Dual modes of RNA-silencing suppression by Flock House virus protein B2.
Chao, J.A., Lee, J.H., Chapados, B.R., Debler, E.W., Schneemann, A., Williamson, J.R.(2005) Nat Struct Mol Biol 12: 952-957
- PubMed: 16228003 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb1005
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2AZ0, 2AZ2 - PubMed Abstract: 
As a counter-defense against antiviral RNA silencing during infection, the insect Flock House virus (FHV) expresses the silencing suppressor protein B2. Biochemical experiments show that B2 binds to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) without regard to length and inhibits cleavage of dsRNA by Dicer in vitro. A cocrystal structure reveals that a B2 dimer forms a four-helix bundle that binds to one face of an A-form RNA duplex independently of sequence. These results suggest that B2 blocks both cleavage of the FHV genome by Dicer and incorporation of FHV small interfering RNAs into the RNA-induced silencing complex.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, California 92037, USA.