Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37901441›Full record

ArticlePNAS nexus2023

RNA structure and multiple weak interactions balance the interplay between RNA binding and phase separation of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid.

Aidan B Estelle, Heather M Forsythe, Zhen Yu, Kaitlyn Hughes, Brittany Lasher, Patrick Allen, Patrick N Reardon, David A Hendrix, Elisar J Barbar

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PNAS nexus, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed
4.2field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Mapping SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Function with Nanobodies.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Protein-RNA condensation kinetics via filamentous nanoclusters.Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society · 2025
    Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Assembly reactions of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein with nucleic acid.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2023
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Aidan B EstelleDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0305-0524
Heather M ForsytheDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Zhen YuDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Kaitlyn HughesDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Brittany LasherDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Patrick AllenDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8400-5823
Patrick N ReardonOregon State University NMR Facility, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6858-0086
David A HendrixDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Elisar J BarbarDepartment of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4892-5259
Oregon State University · US

Funding

Acquisition of a 700 MHz NMR SpectrometerS10OD018518 · OD · OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY · PI BARBAR, ELISAR J · 2015 to 2015
$1.3M
NIH HHS S10 OD018518
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds viral RNA, condensing it inside the virion, and phase separating with RNA to form liquid-liquid condensates. There is little consensus on what differentiates sequence-independent N-RNA interactions in the virion or in liquid droplets from those with specific genomic RNA (gRNA) motifs necessary for viral function inside infected cells. To identify the RNA structures and the N domains responsible for specific interactions and phase separation, we use the first 1,000 nt of viral RNA and short RNA segments designed as models for single-stranded and paired RNA. Binding affinities estimated from fluorescence anisotropy of these RNAs to the two-folded domains of N (the NTD and CTD) and comparison to full-length N demonstrate that the NTD binds preferentially to single-stranded RNA, and while it is the primary RNA-binding site, it is not essential to phase separation. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy identifies two RNA-binding sites on the NTD: a previously characterized site and an additional although weaker RNA-binding face that becomes prominent when binding to the primary site is weak, such as with dsRNA or a binding-impaired mutant. Phase separation assays of nucleocapsid domains with double-stranded and single-stranded RNA structures support a model where multiple weak interactions, such as with the CTD or the NTD's secondary face promote phase separation, while strong, specific interactions do not. These studies indicate that both strong and multivalent weak N-RNA interactions underlie the multifunctional abilities of N.

Indexed as

nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopynucleocapsidphase separationprotein–RNA interactionSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID37901441
PMCPMC10605006
OpenAlexW4387578376

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.