Fig. 5: G3BP proteins accumulate in N vesicles together with S and M proteins and viral genomic RNA.

A549-ACE2 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (MOI 0.1) for 24 h. Representative images of the distributions of G3BP1 and of the viral proteins in cells harboring, or not, N puncta are presented in Supplementary Fig. 5a. a–d Details of the cellular distributions and colocalizations of G3BP1 and virion components in N puncta. Infected cells were stained with G3BP1, N, S, M and gRNA as indicated in the images. Images are representative of n = 3 (a–c) and n = 2 (d) independent experiments. e Expansion microscopy can resolve the N structures revealing their colocalization with G3BP1, S and ERGIC3 (images are representative of n = 3 independent experiments). Insets highlight colocalized structures. f N structures associate with, but do not colocalize with dsRNA (image representative of n = 2 independent experiments). All-scale bars indicate pre-expansion scales, 15 µm. Line scan of individual proteins and gRNA labeling in N puncta are shown. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.