{
  "id": 10103194,
  "title": "Nsp3 Ubl1-orchestrated dephosphorylation of N protein promotes coronaviral subgenomic RNA synthesis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/nsp3-ubl1-orchestrated-dephosphorylation-of-n-protein-promotes",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-26T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.754410v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The coronavirus nucleocapsid protein, N, plays a crucial role in the viral lifecycle by being part of the Replication-Transcription Complex alongside Nsp3. Recent studies have revealed that varying levels of phosphorylation in N by host kinases regulate its functions during infection. However, little is known about the mechanisms controlling N dephosphorylation and its impact on the virus. In this research, we discovered that SARS-CoV-2 Nsp3 acts as a central regulator of N dephosphorylation by recruiting the phosphatase PP1/{gamma} through a shared binding region in the Ubl1 domain. When this binding region is missing, N dephosphorylation is stopped, which in turn prevents the production of subgenomic RNA. We compared the interactions of phospho-mimicking N to those with phospho-deficient N, and further examined the role of SRSF1, a host splicing factor, which works with unphosphorylated N to boost subgenomic RNA transcription. These findings reveal a new way in which Nsp3 helps N dephosphorylate through PP1/{gamma}, enabling coronavirus subgenomic RNA replication and providing a potential target for antiviral treatments.",
  "summary": "The coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein is indispensable for the viral lifecycle as part of the viral Replication-Transcription Complex together with Nsp3. Recent research demonstrated that phosphorylation of N by several host kinases intricately regulates its functions during infection. However, the mechanisms that control N dephosphorylation, and its physiological consequence, remain poorly…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}