Crystal Structure and Functional Analysis of the SARS-Coronavirus RNA Cap 2′-O-Methyltransferase nsp10/nsp16 Complex

Cellular and viral S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferases are involved in many regulated processes such as metabolism, detoxification, signal transduction, chromatin remodeling, nucleic acid processing, and mRNA capping. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus nsp16 protein is a S-adenosylmethionine-dependent (nucleoside-2′-O)-methyltransferase only active in the presence of its activating partner nsp10. We report the nsp10/nsp16 complex structure at 2.0 Å resolution, which shows nsp10 bound to nsp16 through a ∼930 Å2 surface area in nsp10. Functional assays identify key residues involved in nsp10/nsp16 association, and in RNA binding or catalysis, the latter likely through a SN2-like mechanism. We present two other crystal structures, the inhibitor Sinefungin bound in the S-adenosylmethionine binding pocket and the tighter complex nsp10(Y96F)/nsp16, providing the first structural insight into the regulation of RNA capping enzymes in (+)RNA viruses

PANI/ZnO/Quartz structure for Love wave gas sensor

Everyone knows the importance of sensors in our society and the huge attempt to improve their properties in order to obtain better sensitivity and selectivity. In this paper, we are more particularly focused on gas sensors based on surface acoustic waves (SAW) device. In a previous work, we have developed and studied a structure composed of a 90° rotated ST quartz crystal covered with a ZnO layer. By developing inter-digital transducers (IDT) on this structure, we can generate different types of acoustic waves. Love waves which are confined near the surface are known to be very sensitives to fluids (liquids or gases). The aim of this work is to present the way we have developed this optimal structure and to test it with a specific polymer. This polymer is polyaniline (PANI). Its main advantage is that it should be deposited by cold pulsed plasma process

Crystallization and diffraction analysis of the SARS coronavirus nsp10-nsp16 complex.

International audienceTo date, the SARS coronavirus is the only known highly pathogenic human coronavirus. In 2003, it was responsible for a large outbreak associated with a 10% fatality rate. This positive RNA virus encodes a large replicase polyprotein made up of 16 gene products (nsp1-16), amongst which two methyltransferases, nsp14 and nsp16, are involved in viral mRNA cap formation. The crystal structure of nsp16 is unknown. Nsp16 is an RNA-cap AdoMet-dependent (nucleoside-2'-O-)-methyltransferase that is only active in the presence of nsp10. In this paper, the expression, purification and crystallization of nsp10 in complex with nsp16 are reported. The crystals diffracted to a resolution of 1.9 Å resolution and crystal structure determination is in progress