The structural nucleocapsid (N) protein of nCoV/SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 is a predicted 46 kDa phosphoprotein having 419 amino acid residues. A short Serine rich stretch and a recognized nuclear localization signal are the unique features of the nucleocapsid protein of nCoV/SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, which seems to have a little homology with the proteins of other members of this large corona virus family. These features also suggest the involvement of nucleocapsid protein of nCoV/SARS- CoV-2/COVID-19 in different stages of viral lifecycle. The protein has multifaceted activities including packing of the nCoV/SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 viral genome into a helical ribonucleocapsid (RNP) and playing an important role in viral self- assembly causing nCoV/SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. The nucleocapsid protein of nCoV/SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 also forms dimer in the cell by self-association with the help of interactive C terminal domain.
