Conformational changes in motif d of RdRPs as fidelity determinant

Abstract

RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) are the central players in both transcription and viral genome replication. Using NMR spectroscopy, Yang and colleagues (in this issue of Structure) show that the conformational changes in the structural motif D of poliovirus RdRP correlate with the nature of the bound nucleotide (correct versus incorrect), with a conserved lysine within this motif playing a key role. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.