ArticleMolecular cell2020
Genomic RNA Elements Drive Phase Separation of the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid.
Article in Molecular cell, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 236 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
236 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 358 citations in OpenAlex.
- Newly Emerged Antiviral Strategies for SARS-CoV-2: From Deciphering Viral Protein Structural Function to the Development of Vaccines, Antibodies, and Small Molecules.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Pooled it
- Nsp3 Ubl1-orchestrated dephosphorylation of N protein promotes coronaviral subgenomic RNA synthesis.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- An ATP-Driven N Protein-DDX21 Molecular Switch Dynamically Controls SARS-CoV-2 RNA G-Quadruplex Heterogeneity.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Article
- G-Quadruplexes: Structural Diversity and Emerging Roles in Biomolecular Condensation.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Review
- Hiding in Plain Sight: HIV-1 Membraneless Organelles as Nuclear Hubs-Host Hijacking, Replication, Immune Evasion, and Drug-Access Implications.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Identification of the SARS-CoV-2 genome packaging signal in the nsp12-coding region.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Structural and Accessory Proteins: Emerging Opportunities for Small-Molecule Coronavirus Antivirals.Pharmaceutics · 2026Review
- Sequence and structure of protein binding sites in RNA impact biomolecular condensates.Molecular biology of the cell · 2026Article
- IFI16 restricts SARS-CoV-2 replication by disrupting nucleocapsid-driven phase separation.Communications biology · 2026Article
- Open questions on viral frameshifting: Exploiting the structural plasticity of the frameshifting element for therapeutic intervention.Biophysical journal · 2026Review
- Cucumber Mosaic Virus Coat Protein Sequesters Host CDPK7-Like Into Phase-Separated Condensates to Promote Viral Infection.Molecular plant pathology · 2026Article
- SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein variants have differential RNA chaperone activity.The FEBS journal · 2026Article
- Article
- Review
- Evolution of a truncated nucleocapsid protein enhances SARS-CoV-2 fitness by suppressing antiviral responses.PLoS biology · 2026Article
- Clustering of SARS-CoV-2 membrane proteins in lipid bilayer membranes.PLoS computational biology · 2026Article
- Liquid-liquid phase separation in the viral replication cycle: new paradigms and therapeutic opportunities.Archives of virology · 2026Review
- Sequence and structure of protein binding sites in RNA impact biomolecular condensates.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Antiviral drug discovery and development: challenges and future directions.Signal transduction and targeted therapy · 2026Review
176 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
17 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
We report that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) with viral RNA. N-protein condenses with specific RNA genomic elements under physiological buffer conditions and condensation is enhanced at human body temperatures (33°C and 37°C) and reduced at room temperature (22°C). RNA sequence and structure in specific genomic regions regulate N-protein condensation while other genomic regions promote condensate dissolution, potentially preventing aggregation of the large genome. At low concentrations, N-protein preferentially crosslinks to specific regions characterized by single-stranded RNA flanked by structured elements and these features specify the location, number, and strength of N-protein binding sites (valency). Liquid-like N-protein condensates form in mammalian cells in a concentration-dependent manner and can be altered by small molecules. Condensation of N-protein is RNA sequence and structure specific, sensitive to human body temperature, and manipulatable with small molecules, and therefore presents a screenable process for identifying antiviral compounds effective against SARS-CoV-2.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.