RNA-binding properties of Dendrolimus punctatus tetravirus p17 protein

The RNA-binding properties of the p17 protein of Dendrolimus punctatus tetravirus were analysed. We have demonstrated that p17 protein, a nonstructural protein with a potentially important role in viral replication, is a RNA-binding protein, which has not been previously described for any member of the family Tetraviridae. P17 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and was used in UV cross-linking analysis, using a digoxigenin–UTP-labeled RNA probe and chemical cross-linking analysis. The analyses demonstrated that p17 protein could bind to RNA. When analysed for capacity of p17 to form oligomers, the protein could form dimers and tetramers. Furthermore, the circular dichroism spectrums of viral RNA 3′-UTR proved that their secondary structures were consistent with yeast tRNA.