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Publication Abstract from PubMed

Together with the NS5 polymerase, the NS3 helicase has a pivotal function in flavivirus RNA replication and constitutes an important drug target. We captured the dengue virus NS3 helicase at several stages along the catalytic pathway including bound to single-stranded (ss) RNA, to an ATP analogue, to a transition-state analogue and to ATP hydrolysis products. RNA recognition appears largely sequence independent in a way remarkably similar to eukaryotic DEAD box proteins Vasa and eIF4AIII. On ssRNA binding, the NS3 enzyme switches to a catalytic-competent state imparted by an inward movement of the P-loop, interdomain closure and a change in the divalent metal coordination shell, providing a structural basis for RNA-stimulated ATP hydrolysis. These structures demonstrate for the first time large quaternary changes in the flaviviridae helicase, identify the catalytic water molecule and point to a beta-hairpin that protrudes from subdomain 2, as a critical element for dsRNA unwinding. They also suggest how NS3 could exert an effect as an RNA-anchoring device and thus participate both in flavivirus RNA replication and assembly.

Insights into RNA unwinding and ATP hydrolysis by the flavivirus NS3 protein.,Luo D, Xu T, Watson RP, Scherer-Becker D, Sampath A, Jahnke W, Yeong SS, Wang CH, Lim SP, Strongin A, Vasudevan SG, Lescar J EMBO J. 2008 Dec 3;27(23):3209-19. Epub 2008 Nov 13. PMID:19008861^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.