Crystal structure of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) frameshifting pseudoknot.
Jones, C.P., Ferre-D'Amare, A.R.(2022) RNA 28: 239-249
- PubMed: 34845084 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1261/rna.078825.121
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
7LYJ, 7MKY - PubMed Abstract: 
SARS-CoV-2 produces two long viral protein precursors from one open reading frame using a highly conserved RNA pseudoknot that enhances programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting. The 1.3 Å-resolution X-ray structure of the pseudoknot reveals three coaxially stacked helices buttressed by idiosyncratic base triples from loop residues. This structure represents a frameshift-stimulating state that must be deformed by the ribosome and exhibits base-triple-adjacent pockets that could be targeted by future small-molecule therapeutics.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.