SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein engages with viral RNA and ERGIC lipids to drive viral core assembly
Shovon Swarnakar, Jhili Mishra, Virgile Rat, Peggy Mérida, Louis Bunel, Damien Avinens, Jérôme Feuillard, Sébastien Lyonnais, Eric Martínez, Jitendriya Swain, Jérémy Dufourt, Mickaël Blaise, Cyril Favard, J. K. Basu, Delphine M. Muriaux
This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein interacts with viral RNA and ERGIC lipids to drive viral core assembly through lipid clustering and RNP stabilization.
bioRxiv · Jul 23, 2026 · PreprintBiophysics