Cryo-EM structure of Nipah virus RNA polymerase complex.

Publication date: Dec 13, 2024

Nipah virus, a member of the Paramyxoviridae family, is a highly pathogenic nonsegmented, negative-sense RNA virus (nsNSV) which causes severe neurological and respiratory illnesses in humans. There are no available drugs or vaccines to combat this virus. A complex of large polymerase protein (L) and phosphoprotein (P) of Nipah virus supports replication and transcription and affords a target for antiviral drug development. Structural information required for drug development is lacking. Here we report the 2. 9-angstrom cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Nipah virus polymerase-phosphoprotein complex. The structure identifies conserved amino acids likely important for recognition of template RNA by nsNSVs and reveals the locations of mutation-prone sites among Nipah virus strains, which may facilitate the development of therapeutic agents against Nipah virus by targeting regions unaffected by these mutation sites.

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Concepts Keywords
Paramyxoviridae Cryoelectron Microscopy
Pathogenic DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
Polymerase DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
Unaffected Humans
Vaccines Models, Molecular
Mutation
Nipah Virus
Phosphoproteins
Phosphoproteins
Protein Conformation
Viral Proteins
Viral Proteins

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH causes
disease IDO protein
disease IDO replication
drug DRUGBANK Amino acids

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