The “SARS-unique domain” (SUD) of SARS coronavirus is an oligo(G)-binding protein

Caused by a new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly contagious disease associated with significant fatality that emerged in 2003. The molecular cause of the unusually high human pathogenicity of the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is still unknown. In an effort to character...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2007-12, Vol.364 (4), p.877-882
Main Authors: Tan, Jinzhi, Kusov, Yuri, Mutschall, Doris, Tech, Stefanie, Nagarajan, Krishna, Hilgenfeld, Rolf, Schmidt, Christian L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apoptosis
bbc3
Coronavirus
Guanine Nucleotides - chemistry
Guanine Nucleotides - metabolism
In-vitro translation
Non-structural protein
Nsp3
Oligo(G)-binding
Oligoribonucleotides - chemistry
Oligoribonucleotides - metabolism
Protein Structure, Tertiary
RNA Replicase - chemistry
RNA Replicase - metabolism
SARS
SARS coronavirus
SARS Virus - metabolism
SUD
Viral Nonstructural Proteins - chemistry
Viral Nonstructural Proteins - metabolism
ZIGE
Zone-interference gel electrophoresis
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Summary:Caused by a new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly contagious disease associated with significant fatality that emerged in 2003. The molecular cause of the unusually high human pathogenicity of the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is still unknown. In an effort to characterize molecular components of the virus that are absent in other coronaviruses, all of which are considerably less pathogenic for humans, we recombinantly produced the SARS-unique domain (SUD) within non-structural protein 3 (Nsp3) of SARS-CoV and characterized its nucleic-acid binding properties. Zone-interference gel electrophoresis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed a specific affinity of SUD for oligo(G)-strings. A few such segments are present in the SARS-CoV genome, but also in mRNAs of host proteins involved in the regulation of signaling pathways. A putative role of SUD in virus-induced apoptosis or survival of host cells is discussed.
ISSN:0006-291X
1090-2104
DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.10.081