The N(0)-binding region of the vesicular stomatitis virus phosphoprotein is globally disordered but contains transient α-helices

The phosphoprotein (P) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) interacts with nascent nucleoprotein (N), forming the N(0)-P complex that is indispensable for the correct encapsidation of newly synthesized viral RNA genome. In this complex, the N-terminal region (P(NTR)) of P prevents N from binding to c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Protein science 2011-03, Vol.20 (3), p.542-556
Main Authors: Leyrat, Cédric, Jensen, Malene Ringkjøbing, Ribeiro, Jr, Euripedes A, Gérard, Francine C A, Ruigrok, Rob W H, Blackledge, Martin, Jamin, Marc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Binding Sites
Capsid - chemistry
Capsid Proteins - chemistry
Capsid Proteins - genetics
Multiprotein Complexes - chemistry
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
Nucleoproteins - chemistry
Nucleoproteins - genetics
Phosphoproteins - chemistry
Phosphoproteins - genetics
Protein Binding
Protein Structure, Secondary
Scattering, Small Angle
Vesiculovirus - chemistry
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Summary:The phosphoprotein (P) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) interacts with nascent nucleoprotein (N), forming the N(0)-P complex that is indispensable for the correct encapsidation of newly synthesized viral RNA genome. In this complex, the N-terminal region (P(NTR)) of P prevents N from binding to cellular RNA and keeps it available for encapsidating viral RNA genomes. Here, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we show that an isolated peptide corresponding to the 60 first N-terminal residues of VSV P (P(60)) and encompassing P(NTR) has overall molecular dimensions and a dynamic behavior characteristic of a disordered protein but transiently populates conformers containing α-helices. The modeling of P(60) as a conformational ensemble by the ensemble optimization method using SAXS data correctly reproduces the α-helical content detected by NMR spectroscopy and suggests the coexistence of subensembles of different compactness. The populations and overall dimensions of these subensembles are affected by the addition of stabilizing (1M trimethylamine-N-oxide) or destabilizing (6M guanidinium chloride) cosolvents. Our results are interpreted in the context of a scenario whereby VSV P(NTR) constitutes a molecular recognition element undergoing a disorder-to-order transition upon binding to its partner when forming the N(0)-P complex.
ISSN:1469-896X
DOI:10.1002/pro.587