title: Nucleocapsid proteins: roles beyond viral RNA packaging.
abstract: Viral nucleocapsid proteins (NCs) enwrap the RNA genomes of viruses to form NC-RNA complexes, which act as a template and are essential for viral replication and transcription. Beyond packaging viral RNA, NCs also play important roles in virus replication, transcription, assembly, and budding by interacting with viral and host cellular proteins. Additionally, NCs can inhibit interferon signaling response and function in cell stress response, such as inducing apoptosis. Finally, NCs can be the target of vaccines, benefiting from their conserved gene sequences. Here, we summarize important findings regarding the additional functions of NCs as much more than structural RNA-binding proteins, with specific emphasis on (1) their association with the viral life cycle, (2) their association with host cells, and (3) as ideal candidates for vaccine development.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Binbin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mingzhou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D056747:Immunomodulation; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020871:RNA Stability; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D019065:Virus Assembly; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines