Genomic RNA folding mediates assembly of human parechovirus

Shabih Shakeel, Eric C. Dykeman, Simon J. White, Ari Ora, Joseph J.B. Cockburn, Sarah J. Butcher (), Peter G. Stockley () and Reidun Twarock ()
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Shabih Shakeel: University of Helsinki
Eric C. Dykeman: University of York
Simon J. White: University of Leeds
Ari Ora: University of Helsinki
Joseph J.B. Cockburn: University of Leeds
Sarah J. Butcher: University of Helsinki
Peter G. Stockley: University of Leeds
Reidun Twarock: University of York

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Assembly of the major viral pathogens of the Picornaviridae family is poorly understood. Human parechovirus 1 is an example of such viruses that contains 60 short regions of ordered RNA density making identical contacts with the protein shell. We show here via a combination of RNA-based systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, bioinformatics analysis and reverse genetics that these RNA segments are bound to the coat proteins in a sequence-specific manner. Disruption of either the RNA coat protein recognition motif or its contact amino acid residues is deleterious for viral assembly. The data are consistent with RNA packaging signals playing essential roles in virion assembly. Their binding sites on the coat proteins are evolutionarily conserved across the Parechovirus genus, suggesting that they represent potential broad-spectrum anti-viral targets.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-016-0011-z

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