The 2C putative helicase of echovirus 30 adopts a hexameric ring-shaped structure

Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2010 Oct;66(Pt 10):1116-20. doi: 10.1107/S090744491002809X. Epub 2010 Sep 18.

Abstract

The 2C protein, which is an essential ATPase and one of the most conserved proteins across the Picornaviridae family, is an emerging antiviral target for which structural and functional characterization remain elusive. Based on a distant relationship to helicases of small DNA viruses, piconavirus 2C proteins have been predicted to unwind double-stranded RNAs. Here, a terminally extended variant of the 2C protein from echovirus 30 has been studied by means of enzymatic activity assays, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The transmission electron-microscopy technique showed the existence of ring-shaped particles with ∼12 nm external diameter. Image analysis revealed that these particles were hexameric and resembled those formed by superfamily 3 DNA virus helicases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA Viruses / physiology*
  • Enterovirus B, Human / physiology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Multimerization
  • RNA Helicases / chemistry*
  • RNA Helicases / genetics
  • RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • RNA Helicases / ultrastructure
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Structural Homology, Protein
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Virion / chemistry*
  • Virion / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • 2C helicase
  • RNA Helicases