A SARS-CoV replicon encoding Renilla luciferase as reporter protein is constructed.
The role of three macrodomains for the replication/transcription complex is analyzed.
In contrast to macrodomains X and SUD-N, SUD-M is found indispensable for replication.
Site-directed mutagenesis identifies charged SUD-M residues required for replication.
These residues have previously been shown to be involved in G-quadruplex binding.