Crystal structure of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) frameshifting pseudoknot
Christopher P. Jones, A.R. Ferré-D′Amaré
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 produces two long viral protein precursors from one open reading frame using a highly conserved RNA pseudoknot that enhances programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting. The 1.3 Å-resolution X-ray structure of the pseudoknot reveals three coaxially stacked helices buttressed by idiosyncratic base triples from loop residues. This structure represents a frameshift-stimulating state that must be deformed by the ribosome and exhibits base-triple-adjacent pockets that could be targeted by future small-molecule therapeutics.
Topics & Concepts
PseudoknotTranslational frameshiftFrameshift mutationBiologyRibosomeNucleic acid structureOpen reading frameBase pairVirologyRNASevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirusTranslation (biology)CoronavirusComputational biologyGeneticsCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Messenger RNAGenePeptide sequenceMutationMedicineDiseaseInfectious disease (medical specialty)PathologyRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBacteriophages and microbial interactionsViral Infections and Immunology Research