Cys/His rich zinc-binding domain (CH/ZBD) of ronidovirus SF1 helicase and related proteins
Helicases catalyze NTP-dependent unwinding of nucleic acid duplexes into single strands and are classified based on the arrangement of conserved motifs into six superfamilies. This ronidovirus group includes Gill-associated virus (GAV) replication helicase encoded on ORF1 and belongs to helicase superfamily 1 (SF1). The CH/ZBD has 3 zinc-finger (ZnF1-3) motifs. Members of this group belong to a family of nindoviral replication helicases which include includes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) non-structural protein 13 (SARS-Nsp13), a component of the viral RNA synthesis replication and transcription complex (RTC). The SARS-Nsp13 CH/ZBD is indispensable for helicase activity and interacts with SARS-Nsp12, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. SARS-Nsp12 can enhance the helicase activity of SARS-Nsp13.