The SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein and Its Role in Viral Structure, Biological Functions, and a Potential Target for Drug or Vaccine Mitigation

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 13; no. 6; p. 1115
• Main Authors: Bai, Zhihua, Cao, Ying, Liu, Wenjun, Li, Jing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 10.06.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Antigens; Binding sites; biological function; Coronaviruses; COVID-19 vaccines; Evolutionary conservation; Genomes; Homology; N protein; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; nucleocapsid; nucleocapsid protein; nucleocapsid proteins; Nucleocapsids; Packaging; Phosphorylation; Protein structure; Proteins; Review; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; structure; Therapeutic targets; vaccine; Vaccines; viruses
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v13061115

The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the world is still expanding. Thus, there is an urgent need to better understand this novel virus and find a way to control its spread. Like other coronaviruses, the nucleocapsid (N) protein is one of the most crucial structural components of SARS-CoV-2. This protein shares 90% homology with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus N protein, implying functional significance. Based on the evolutionary conservation of the N protein in coronavirus, we reviewed the currently available knowledge regarding the SARS-CoV-2 N protein in terms of structure, biological functions, and clinical application as a drug target or vaccine candidate.