The Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Is a Multifunctional Protein
Nucleocapsid protein, coronavirus assembly, coronavirus N, intracellular localization, protein topology
The coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) is a structural protein that forms complexes with genomic RNA, interacts with the viral membrane protein during virion assembly and plays a critical role in enhancing the efficiency of virus transcription and assembly. Recent studies have confirmed that N is a multifunctional protein. The aim of this review is to highlight the properties and functions of the N protein, with specific reference to (i) the topology; (ii) the intracellular localization and (iii) the functions of the protein.
Ruth McBride, Marjorie van Zyl, Burtram C. Fielding