title: The nucleocapsid protein of human coronavirus NL63.
abstract: Human coronavirus (HCoV) NL63 was first described in 2004 and is associated with respiratory tract disease of varying severity. At the genetic and structural level, HCoV-NL63 is similar to other members of the Coronavirinae subfamily, especially human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E). Detailed analysis, however, reveals several unique features of the pathogen. The coronaviral nucleocapsid protein is abundantly present in infected cells. It is a multi-domain, multi-functional protein important for viral replication and a number of cellular processes. The aim of the present study was to characterize the HCoV-NL63 nucleocapsid protein. Biochemical analyses revealed that the protein shares characteristics with homologous proteins encoded in other coronaviral genomes, with the N-terminal domain responsible for nucleic acid binding and the C-terminal domain involved in protein oligomerization. Surprisingly, analysis of the subcellular localization of the N protein of HCoV-NL63 revealed that, differently than homologous proteins from other coronaviral species except for SARS-CoV, it is not present in the nucleus of infected or transfected cells. Furthermore, no significant alteration in cell cycle progression in cells expressing the protein was observed. This is in stark contrast with results obtained for other coronaviruses, except for the SARS-CoV.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Kaja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zuwała
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golda
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland; Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kabala
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burmistrz
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zdzalik
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland; Department of Physical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kedracka-Krok
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarebski
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dobrucki
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Florek
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantology, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Szpitalna 2, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeglen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantology, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Szpitalna 2, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojarski
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland; Oral Health and Systemic Disease Research Group, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potempa
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland; Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dubin
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland; Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pyrc
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D058957:Coronavirus NL63, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D055550:Protein Stability; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012313:RNA