Phase separation by the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein: Consensus and open questions |
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Authors: | Sean M. Cascarina Eric D. Ross |
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Affiliation: | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA |
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Abstract: | In response to the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a number of labs across the world have reallocated their time and resources to better our understanding of the virus. For some viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, viral proteins can undergo phase separation: a biophysical process often related to the partitioning of protein and RNA into membraneless organelles in vivo. In this review, we discuss emerging observations of phase separation by the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein—an essential viral protein required for viral replication—and the possible in vivo functions that have been proposed for N-protein phase separation, including viral replication, viral genomic RNA packaging, and modulation of host-cell response to infection. Additionally, since a relatively large number of studies examining SARS-CoV-2 N-protein phase separation have been published in a short span of time, we take advantage of this situation to compare results from similar experiments across studies. Our evaluation highlights potential strengths and pitfalls of drawing conclusions from a single set of experiments, as well as the value of publishing overlapping scientific observations performed simultaneously by multiple labs. |
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Keywords: | SARS-CoV-2 phase separation biomolecular condensate membraneless organelle intrinsically disordered region nucleocapsid protein innate immunity stress granule |
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