Characterization of the Interaction Domains between the Phosphoprotein and the Nucleoprotein of Human Metapneumovirus
Hortense Decool, Benjamin Bardiaux, Luis Checa Ruano, Olivier Sperandio, Jenna Fix, Irina Gutsche, Charles-Adrien Richard, Monika Bajorek, Jean-François Eléouët, Marie Galloux
Abstract
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a leading cause of severe respiratory infections in children but also affects human populations of all ages worldwide. Currently, no vaccine or efficient antiviral treatments are available for this pneumovirus. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in viral replication could help the design or discovery of specific antiviral compounds. In this work, we have investigated the interaction between two major viral proteins involved in HMPV RNA synthesis, the N and P proteins. We finely characterized their domains of interaction and identified a pocket on the surface of the N protein, a potential target of choice for the design of compounds interfering with N-P complexes and inhibiting viral replication.