Anti-MERS-CoV Nucleoprotein Antibody

Nucleoprotein (UniProt: R9UM87; also known as Nucleocapsid protein, NC, Protein N) is encoded by the N gene (Gene ID: 14254601) in Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The MERS-CoV is a positive-strand RNA virus of the betacoronavirus genus within the Coronaviridae family that causes severe respiratory syndrome in human. The mature MERS-CoV contains 4 structural proteins: Envelope (E), Membrane (M), Nucleocapsid (N), and the Spike protein (S). Nucleoprotein of MERS-CoV is a homooligomeric multifunctional protein that plays roles in genome encapsidation, RNA synthesis during replication, host translational shutoff, and innate immunity disruption. It packages the positive strand viral genome RNA into helical ribonucleocapsid and is involved in virion assembly through its interactions with the viral genome and membrane protein M. The nucleoprotein is reportedly organized into two folded domains known as the N-terminal domain (NTD) and the C-terminal domain (CTD) that are separated by a disordered region (LKR) containing a serine/ arginine stretch. Clone 46 displays specificity for MERS-CoV nucleoprotein and does not show cross-reactivity with nucleoprotein from other related viruses, including SARS coronavirus. (Ref.: Nguyen, THV., et al. (2019). Acta Crystallogr. D. Struct. Biol. 75(1); 8-15; Yamaoka, Y., et al. (2016). Front. Microbiol. 7; Article 509).