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A specific phosphorylation-dependent conformational switch of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein inhibits RNA binding

Botova, M.; Camacho-Zarco, A. R.; Tognetti, J.; Bessa, L. M.; Guseva, S.; Mikkola, E.; Salvi, N.; Maurin, D.; Herrmann, T.; Blackledge, M.

2024-02-23 biochemistry
10.1101/2024.02.22.579423 bioRxiv
Show abstract

The nucleoprotein (N) of SARS-CoV-2 encapsidates the viral genome and is essential for viral function. The central disordered domain comprises a serine-arginine-rich domain (SR) that is hyperphosphorylated in infected cells. This modification is thought to regulate function of N, although mechanistic details remain unknown. We use time-resolved NMR to follow local and long-range structural changes occurring during hyperphosphorylation by the kinases SRPK1/GSK-3/CK1, thereby identifying a conformational switch that abolishes interaction with RNA. When 8 approximately uniformly-distributed sites are phosphorylated, the SR domain competitively binds the same interface as single-stranded RNA, resulting in RNA binding inhibition. Phosphorylation by PKA does not prevent RNA binding, indicating that the pattern resulting from the physiologically-relevant kinases is specific for inhibition. Long-range contacts between the RNA-binding, linker and dimerization domains are also abrogated, phenomena possibly related to genome packaging and unpackaging. This study provides insight into recruitment of specific host kinases to regulate viral function.

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