Functional screen reveals SARS coronavirus nonstructural protein nsp14 as a novel cap N7 methyltransferase

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 106; no. 9; pp. 3484 - 3489
• Main Authors: Chen, Yu, Cai, Hui, Pan, Ji'an, Xiang, Nian, Tien, Po, Ahola, Tero, Guo, Deyin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 03.03.2009; National Acad Sciences
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Coronavirus; Enzymes; Eukaryotes; Exons; Gene Deletion; Genome, Viral - genetics; Guanosine - analogs & derivatives; Guanosine - metabolism; Messenger RNA; Methyltransferases - genetics; Methyltransferases - metabolism; Mutation; Mutation - genetics; Plasmids; Polymerase chain reaction; Protein Binding; Proteins; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; SARS coronavirus; SARS virus; SARS Virus - enzymology; SARS Virus - genetics; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Transcription, Genetic - genetics; Viral Nonstructural Proteins - genetics; Viral Nonstructural Proteins - metabolism; Virus Replication; Viruses; Yeasts

The N7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap is the defining structural feature of eukaryotic mRNAs. Most eukaryotic viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm, including coronaviruses, have evolved strategies to cap their RNAs. In this report, we used a yeast genetic system to functionally screen for the cap-form...