Cap binding and immune evasion revealed by Lassa nucleoprotein structure

Qi, Xiaoxuan, Lan, Shuiyun, Wang, Wenjian, Schelde, Lisa McLay, Dong, Haohao, Wallat, Gregor D, Ly, Hinh, Liang, Yuying and Dong, Changjiang (2010) Cap binding and immune evasion revealed by Lassa nucleoprotein structure. Nature, 468 (7325). pp. 779-783. ISSN 0028-0836

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Abstract

Lassa virus, the causative agent of Lassa fever, causes thousands of deaths annually and is a biological threat agent, for which there is no vaccine and limited therapy. The nucleoprotein (NP) of Lassa virus has essential roles in viral RNA synthesis and immune suppression, the molecular mechanisms of which are poorly understood. Here we report the crystal structure of Lassa virus NP at 1.80 Å resolution, which reveals amino (N)- and carboxy (C)-terminal domains with structures unlike any of the reported viral NPs. The N domain folds into a novel structure with a deep cavity for binding the m7GpppN cap structure that is required for viral RNA transcription, whereas the C domain contains 3'-5' exoribonuclease activity involved in suppressing interferon induction. To our knowledge this is the first X-ray crystal structure solved for an arenaviral NP, which reveals its unexpected functions and indicates unique mechanisms in cap binding and immune evasion. These findings provide great potential for vaccine and drug development.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: crystallography, x-ray,exoribonucleases,immune evasion,interferons,lassa virus,models, molecular,nucleoproteins,protein structure, tertiary,rna cap analogs,rna caps,rna, viral,rna-binding proteins,transcription, genetic,viral proteins,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Gastroenterology and Gut Biology
Depositing User: Rhiannon Harvey
Date Deposited: 22 Feb 2012 10:00
Last Modified: 10 Mar 2024 00:48
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/37344
DOI: 10.1038/nature09605

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