Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2025
DOI
10.3390/v17081127
Publication Title
Viruses
Volume
17
Issue
8
Pages
1127 (1-20)
Abstract
Enteroviruses initiate genomic replication via a highly conserved mechanism that is controlled by an RNA platform, also known as the 5' cloverleaf (5'CL). Here, we present a biophysical analysis of the 5'CL conformation of three enterovirus serotypes under various ionic conditions, utilizing CD spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography, and small-angle X-ray scattering. In general, a tendency toward a smaller monomeric hydrodynamic radius in the presence of salts was observed, but the exact structural signature of each 5'CL varied depending upon the serotype. Rhinovirus B14 (RVB14) exhibited at least two monomeric conformations and a low propensity for dimerization, while poliovirus 1 (PV1) showed a high propensity for dimerization, which was enhanced by the presence of salts. Enterovirus D70 was observed to be somewhat intermediate, with primarily a monomeric structure, but possessing some potential for dimerization. The equilibrium between the two monomeric and the dimeric conformations is also discussed. These results indicate that the 5'CL conformation may be more complex than the current literature suggests, thus underscoring the need for a combined crystal and solution approach for the accurate representation of the 5'CL conformation, and the conformation of other RNA structural elements, under native conditions.
Rights
© 2025 by the authors.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.
Data Availability
Article states: "The data for this manuscript will be made available upon request."
Original Publication Citation
Daniels, M. G., Werner, M. E., Zuo, X., & Pascal, S. M. (2025). The importance of solution studies for the structural characterization of the enterovirus 5' cloverleaf. Viruses, 17(8), Article 1127. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17081127
Repository Citation
Daniels, Morgan G.; Werner, Meagan E.; Zuo, Xiaobing; and Pascal, Steven M., "The Importance of Solution Studies for the Structural Characterization of the Enterovirus 5' Cloverleaf" (2025). Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications. 363.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/chemistry_fac_pubs/363
Supplementary Materials
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