Fig. 1: N protein undergoes phase separation with RNA. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: N protein undergoes phase separation with RNA.

From: The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid phosphoprotein forms mutually exclusive condensates with RNA and the membrane-associated M protein

Fig. 1

a Fluorescence and DIC images of phase separation of N protein (1% N-terminal Cy5-labeled N protein) with a 3′ 6-FAM-labeled 17-mer ssRNA. Scale bar, 5 µm. Percentage values indicate the percentage of total RNA or protein fluorescence within condensates (see “Methods” section). See Supplementary Fig. 1a for N protein phase separation in the absence of added RNA. b Schematic of SARS-CoV-2 viral genome, showing the locations of four structural protein genes (pink) and three viral genome fragments used in this study (Supplementary Table 1). c Fluorescence images of phase-separated condensates formed by N protein with viral RNA fragments. Scale bar, 5 µm. d Fluorescence images of a representative fusion event of N + RNA condensates. Events were observed in 20 min after initial mixing. e Dissolution of N + RNA condensates by addition of 1,6-hexanediol. f Tomographic slice from a cryo-electron tomography reconstruction of N + RNA condensates (10 µM N protein plus 20 ng/µL PS576 RNA). Scale bar, 100 nm. See Supplementary Fig. 1f, g for power spectrum analysis of tomographic reconstructions.

Back to article page