Gene Accession

P18272

Gene Alias

Nucleoprotein (Ebola NP) (eNP) (Nucleocapsid protein) (Protein N)

Background

FUNCTION: Oligomerizes into helical capsid to encapsidate the viral genome, protecting it from nucleases and the cellular innate immune response (PubMed:26119732, PubMed:25865894, PubMed:30333622, PubMed:16719918). VP35 binds to and stabilizes monomeric NP, keeping it soluble (PubMed:26119732, PubMed:25865894). Upon virus replication, NP is recruited to bind cooperatively viral genomic RNA and VP35 is released (PubMed:29144446). The encapsidated genomic RNA is termed the nucleocapsid and serves as template for transcription and replication. The nucleocapsid is helical with a pitch of 10.81 NP per turn and a diameter of about 22nm (PubMed:22247782). Each NP binds to six nucleotides of viral genomic RNA, three being exposed to the solvant and three hidden into the nucleocapsid (PubMed:30333622). Recruits also host PPP2R5C phosphatase to dephosphorylate VP30 and thereby promote viral transcription (PubMed:29290611, PubMed:27755595). Upon virion assembly and budding, NP binds to VP24 and possibly host STAU1 (PubMed:28794491, PubMed:30301857). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:16719918, ECO:0000269|PubMed:22247782, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25865894, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26119732, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27755595, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28794491, ECO:0000269|PubMed:29144446, ECO:0000269|PubMed:29290611, ECO:0000269|PubMed:30301857, ECO:0000269|PubMed:30333622}.