A highly basic KGKKGK sequence in the RNA-binding domain of the Cucumber necrosis virus coat protein is associated with encapsidation of full-length CNV RNA during infection

Citation

Reade, R., Kakani, K., Rochon, D. (2010). A highly basic KGKKGK sequence in the RNA-binding domain of the Cucumber necrosis virus coat protein is associated with encapsidation of full-length CNV RNA during infection. Virology, [online] 403(2), 181-188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2010.03.045

Abstract

The Cucumber necrosis virus particle is a T=3 icosahedron consisting of 180 identical coat protein (CP) subunits. The N-terminal 58 aa residue segment of the CP R domain is believed to bind viral RNA within virions and during assembly. We report results of in vivo experiments that examine the role of the R domain in assembly. Deletion analyses identified 3 conserved 5-10 aa regions as playing critical roles. A highly basic KGKKGK sequence was found to be both necessary and sufficient for encapsidation of the full-length genome and polymorphic virions were produced in mutants lacking the KGKKGK sequence. The amount of full-length RNA present in virions was substantially reduced in R domain mutants where 2 of the 4 lysine residues were substituted with alanine, whereas substitution of 4 lysines by arginine had only a modest effect. The potential role of the R domain in formation of a scaffold for particle assembly is discussed. © 2010.

Publication date

2010-08-01

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