Preliminary crystallographic characterization of an RNA helicase from Kunjin virus

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2006 Sep 1;62(Pt 9):876-9. doi: 10.1107/S1744309106028776. Epub 2006 Aug 11.

Abstract

Kunjin virus is a member of the Flavivirus genus and is an Australian variant of West Nile virus. The C-terminal domain of the Kunjin virus NS3 protein displays helicase activity. The protein is thought to separate daughter and template RNA strands, assisting the initiation of replication by unwinding RNA secondary structure in the 3' nontranslated region. Expression, purification and preliminary crystallographic characterization of the NS3 helicase domain are reported. It is shown that Kunjin virus helicase may adopt a dimeric assembly in absence of nucleic acids, oligomerization being a means to provide the helicases with multiple nucleic acid-binding capability, facilitating translocation along the RNA strands. Kunjin virus NS3 helicase domain is an attractive model for studying the molecular mechanisms of flavivirus replication, while simultaneously providing a new basis for the rational development of anti-flaviviral compounds.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Protein Transport / genetics
  • RNA Helicases / chemistry*
  • RNA Helicases / genetics
  • RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Serine Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Serine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / chemistry*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism
  • West Nile virus / enzymology*
  • West Nile virus / genetics
  • West Nile virus / metabolism

Substances

  • NS3 protein, flavivirus
  • RNA, Viral
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • RNA Helicases