WIREs RNA:武汉大学陈明周实验室发表特邀综述文章
近日，《WIREs RNA》杂志在线发表武汉大学生命科学学院病毒学系陈明周教授发表题为“Nucleocapsid proteins: roles beyond viral RNA packaging”的综述论文，系统的总结了病毒核衣壳蛋白(Nucleocapsid Protein, NP)除了在包裹病毒的RNA之外的许多重要功能及其作用机制。博士生丁彬彬为第一作者，陈明周教授做为该综述的通讯作者。
RNA病毒的NP在病毒的复制过程中主要是包裹病毒的基因组，以形成病毒复制与转录的模版。大量的研究发现NP通过与病毒和宿主细胞蛋白的相互作用从而调控病毒的复制、转录、组装和释放;NP还可以负调控干扰素的表达和诱导细胞产生应激反应如凋亡、自噬、胁迫颗粒(stress granule)等;另外，由于NP序列的保守性还可以做为研究疫苗的靶标。发表在《WIREs RNA》上的这一特邀综述论文，主要对NP在1)病毒的复制循环;2)与宿主细胞的关系;3)做为理想的疫苗靶标这三个方面进行全面的总结、分析和展望。
陈明周教授课题组长期致力与不分节负链RNA病毒的研究，近几年对不分节负链RNA病毒NP在病毒粒子复制和组装研究方面取得了重要进展, 极大地推动了负链RNA病毒NP研究领域的发展(JVI, 2013; JVI, 2014; JVI, 2015)。
原文链接：
Nucleocapsid proteins: roles beyond viral RNA packaging
原文摘要：
Viral nucleocapsid proteins (NCs) enwrap the RNA genomes of viruses to form NC–RNA complexes, which act as a template and are essential for viral replication and transcription. Beyond packaging viral RNA, NCs also play important roles in virus replication, transcription, assembly, and budding by interacting with viral and host cellular proteins. Additionally, NCs can inhibit interferon signaling response and function in cell stress response, such as inducing apoptosis. Finally, NCs can be the target of vaccines, benefiting from their conserved gene sequences. Here, we summarize important findings regarding the additional functions of NCs as much more than structural RNA-binding proteins, with specific emphasis on (1) their association with the viral life cycle, (2) their association with host cells, and (3) as ideal candidates for vaccine development.
作者：陈明周
