Overview:

nCoV N-Protein / Nucleocapsid protein is an RNA-binding protein primarily involved in binding to the viral RNA genome during packaging of viral RNA into a helical ribonucleoprotein or nucleocapsid structure (1). In addition, N-protein regulates viral RNA synthesis during replication/transcription and modulates host-pathogen interactions, such as actin reorganization, host cell cycle progression, and apoptosis (2). N-Protein is abundantly expressed during infection and antibodies against N-Protein have been detected in confirmed cases of Covid-19. Therefore, N-Protein is a potent antigen that provides basis for future vaccine and diagnostic kit development (3).

References:

1. McBride R, et al: The coronavirus nucleocapsid is a multifunctional protein. Viruses. 2014, 6:2991-3018.

2. Surjit M, et al: The nucleocapsid protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus inhibits the activity of cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase complex and blocks S phase progression in mammalian cells. J Biol Chem. 2006, 281:10669-10681.

3. Zeng W, et al: Biochemical characterization of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2020, 527(3):618‐623.