Peter J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rottier
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.forename: Cornelis A M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Haan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D051379:Mice; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021381:Protein Transport; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins