A virus is “simply a piece of bad news wrapped up in protein,” the biologists Jean and Peter Medawar wrote in 1977.

In January, scientists deciphered a piece of very bad news: the genome of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. The sample came from a 41-year-old man who worked at the seafood market in Wuhan where the first cluster of cases appeared.

Researchers are now racing to make sense of this viral recipe, which could inspire drugs, vaccines and other tools to fight the ongoing pandemic.

A String of RNA

Viruses must hijack living cells to replicate and spread. When the coronavirus finds a suitable cell, it injects a strand of RNA that contains the entire coronavirus genome.

The genome of the new coronavirus is less than 30,000 “letters” long. (The human genome is over 3 billion.) Scientists have identified genes for as many as 29 proteins, which carry out a range of jobs from making copies of the coronavirus to suppressing the body’s immune responses.

The first sequence of RNA letters reads:

auuaaagguuuauaccuucccagguaacaaaccaaccaacuuucgaucucuuguagaucuguucucuaaacgaacuuuaaaaucuguguggcugucacucggcugcaugcuuagugcacucacgcaguauaauuaauaacuaauuacugucguugacaggacacgaguaacucgucuaucuucugcaggcugcuuacgguuucguccguguugcagccgaucaucagcacaucuagguuucguccgggugugaccgaaagguaag

This sequence recruits machinery inside the infected cell to read the RNA letters — a, c, g and u — and translate them into coronavirus proteins.

The full coronavirus genome and the proteins it encodes are shown below.

A Chain of Proteins · ORF1ab

The first viral protein created inside the infected cell is actually a chain of 16 proteins joined together. Two of these proteins act like scissors, snipping the links between the different proteins and freeing them to do their jobs.

◀ Start of genome 30,000 RNA letters ▶ THE SARS-CoV-2 GENOME ORF1ab PROTEIN STRUCTURAL PROTEINS Spike E M N NON-STRUCTURAL PROTEINS (NSPs) ACCESSORY PROTEINS 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 3a 6 7b 9b 10 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 3b 7a 8 9c THE SARS-CoV-2 GENOME Non-Structural Proteins (NSPs) Start of genome 1 2 ORF1ab Protein 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Spike Accessory Proteins Structural Proteins 3b 3a E 6 M 7a 7b 8 9b N 9c 30,000 RNA letters 10 THE SARS-CoV-2 GENOME Non-Structural Proteins (NSPs) Start of genome 1 2 ORF1ab Protein 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Spike Accessory Proteins 3b Structural Proteins 3a E 6 M 7a 7b 8 9b N 9c 30,000 RNA letters 10

Research on other coronaviruses has given scientists a good understanding of what some of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins do. But other proteins are far more mysterious, and some might do nothing at all.

Cellular Saboteur · NSP1

This protein slows down the infected cell’s production of its own proteins. This sabotage forces the cell to make more virus proteins and prevents it from assembling antiviral proteins that could stop the virus.

auggagagccuugucccugguuucaacgagaaaacacacguccaacucaguuugccuguuuuacagguucgcgacgugcucguacguggcuuuggagacuccguggaggaggucuuaucagaggcacgucaacaucuuaaagauggcacuuguggcuuaguagaaguugaaaaaggcguuuugccucaacuugaacagcccuauguguucaucaaacguucggaugcucgaacugcaccucauggucauguuaugguugagcugguagcagaacucgaaggcauucaguacggucguaguggugagacacuugguguccuugucccucaugugggcgaaauaccaguggcuuaccgcaagguucuucuucguaagaacgguaauaaaggagcugguggccauaguuacggcgccgaucuaaagucauuugacuuaggcgacgagcuuggcacugauccuuaugaagauuuucaagaaaacuggaacacuaaacauagcagugguguuacccgugaacucaugcgugagcuuaacggaggg

Mystery Protein · NSP2

Scientists aren’t sure what NSP2 does. The other proteins it attaches to may offer some clues. Two of them help move molecule-filled bubbles called endosomes around the cell.

gcauacacucgcuaugucgauaacaacuucuguggcccugauggcuacccucuugagugcauuaaagaccuucuagcacgugcugguaaagcuucaugcacuuuguccgaacaacuggacuuuauugacacuaagagggguguauacugcugccgugaacaugagcaugaaauugcuugguacacggaacguucugaaaagagcuaugaauugcagacaccuuuugaaauuaaauuggcaaagaaauuugacaccuucaauggggaauguccaaauuuuguauuucccuuaaauuccauaaucaagacuauucaaccaaggguugaaaagaaaaagcuugauggcuuuauggguagaauucgaucugucuauccaguugcgucaccaaaugaaugcaaccaaaugugccuuucaacucucaugaagugugaucauuguggugaaacuucauggcagacgggcgauuuuguuaaagccacuugcgaauuuuguggcacugagaauuugacuaaagaaggugccacuacuugugguuacuuaccccaaaaugcuguuguuaaaauuuauuguccagcaugucacaauucagaaguaggaccugagcauagucuugccgaauaccauaaugaaucuggcuugaaaaccauucuucguaaggguggucgcacuauugccuuuggaggcuguguguucucuuauguugguugccauaacaagugugccuauuggguuccacgugcuagcgcuaacauagguuguaaccauacagguguuguuggagaagguuccgaaggucuuaaugacaaccuucuugaaauacuccaaaaagagaaagucaacaucaauauuguuggugacuuuaaacuuaaugaagagaucgccauuauuuuggcaucuuuuucugcuuccacaagugcuuuuguggaaacugugaaagguuuggauuauaaagcauucaaacaaauuguugaauccugugguaauuuuaaaguuacaaaaggaaaagcuaaaaaaggugccuggaauauuggugaacagaaaucaauacugaguccucuuuaugcauuugcaucagaggcugcucguguuguacgaucaauuuucucccgcacucuugaaacugcucaaaauucugugcguguuuuacagaaggccgcuauaacaauacuagauggaauuucacaguauucacugagacucauugaugcuaugauguucacaucugauuuggcuacuaacaaucuaguuguaauggccuacauuacaggugguguuguucaguugacuucgcaguggcuaacuaacaucuuuggcacuguuuaugaaaaacucaaacccguccuugauuggcuugaagagaaguuuaaggaagguguagaguuucuuagagacgguugggaaauuguuaaauuuaucucaaccugugcuugugaaauugucgguggacaaauugucaccugugcaaaggaaauuaaggagaguguucagacauucuuuaagcuuguaaauaaauuuuuggcuuugugugcugacucuaucauuauugguggagcuaaacuuaaagccuugaauuuaggugaaacauuugucacgcacucaaagggauuguacagaaaguguguuaaauccagagaagaaacuggccuacucaugccucuaaaagccccaaaagaaauuaucuucuuagagggagaaacacuucccacagaaguguuaacagaggaaguugucuugaaaacuggugauuuacaaccauuagaacaaccuacuagugaagcuguugaagcuccauugguugguacaccaguuuguauuaacgggcuuauguugcucgaaaucaaagacacagaaaaguacugugcccuugcaccuaauaugaugguaacaaacaauaccuucacacucaaaggcggu

Untagging and Cutting · NSP3

NSP3 is a large protein that has two important jobs. One is cutting loose other viral proteins so they can do their own tasks. It also alters many of the infected cell’s proteins.

Normally, a healthy cell tags old proteins for destruction. But the coronavirus can remove those tags, changing the balance of proteins and possibly reducing the cell’s ability to fight the virus.

gcaccaacaaagguuacuuuuggugaugacacugugauagaagugcaagguuacaagagugugaauaucacuuuugaacuugaugaaaggauugauaaaguacuuaaugagaagugcucugccuauacaguugaacucgguacagaaguaaaugaguucgccuguguuguggcagaugcugucauaaaaacuuugcaaccaguaucugaauuacuuacaccacugggcauugauuuagaugaguggaguauggcuacauacuacuuauuugaugagucuggugaguuuaaauuggcuucacauauguauuguucuuucuacccuccagaugaggaugaagaagaaggugauugugaagaagaagaguuugagccaucaacucaauaugaguaugguacugaagaugauuaccaagguaaaccuuuggaauuuggugccacuucugcugcucuucaaccugaagaagagcaagaagaagauugguuagaugaugauagucaacaaacuguuggucaacaagacggcagugaggacaaucagacaacuacuauucaaacaauuguugagguucaaccucaauuagagauggaacuuacaccaguuguucagacuauugaagugaauaguuuuagugguuauuuaaaacuuacugacaauguauacauuaaaaaugcagacauuguggaagaagcuaaaaagguaaaaccaacagugguuguuaaugcagccaauguuuaccuuaaacauggaggagguguugcaggagccuuaaauaaggcuacuaacaaugccaugcaaguugaaucugaugauuacauagcuacuaauggaccacuuaaagugggugguaguuguguuuuaagcggacacaaucuugcuaaacacugucuucauguugucggcccaaauguuaacaaaggugaagacauucaacuucuuaagagugcuuaugaaaauuuuaaucagcacgaaguucuacuugcaccauuauuaucagcugguauuuuuggugcugacccuauacauucuuuaagaguuuguguagauacuguucgcacaaaugucuacuuagcugucuuugauaaaaaucucuaugacaaacuuguuucaagcuuuuuggaaaugaagagugaaaagcaaguugaacaaaagaucgcugagauuccuaaagaggaaguuaagccauuuauaacugaaaguaaaccuucaguugaacagagaaaacaagaugauaagaaaaucaaagcuuguguugaagaaguuacaacaacucuggaagaaacuaaguuccucacagaaaacuuguuacuuuauauugacauuaauggcaaucuucauccagauucugccacucuuguuagugacauugacaucacuuucuuaaagaaagaugcuccauauauagugggugauguuguucaagaggguguuuuaacugcugugguuauaccuacuaaaaaggcugguggcacuacugaaaugcuagcgaaagcuuugagaaaagugccaacagacaauuauauaaccacuuacccgggucaggguuuaaaugguuacacuguagaggaggcaaagacagugcuuaaaaaguguaaaagugccuuuuacauucuaccaucuauuaucucuaaugagaagcaagaaauucuuggaacuguuucuuggaauuugcgagaaaugcuugcacaugcagaagaaacacgcaaauuaaugccugucuguguggaaacuaaagccauaguuucaacuauacagcguaaauauaaggguauuaaaauacaagagggugugguugauuauggugcuagauuuuacuuuuacaccaguaaaacaacuguagcgucacuuaucaacacacuuaacgaucuaaaugaaacucuuguuacaaugccacuuggcuauguaacacauggcuuaaauuuggaagaagcugcucgguauaugagaucucucaaagugccagcuacaguuucuguuucuucaccugaugcuguuacagcguauaaugguuaucuuacuucuucuucuaaaacaccugaagaacauuuuauugaaaccaucucacuugcugguuccuauaaagauugguccuauucuggacaaucuacacaacuagguauagaauuucuuaagagaggugauaaaaguguauauuacacuaguaauccuaccacauuccaccuagauggugaaguuaucaccuuugacaaucuuaagacacuucuuucuuugagagaagugaggacuauuaagguguuuacaacaguagacaacauuaaccuccacacgcaaguuguggacaugucaaugacauauggacaacaguuugguccaacuuauuuggauggagcugauguuacuaaaauaaaaccucauaauucacaugaagguaaaacauuuuauguuuuaccuaaugaugacacucuacguguugaggcuuuugaguacuaccacacaacugauccuaguuuucuggguagguacaugucagcauuaaaucacacuaaaaaguggaaauacccacaaguuaaugguuuaacuucuauuaaaugggcagauaacaacuguuaucuugccacugcauuguuaacacuccaacaaauagaguugaaguuuaauccaccugcucuacaagaugcuuauuacagagcaagggcuggugaagcugcuaacuuuugugcacuuaucuuagccuacuguaauaagacaguaggugaguuaggugauguuagagaaacaaugaguuacuuguuucaacaugccaauuuagauucuugcaaaagagucuugaacgugguguguaaaacuuguggacaacagcagacaacccuuaaggguguagaagcuguuauguacaugggcacacuuucuuaugaacaauuuaagaaagguguucagauaccuuguacgugugguaaacaagcuacaaaauaucuaguacaacaggagucaccuuuuguuaugaugucagcaccaccugcucaguaugaacuuaagcaugguacauuuacuugugcuagugaguacacugguaauuaccaguguggucacuauaaacauauaacuucuaaagaaacuuuguauugcauagacggugcuuuacuuacaaaguccucagaauacaaagguccuauuacggauguuuucuacaaagaaaacaguuacacaacaaccauaaaaccaguuacuuauaaauuggaugguguuguuuguacagaaauugacccuaaguuggacaauuauuauaagaaagacaauucuuauuucacagagcaaccaauugaucuuguaccaaaccaaccauauccaaacgcaagcuucgauaauuuuaaguuuguaugugauaauaucaaauuugcugaugauuuaaaccaguuaacugguuauaagaaaccugcuucaagagagcuuaaaguuacauuuuucccugacuuaaauggugaugugguggcuauugauuauaaacacuacacacccucuuuuaagaaaggagcuaaauuguuacauaaaccuauuguuuggcauguuaacaaugcaacuaauaaagccacguauaaaccaaauaccugguguauacguugucuuuggagcacaaaaccaguugaaacaucaaauucguuugauguacugaagucagaggacgcgcagggaauggauaaucuugccugcgaagaucuaaaaccagucucugaagaaguaguggaaaauccuaccauacagaaagacguucuugaguguaaugugaaaacuaccgaaguuguaggagacauuauacuuaaaccagcaaauaauaguuuaaaaauuacagaagagguuggccacacagaucuaauggcugcuuauguagacaauucuagucuuacuauuaagaaaccuaaugaauuaucuagaguauuagguuugaaaacccuugcuacucaugguuuagcugcuguuaauagugucccuugggauacuauagcuaauuaugcuaagccuuuucuuaacaaaguuguuaguacaacuacuaacauaguuacacgguguuuaaaccguguuuguacuaauuauaugccuuauuucuuuacuuuauugcuacaauuguguacuuuuacuagaaguacaaauucuagaauuaaagcaucuaugccgacuacuauagcaaagaauacuguuaagagugucgguaaauuuugucuagaggcuucauuuaauuauuugaagucaccuaauuuuucuaaacugauaaauauuauaauuugguuuuuacuauuaaguguuugccuagguucuuuaaucuacucaaccgcugcuuuagguguuuuaaugucuaauuuaggcaugccuucuuacuguacugguuacagagaaggcuauuugaacucuacuaaugucacuauugcaaccuacuguacugguucuauaccuuguaguguuugucuuagugguuuagauucuuuagacaccuauccuucuuuagaaacuauacaaauuaccauuucaucuuuuaaaugggauuuaacugcuuuuggcuuaguugcagagugguuuuuggcauauauucuuuucacuagguuuuucuauguacuuggauuggcugcaaucaugcaauuguuuuucagcuauuuugcaguacauuuuauuaguaauucuuggcuuaugugguuaauaauuaaucuuguacaaauggccccgauuucagcuaugguuagaauguacaucuucuuugcaucauuuuauuauguauggaaaaguuaugugcauguuguagacgguuguaauucaucaacuuguaugauguguuacaaacguaauagagcaacaagagucgaauguacaacuauuguuaaugguguuagaagguccuuuuaugucuaugcuaauggagguaaaggcuuuugcaaacuacacaauuggaauuguguuaauugugauacauucugugcugguaguacauuuauuagugaugaaguugcgagagacuugucacuacaguuuaaaagaccaauaaauccuacugaccagucuucuuacaucguugauaguguuacagugaagaaugguuccauccaucuuuacuuugauaaagcuggucaaaagacuuaugaaagacauucucucucucauuuuguuaacuuagacaaccugagagcuaauaacacuaaagguucauugccuauuaauguuauaguuuuugaugguaaaucaaaaugugaagaaucaucugcaaaaucagcgucuguuuacuacagucagcuuaugugucaaccuauacuguuacuagaucaggcauuagugucugauguuggugauagugcggaaguugcaguuaaaauguuugaugcuuacguuaauacguuuucaucaacuuuuaacguaccaauggaaaaacucaaaacacuaguugcaacugcagaagcugaacuugcaaagaauguguccuuagacaaugucuuaucuacuuuuauuucagcagcucggcaaggguuuguugauucagauguagaaacuaaagauguuguugaaugucuuaaauugucacaucaaucugacauagaaguuacuggcgauaguuguaauaacuauaugcucaccuauaacaaaguugaaaacaugacaccccgugaccuuggugcuuguauugacuguagugcgcgucauauuaaugcgcagguagcaaaaagucacaacauugcuuugauauggaacguuaaagauuucaugucauugucugaacaacuacgaaaacaaauacguagugcugcuaaaaagaauaacuuaccuuuuaaguugacaugugcaacuacuagacaaguuguuaauguuguaacaacaaagauagcacuuaaggguggu

Bubble Maker · NSP4

Combining with other proteins, NSP4 helps build fluid-filled bubbles within infected cells. Inside these bubbles, parts for new copies of the virus are constructed.

aaaauuguuaauaauugguugaagcaguuaauuaaaguuacacuuguguuccuuuuuguugcugcuauuuucuauuuaauaacaccuguucaugucaugucuaaacauacugacuuuucaagugaaaucauaggauacaaggcuauugaugguggugucacucgugacauagcaucuacagauacuuguuuugcuaacaaacaugcugauuuugacacaugguuuagccagcguggugguaguuauacuaaugacaaagcuugcccauugauugcugcagucauaacaagagaaguggguuuugucgugccugguuugccuggcacgauauuacgcacaacuaauggugacuuuuugcauuucuuaccuagaguuuuuagugcaguugguaacaucuguuacacaccaucaaaacuuauagaguacacugacuuugcaacaucagcuuguguuuuggcugcugaauguacaauuuuuaaagaugcuucugguaagccaguaccauauuguuaugauaccaauguacuagaagguucuguugcuuaugaaaguuuacgcccugacacacguuaugugcucauggauggcucuauuauucaauuuccuaacaccuaccuugaagguucuguuagagugguaacaacuuuugauucugaguacuguaggcacggcacuugugaaagaucagaagcugguguuuguguaucuacuagugguagauggguacuuaacaaugauuauuacagaucuuuaccaggaguuuucugugguguagaugcuguaaauuuacuuacuaauauguuuacaccacuaauucaaccuauuggugcuuuggacauaucagcaucuauaguagcuggugguauuguagcuaucguaguaacaugccuugccuacuauuuuaugagguuuagaagagcuuuuggugaauacagucauguaguugccuuuaauacuuuacuauuccuuaugucauucacuguacucuguuuaacaccaguuuacucauucuuaccugguguuuauucuguuauuuacuuguacuugacauuuuaucuuacuaaugauguuucuuuuuuagcacauauucaguggaugguuauguucacaccuuuaguaccuuucuggauaacaauugcuuauaucauuuguauuuccacaaagcauuucuauugguucuuuaguaauuaccuaaagagacguguagucuuuaaugguguuuccuuuaguacuuuugaagaagcugcgcugugcaccuuuuuguuaaauaaagaaauguaucuaaaguugcguagugaugugcuauuaccucuuacgcaauauaauagauacuuagcucuuuauaauaaguacaaguauuuuaguggagcaauggauacaacuagcuacagagaagcugcuuguugucaucucgcaaaggcucucaaugacuucaguaacucagguucugauguucuuuaccaaccaccacaaaccucuaucaccucagcuguuuugcag

Protein Scissors · NSP5

This protein makes most of the cuts that free other NSP proteins to carry out their own jobs.

agugguuuuagaaaaauggcauucccaucugguaaaguugaggguuguaugguacaaguaacuugugguacaacuacacuuaacggucuuuggcuugaugacguaguuuacuguccaagacaugugaucugcaccucugaagacaugcuuaacccuaauuaugaagauuuacucauucguaagucuaaucauaauuucuugguacaggcugguaauguucaacucaggguuauuggacauucuaugcaaaauuguguacuuaagcuuaagguugauacagccaauccuaagacaccuaaguauaaguuuguucgcauucaaccaggacagacuuuuucaguguuagcuuguuacaaugguucaccaucugguguuuaccaaugugcuaugaggcccaauuucacuauuaaggguucauuccuuaaugguucaugugguaguguugguuuuaacauagauuaugacugugucucuuuuuguuacaugcaccauauggaauuaccaacuggaguucaugcuggcacagacuuagaagguaacuuuuauggaccuuuuguugacaggcaaacagcacaagcagcugguacggacacaacuauuacaguuaauguuuuagcuugguuguacgcugcuguuauaaauggagacaggugguuucucaaucgauuuaccacaacucuuaaugacuuuaaccuuguggcuaugaaguacaauuaugaaccucuaacacaagaccauguugacauacuaggaccucuuucugcucaaacuggaauugccguuuuagauaugugugcuucauuaaaagaauuacugcaaaaugguaugaauggacguaccauauuggguagugcuuuauuagaagaugaauuuacaccuuuugauguuguuagacaaugcucagguguuacuuuccaa

Bubble Factory · NSP6

Works with NSP3 and NSP4 to make virus factory bubbles.

agugcagugaaaagaacaaucaaggguacacaccacugguuguuacucacaauuuugacuucacuuuuaguuuuaguccagaguacucaauggucuuuguucuuuuuuuuguaugaaaaugccuuuuuaccuuuugcuauggguauuauugcuaugucugcuuuugcaaugauguuugucaaacauaagcaugcauuucucuguuuguuuuuguuaccuucucuugccacuguagcuuauuuuaauauggucuauaugccugcuaguugggugaugcguauuaugacaugguuggauaugguugauacuaguuugucugguuuuaagcuaaaagacuguguuauguaugcaucagcuguaguguuacuaauccuuaugacagcaagaacuguguaugaugauggugcuaggagaguguggacacuuaugaaugucuugacacucguuuauaaaguuuauuaugguaaugcuuuagaucaagccauuuccaugugggcucuuauaaucucuguuacuucuaacuacucagguguaguuacaacugucauguuuuuggccagagguauuguuuuuauguguguugaguauugcccuauuuucuucauaacugguaauacacuucaguguauaaugcuaguuuauuguuucuuaggcuauuuuuguacuuguuacuuuggccucuuuuguuuacucaaccgcuacuuuagacugacucuugguguuuaugauuacuuaguuucuacacaggaguuuagauauaugaauucacagggacuacucccacccaagaauagcauagaugccuucaaacucaacauuaaauuguuggguguugguggcaaaccuuguaucaaaguagccacuguacag

Copy Assistants · NSP7 and NSP8

These two proteins help NSP12 make new copies of the RNA genome, which can ultimately end up inside new viruses.

ucuaaaaugucagauguaaagugcacaucaguagucuuacucucaguuuugcaacaacucagaguagaaucaucaucuaaauugugggcucaauguguccaguuacacaaugacauucucuuagcuaaagauacuacugaagccuuugaaaaaaugguuucacuacuuucuguuuugcuuuccaugcagggugcuguagacauaaacaagcuuugugaagaaaugcuggacaacagggcaaccuuacaa

gcuauagccucagaguuuaguucccuuccaucauaugcagcuuuugcuacugcucaagaagcuuaugagcaggcuguugcuaauggugauucugaaguuguucuuaaaaaguugaagaagucuuugaauguggcuaaaucugaauuugaccgugaugcagccaugcaacguaaguuggaaaagauggcugaucaagcuaugacccaaauguauaaacaggcuagaucugaggacaagagggcaaaaguuacuagugcuaugcagacaaugcuuuucacuaugcuuagaaaguuggauaaugaugcacucaacaacauuaucaacaaugcaagagaugguuguguucccuugaacauaauaccucuuacaacagcagccaaacuaaugguugucauaccagacuauaacacauauaaaaauacgugugaugguacaacauuuacuuaugcaucagcauugugggaaauccaacagguuguagaugcagauaguaaaauuguucaacuuagugaaauuaguauggacaauucaccuaauuuagcauggccucuuauuguaacagcuuuaagggccaauucugcugucaaauuacag

At the Heart of the Cell · NSP9

This protein infiltrates tiny channels in the infected cell’s nucleus, which holds our own genome. It may be able to influence the movement of molecules in and out of the nucleus — but for what purpose, no one knows.

aauaaugagcuuaguccuguugcacuacgacagaugucuugugcugccgguacuacacaaacugcuugcacugaugacaaugcguuagcuuacuacaacacaacaaagggagguagguuuguacuugcacuguuauccgauuuacaggauuugaaaugggcuagauucccuaagagugauggaacugguacuaucuauacagaacuggaaccaccuuguagguuuguuacagacacaccuaaagguccuaaagugaaguauuuauacuuuauuaaaggauuaaacaaccuaaauagagguaugguacuugguaguuuagcugccacaguacgucuacaa

Genetic Camouflage · NSP10

Human cells have antiviral proteins that find viral RNA and shred it. This protein works with NSP16 to camouflage the virus’s genes so that they don’t get attacked.

gcugguaaugcaacagaagugccugccaauucaacuguauuaucuuucugugcuuuugcuguagaugcugcuaaagcuuacaaagauuaucuagcuagugggggacaaccaaucacuaauuguguuaagauguuguguacacacacugguacuggucaggcaauaacaguuacaccggaagccaauauggaucaagaauccuuugguggugcaucguguugucuguacugccguugccacauagaucauccaaauccuaaaggauuuugugacuuaaaagguaaguauguacaaauaccuacaacuugugcuaaugacccuguggguuuuacacuuaaaaacacagucuguaccgucugcgguauguggaaagguuauggcuguaguugugaucaacuccgcgaacccaugcuucag

Copy Machine · NSP12

This protein assembles genetic letters into new virus genomes. Researchers have found that the antiviral remdesivir interferes with NSP12 in other coronaviruses, and trials are now underway to see if the drug can treat Covid-19.

The infected cell begins reading the RNA sequence for NSP12:

ucagcugaugcacaaucguuuuuaaac...

Then it backtracks and reads c again, continuing as:

...cggguuugcgguguaagugcagcccgucuuacaccgugcggcacaggcacuaguacugaugucguauacagggcuuuugacaucuacaaugauaaaguagcugguuuugcuaaauuccuaaaaacuaauuguugucgcuuccaagaaaaggacgaagaugacaauuuaauugauucuuacuuuguaguuaagagacacacuuucucuaacuaccaacaugaagaaacaauuuauaauuuacuuaaggauuguccagcuguugcuaaacaugacuucuuuaaguuuagaauagacggugacaugguaccacauauaucacgucaacgucuuacuaaauacacaauggcagaccucgucuaugcuuuaaggcauuuugaugaagguaauugugacacauuaaaagaaauacuugucacauacaauuguugugaugaugauuauuucaauaaaaaggacugguaugauuuuguagaaaacccagauauauuacgcguauacgccaacuuaggugaacguguacgccaagcuuuguuaaaaacaguacaauucugugaugccaugcgaaaugcugguauuguugguguacugacauuagauaaucaagaucucaaugguaacugguaugauuucggugauuucauacaaaccacgccagguaguggaguuccuguuguagauucuuauuauucauuguuaaugccuauauuaaccuugaccagggcuuuaacugcagagucacauguugacacugacuuaacaaagccuuacauuaagugggauuuguuaaaauaugacuucacggaagagagguuaaaacucuuugaccguuauuuuaaauauugggaucagacauaccacccaaauuguguuaacuguuuggaugacagaugcauucugcauugugcaaacuuuaauguuuuauucucuacaguguucccaccuacaaguuuuggaccacuagugagaaaaauauuuguugaugguguuccauuuguaguuucaacuggauaccacuucagagagcuagguguuguacauaaucaggauguaaacuuacauagcucuagacuuaguuuuaaggaauuacuuguguaugcugcugacccugcuaugcacgcugcuucugguaaucuauuacuagauaaacgcacuacgugcuuuucaguagcugcacuuacuaacaauguugcuuuucaaacugucaaacccgguaauuuuaacaaagacuucuaugacuuugcugugucuaaggguuucuuuaaggaaggaaguucuguugaauuaaaacacuucuucuuugcucaggaugguaaugcugcuaucagcgauuaugacuacuaucguuauaaucuaccaacaaugugugauaucagacaacuacuauuuguaguugaaguuguugauaaguacuuugauuguuacgaugguggcuguauuaaugcuaaccaagucaucgucaacaaccuagacaaaucagcugguuuuccauuuaauaaaugggguaaggcuagacuuuauuaugauucaaugaguuaugaggaucaagaugcacuuuucgcauauacaaaacguaaugucaucccuacuauaacucaaaugaaucuuaaguaugccauuagugcaaagaauagagcucgcaccguagcuggugucucuaucuguaguacuaugaccaauagacaguuucaucaaaaauuauugaaaucaauagccgccacuagaggagcuacuguaguaauuggaacaagcaaauucuauggugguuggcacaacauguuaaaaacuguuuauagugauguagaaaacccucaccuuauggguugggauuauccuaaaugugauagagccaugccuaacaugcuuagaauuauggccucacuuguucuugcucgcaaacauacaacguguuguagcuugucacaccguuucuauagauuagcuaaugagugugcucaaguauugagugaaauggucauguguggcgguucacuauauguuaaaccagguggaaccucaucaggagaugccacaacugcuuaugcuaauaguguuuuuaacauuugucaagcugucacggccaauguuaaugcacuuuuaucuacugaugguaacaaaauugccgauaaguauguccgcaauuuacaacacagacuuuaugagugucucuauagaaauagagauguugacacagacuuugugaaugaguuuuacgcauauuugcguaaacauuucucaaugaugauacucucugacgaugcuguuguguguuucaauagcacuuaugcaucucaaggucuaguggcuagcauaaagaacuuuaagucaguucuuuauuaucaaaacaauguuuuuaugucugaagcaaaauguuggacugagacugaccuuacuaaaggaccucaugaauuuugcucucaacauacaaugcuaguuaaacagggugaugauuauguguaccuuccuuacccagauccaucaagaauccuaggggccggcuguuuuguagaugauaucguaaaaacagaugguacacuuaugauugaacgguucgugucuuuagcuauagaugcuuacccacuuacuaaacauccuaaucaggaguaugcugaugucuuucauuuguacuuacaauacauaagaaagcuacaugaugaguuaacaggacacauguuagacauguauucuguuaugcuuacuaaugauaacacuucaagguauugggaaccugaguuuuaugaggcuauguacacaccgcauacagucuuacag

Another sequence, NSP11, overlaps part of the same stretch of RNA. But it’s not clear if the tiny protein encoded by this gene has any function at all.

Unwinding RNA · NSP13

Normally, virus RNA is wound into intricate twists and turns. Scientists suspect that NSP13 unwinds it so that other proteins can read its sequence and make new copies.

gcuguuggggcuuguguucuuugcaauucacagacuucauuaagauguggugcuugcauacguagaccauucuuauguuguaaaugcuguuacgaccaugucauaucaacaucacauaaauuagucuugucuguuaauccguauguuugcaaugcuccagguugugaugucacagaugugacucaacuuuacuuaggagguaugagcuauuauuguaaaucacauaaaccacccauuaguuuuccauugugugcuaauggacaaguuuuugguuuauauaaaaauacauguguugguagcgauaauguuacugacuuuaaugcaauugcaacaugugacuggacaaaugcuggugauuacauuuuagcuaacaccuguacugaaagacucaagcuuuuugcagcagaaacgcucaaagcuacugaggagacauuuaaacugucuuaugguauugcuacuguacgugaagugcugucugacagagaauuacaucuuucaugggaaguugguaaaccuagaccaccacuuaaccgaaauuaugucuuuacugguuaucguguaacuaaaaacaguaaaguacaaauaggagaguacaccuuugaaaaaggugacuauggugaugcuguuguuuaccgagguacaacaacuuacaaauuaaauguuggugauuauuuugugcugacaucacauacaguaaugccauuaagugcaccuacacuagugccacaagagcacuauguuagaauuacuggcuuauacccaacacucaauaucucagaugaguuuucuagcaauguugcaaauuaucaaaagguugguaugcaaaaguauucuacacuccagggaccaccugguacugguaagagucauuuugcuauuggccuagcucucuacuacccuucugcucgcauaguguauacagcuugcucucaugccgcuguugaugcacuaugugagaaggcauuaaaauauuugccuauagauaaauguaguagaauuauaccugcacgugcucguguagaguguuuugauaaauucaaagugaauucaacauuagaacaguaugucuuuuguacuguaaaugcauugccugagacgacagcagauauaguugucuuugaugaaauuucaauggccacaaauuaugauuugaguguugucaaugccagauuacgugcuaagcacuauguguacauuggcgacccugcucaauuaccugcaccacgcacauugcuaacuaagggcacacuagaaccagaauauuucaauucaguguguagacuuaugaaaacuauagguccagacauguuccucggaacuugucggcguuguccugcugaaauuguugacacugugagugcuuugguuuaugauaauaagcuuaaagcacauaaagacaaaucagcucaaugcuuuaaaauguuuuauaaggguguuaucacgcaugauguuucaucugcaauuaacaggccacaaauaggcgugguaagagaauuccuuacacguaacccugcuuggagaaaagcugucuuuauuucaccuuauaauucacagaaugcuguagccucaaagauuuugggacuaccaacucaaacuguugauucaucacagggcucagaauaugacuaugucauauucacucaaaccacugaaacagcucacucuuguaauguaaacagauuuaauguugcuauuaccagagcaaaaguaggcauacuuugcauaaugucugauagagaccuuuaugacaaguugcaauuuacaagucuugaaauuccacguaggaauguggcaacuuuacaa

Viral Proofreader · NSP14

As NSP12 duplicates the coronavirus genome, it sometimes adds a wrong letter to the new copy. NSP14 cuts out these errors, so that the correct letter can be added instead.

gcugaaaauguaacaggacucuuuaaagauuguaguaagguaaucacuggguuacauccuacacaggcaccuacacaccucaguguugacacuaaauucaaaacugaagguuuauguguugacauaccuggcauaccuaaggacaugaccuauagaagacucaucucuaugauggguuuuaaaaugaauuaucaaguuaaugguuacccuaacauguuuaucacccgcgaagaagcuauaagacauguacgugcauggauuggcuucgaugucgaggggugucaugcuacuagagaagcuguugguaccaauuuaccuuuacagcuagguuuuucuacagguguuaaccuaguugcuguaccuacagguuauguugauacaccuaauaauacagauuuuuccagaguuagugcuaaaccaccgccuggagaucaauuuaaacaccucauaccacuuauguacaaaggacuuccuuggaauguagugcguauaaagauuguacaaauguuaagugacacacuuaaaaaucucucugacagagucguauuugucuuaugggcacauggcuuugaguugacaucuaugaaguauuuugugaaaauaggaccugagcgcaccuguugucuaugugauagacgugccacaugcuuuuccacugcuucagacacuuaugccuguuggcaucauucuauuggauuugauuacgucuauaauccguuuaugauugauguucaacaaugggguuuuacagguaaccuacaaagcaaccaugaucuguauugucaaguccaugguaaugcacauguagcuaguugugaugcaaucaugacuaggugucuagcuguccacgagugcuuuguuaagcguguugacuggacuauugaauauccuauaauuggugaugaacugaagauuaaugcggcuuguagaaagguucaacacaugguuguuaaagcugcauuauuagcagacaaauucccaguucuucacgacauugguaacccuaaagcuauuaaguguguaccucaagcugauguagaauggaaguucuaugaugcacagccuuguagugacaaagcuuauaaaauagaagaauuauucuauucuuaugccacacauucugacaaauucacagaugguguaugccuauuuuggaauugcaaugucgauagauauccugcuaauuccauuguuuguagauuugacacuagagugcuaucuaaccuuaacuugccugguugugaugguggcaguuuguauguaaauaaacaugcauuccacacaccagcuuuugauaaaagugcuuuuguuaauuuaaaacaauuaccauuuuucuauuacucugacaguccaugugagucucauggaaaacaaguagugucagauauagauuauguaccacuaaagucugcuacguguauaacacguugcaauuuagguggugcugucuguagacaucaugcuaaugaguacagauuguaucucgaugcuuauaacaugaugaucucagcuggcuuuagcuuguggguuuacaaacaauuugauacuuauaaccucuggaacacuuuuacaagacuucag

Cleaning Up · NSP15

Researchers suspect that this protein chops up leftover virus RNA as a way to hide from the infected cell’s antiviral defenses.

agaguuuagaaaauguggcuuuuaauguuguaaauaagggacacuuugauggacaacagggugaaguaccaguuucuaucauuaauaacacuguuuacacaaaaguugaugguguugauguagaauuguuugaaaauaaaacaacauuaccuguuaauguagcauuugagcuuugggcuaagcgcaacauuaaaccaguaccagaggugaaaauacucaauaauuuggguguggacauugcugcuaauacugugaucugggacuacaaaagagaugcuccagcacauauaucuacuauugguguuuguucuaugacugacauagccaagaaaccaacugaaacgauuugugcaccacucacugucuuuuuugaugguagaguugauggucaaguagacuuauuuagaaaugcccguaaugguguucuuauuacagaagguaguguuaaagguuuacaaccaucuguaggucccaaacaagcuagucuuaauggagucacauuaauuggagaagccguaaaaacacaguucaauuauuauaagaaaguugaugguguuguccaacaauuaccugaaacuuacuuuacucagaguagaaauuuacaagaauuuaaacccaggagucaaauggaaauugauuucuuagaauuagcuauggaugaauucauugaacgguauaaauuagaaggcuaugccuucgaacauaucguuuauggagauuuuagucauagucaguuaggugguuuacaucuacugauuggacuagcuaaacguuuuaaggaaucaccuuuugaauuagaagauuuuauuccuauggacaguacaguuaaaaacuauuucauaacagaugcgcaaacagguucaucuaaguguguguguucuguuauugauuuauuacuugaugauuuuguugaaauaauaaaaucccaagauuuaucuguaguuucuaagguugucaaagugacuauugacuauacagaaauuucauuuaugcuuugguguaaagauggccauguagaaacauuuuacccaaaauuacaa

More Camouflage · NSP16

NSP16 works with NSP10 to help the virus’s genes hide from proteins that chop up viral RNA.