FIG 7.

Model of the NS5-RNA interaction. NS5 consists of the MTase domain (yellow) and the RdRp domain (blue). The arrangement of the MTase and RdRp domains is depicted based on the crystal structures of DENV NS5 (PDB accession no. 5CCV). The template binding channel in RdRp is formed by the inner surfaces of the fingers and the thumb subdomains and leads to the active site in the palm subdomain (indicated by the GDD motif). An ssRNA binds in the template binding channel of NS5 with multiple interactions (left). The SLA₇₀ or SLA₈₀ binding site overlaps the template binding channel but involves less contact with NS5 than with ssRNA. The RNA molecules are shown in red, and interaction sites are depicted with dashed lines.