Abstract 2212 Steady-state kinetic analysis of the Chikungunya virus nsP2-encoded NTPase

Alphaviruses represent an existing and emerging threat to global public health. While some alphaviruses like Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) cause substantial morbidity in the form of severe arthritis, others can cause fatal encephalitis. All alphaviruses encode a superfamily 1b, 5'-3'- helicase, nsP2, which can be fueled by hydrolysis of any nucleoside triphosphate (NTP). We have established a robust assay to the kinetics and mechanism CHIKV nsP2. The steady-state kinetic parameters measured for all four NTPs were similar.