It is the first nsp13 helicase structure of corona virus (CoV). CoV helicase is not only one of the most conserved evolutionary nonstructural proteins (nsps) but aslo one of core proteins that constitute viral transcription/replication transcription complex. CoV helicase is a multi-structural domain protein with large conformational change and extremely high structure-solving difficulties. Since the outbreak of SARS in 2003, many laboratories attempted to solve its structure but none of them has succeeded. Sheng Cui and his research team, after making persistent efforts and attempting nearly all CoV helicases, has finally solved the crystal structure of MERS-CoV nsp13. The contribution of their work to research on corona virus can be seen from the Reviewer’s comment.
