Structural dynamics of single SARS-CoV-2 pseudoknot molecules reveal topologically distinct conformers

Krishna Neupane; Meng Zhao; Aaron Lyons; Sneha Munshi; Sandaru M. Ileperuma; Dustin B. Ritchie; Noel Q. Hoffer; Abhishek Narayan; Michael T. Woodside

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-25085-6

Nature Communications (Aug 2021)

Structural dynamics of single SARS-CoV-2 pseudoknot molecules reveal topologically distinct conformers

Krishna Neupane,
Meng Zhao,
Aaron Lyons,
Sneha Munshi,
Sandaru M. Ileperuma,
Dustin B. Ritchie,
Noel Q. Hoffer,
Abhishek Narayan,
Michael T. Woodside

Affiliations

Krishna Neupane: Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Meng Zhao: Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Aaron Lyons: Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Sneha Munshi: Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Sandaru M. Ileperuma: Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Dustin B. Ritchie: Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Noel Q. Hoffer: Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Abhishek Narayan: Department of Physics, University of Alberta
Michael T. Woodside: Department of Physics, University of Alberta

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25085-6
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

Read online

The RNA pseudoknot of SARS-CoV-2 promotes -1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting. Here the authors use single molecule force spectroscopy to study the folding of this pseudoknot, showing that it forms at least two different pseudoknot conformers with distinct fold topologies.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

About the journal