The nucleocapsid (N) protein plays an important role in the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given its involvement in RNA packaging and the release of viral particles, the nucleocapsid protein has been identified as a potential therapeutic target. Upon infection by SARS-CoV-2, the presence of IgG, IgA, and IgM against N protein in the sera of patients indicates that the N protein is a potent antigen for host immunity. 1 In addition, the SARS-CoV-2 N protein sequence is a result of a continuous evolution of the involved gene sequences, making it an important protein to study as a potential drug target.
Understanding the role of N protein is crucial for developing new therapeutics and prophylaxis strategies, including vaccines. In this article, we’ve summarized the biochemistry, role in pathophysiology and evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Protein structure The N…
