Interaction between hantavirus nucleocapsid protein (N) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) mutants reveals the requirement of an N-RdRp interaction for viral RNA synthesis.
Viral ribonucleocapsids harboring the viral genomic RNA are used as the template for viral mRNA synthesis and replication of the viral genome by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Here we show that hantavirus nucleocapsid protein (N protein) interacts with RdRp in virus-infected cells. We mapped the RdRp binding domain at the N terminus of N protein. Similarly, the N protein binding pocket is located at the C terminus of RdRp. We demonstrate that an N protein-RdRp interaction is required for RdRp function during the course of virus infection in the host cell.
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
Erdong
E
Cheng
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
Zekun
Z
Wang
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA mmir@kumc.edu.
Mohammad A
MA
Mir
D002460:Cell Line; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D006801:Humans; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029261:Sin Nombre virus / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D050505:Mutant Proteins; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase