A Hyperactive Kunjin Virus NS3 Helicase Mutant Demonstrates Increased Dissemination and Mortality in Mosquitoes.

ABSTRACT: The unwinding of double-stranded RNA intermediates is critical for the replication and packaging of flavivirus RNA genomes. This unwinding activity is achieved by the ATP-dependent nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) helicase. In previous studies, we investigated the mechanism of energy transduction between the ATP and RNA binding pockets using molecular dynamics simulations and enzymatic characterization. Our data corroborated the hypothesis that motif V is a communication hub for this energy transduction. More specifically, mutations T407A and S411A in motif V exhibit a hyperactive helicase phenotype, leading to the regulation of translocation and unwinding during replication. However, the effect of these mutations on viral infection in cell culture and in vivo is not well understood. Here, we

SUBMITTER: Du Pont KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7495370 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature