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Aliper ET, Efremov RG. Inconspicuous Yet Indispensable: The Coronavirus Spike Transmembrane Domain. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16421. [PMID: 38003610 PMCID: PMC10671605 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane-spanning portions of proteins' polypeptide chains are commonly known as their transmembrane domains (TMDs). The structural organisation and dynamic behaviour of TMDs from proteins of various families, be that receptors, ion channels, enzymes etc., have been under scrutiny on the part of the scientific community for the last few decades. The reason for such attention is that, apart from their obvious role as an "anchor" in ensuring the correct orientation of the protein's extra-membrane domains (in most cases functionally important), TMDs often actively and directly contribute to the operation of "the protein machine". They are capable of transmitting signals across the membrane, interacting with adjacent TMDs and membrane-proximal domains, as well as with various ligands, etc. Structural data on TMD arrangement are still fragmentary at best due to their complex molecular organisation as, most commonly, dynamic oligomers, as well as due to the challenges related to experimental studies thereof. Inter alia, this is especially true for viral fusion proteins, which have been the focus of numerous studies for quite some time, but have provoked unprecedented interest in view of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, despite numerous structure-centred studies of the spike (S) protein effectuating target cell entry in coronaviruses, structural data on the TMD as part of the entire spike protein are still incomplete, whereas this segment is known to be crucial to the spike's fusogenic activity. Therefore, in attempting to bring together currently available data on the structure and dynamics of spike proteins' TMDs, the present review aims to tackle a highly pertinent task and contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying virus-mediated fusion, also offering a rationale for the design of novel efficacious methods for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena T. Aliper
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Roman G. Efremov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
- Department of Applied Mathematics, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow 101000, Russia
- L.D. Landau School of Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
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Zhao Y, Zhao Y, Xie L, Li Q, Zhang Y, Zang Y, Li X, Zhang L, Yang Z. Identification of Potential Lead Compounds Targeting Novel Druggable Cavity of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Trimer by Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076281. [PMID: 37047254 PMCID: PMC10094189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become an urgent public health problem. Spike (S) protein mediates the fusion between the virus and the host cell membranes, consequently emerging as an important target of drug design. The lack of comparisons of in situ full-length S homotrimer structures in different states hinders understanding the structures and revealing the function, thereby limiting the discovery and development of therapeutic agents. Here, the steady-state structures of the in situ full-length S trimer in closed and open states (Sclosed and Sopen) were modeled with the constraints of density maps, associated with the analysis of the dynamic structural differences. Subsequently, we identified various regions with structure and property differences as potential binding pockets for ligands that promote the formation of inactive trimeric protein complexes. By using virtual screening strategy and a newly defined druggable cavity, five ligands were screened with potential bioactivities. Then molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were performed on apo protein structures and ligand bound complexes to reveal the conformational changes upon ligand binding. Our simulation results revealed that sulforaphane (SFN), which has the best binding affinity, could inhibit the conformational changes of S homotrimer that would occur during the viral membrane fusion. Our results could aid in the understanding of the regulation mechanism of S trimer aggregation and the structure-activity relationship, facilitating the development of potential antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhen Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Yifan Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Linke Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Qian Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Yuze Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Yongjian Zang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Xuhua Li
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Zhiwei Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
- Correspondence:
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Li J, Liang T, Hei A, Wang X, Li H, Yu X, Zhao R, Gao P, Fang C, Zhou J, Li M, He E, Skog S. Novel neutralizing chicken IgY antibodies targeting 17 potent conserved peptides identified by SARS-CoV-2 proteome microarray, and future prospects. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1074077. [PMID: 36618358 PMCID: PMC9815496 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1074077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction An approach toward novel neutralizing IgY polyclonal antibodies (N-IgY-pAb) against SARS-CoV-2 S-ECD was developed. Material and methods The novel N-IgY-pAb and its intranasal spray response against the wild type ("'WH-Human 1") SARS-CoV-2 virus, variants of Delta or Omicron were up to 98%. Unique virus peptides binding to N-IgY-pAb were screened by a SARS-CoV-2 proteome microarray. Results Seventeen mutation-free peptides with a Z-score > 3.0 were identified as potent targets from a total of 966 peptides. The new findings show that one is in the RBM domain (461LKPFERDISTEIYQA475 ), two are in the NTD domain (21RTQLPPAYTNSFTRG35, 291CALDPLSETKCTLKS305) four are in the C1/2-terminal (561PFQQFGRDIADTTDA575,571DTTDAVRDPQTLEIL585,581TLEILDITPCSFGGV595, 661ECDIPIGAGICASYQ675 ), three are in the S1/S2 border (741YICGDSTECSNLLLQ755, 811KPSKRSFIEDLLFNK825, 821LLFNKVTLADAGFIK835) one target is in HR2 (1161SPDVDLGDISGINAS1175) and one is in HR2-TM (1201QELGKYEQYIKWPWY1215). Moreover, five potential peptides were in the NSP domain: nsp3-55 (1361SNEKQEILGTVSWNL1375), nsp14-50 (614HHANEYRLYLDAYNM642, ORF10-3 (21MNSRNYIAQVDVVNFNLT38, ORF7a-1(1MKIILFLALITLATC15) and ORF7a-12 (1116TLCFTLKRKTE121). Discussion and conclusion We concluded that the N-IgY-pAb could effectively neutralize the SARS-CoV-2. The new findings of seventeen potent conserved peptides are extremely important for developing new vaccines and "cocktails" of neutralizing Abs for efficient treatments for patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Ellen-Sven Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Te Liang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Ailian Hei
- Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Ellen-Sven Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiangbin Wang
- SciProtech Co., Ltd, Beijing Changping Science Park, Beijing, China
| | - Huijun Li
- Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Ellen-Sven Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaobo Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Centre, National Centre for Protein Sciences-Beijing (PHOENIX Centre), Beijing Institute of LifeOmics, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- SciProtech Co., Ltd, Beijing Changping Science Park, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Ellen-Sven Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cong Fang
- Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Ellen-Sven Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ji Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Ellen-Sven Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Maogang Li
- Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Ellen-Sven Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ellen He
- Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Ellen-Sven Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sven Skog
- Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Ellen-Sven Precision Medicine Institute, Shenzhen, China,*Correspondence: Sven Skog,
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Aliper ET, Krylov NA, Nolde DE, Polyansky AA, Efremov RG. A Uniquely Stable Trimeric Model of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Transmembrane Domain. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169221. [PMID: 36012488 PMCID: PMC9409440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding fusion mechanisms employed by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein entails realistic transmembrane domain (TMD) models, while no reliable approaches towards predicting the 3D structure of transmembrane (TM) trimers exist. Here, we propose a comprehensive computational framework to model the spike TMD only based on its primary structure. We performed amino acid sequence pattern matching and compared the molecular hydrophobicity potential (MHP) distribution on the helix surface against TM homotrimers with known 3D structures and selected an appropriate template for homology modeling. We then iteratively built a model of spike TMD, adjusting “dynamic MHP portraits” and residue variability motifs. The stability of this model, with and without palmitoyl modifications downstream of the TMD, and several alternative configurations (including a recent NMR structure), was tested in all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in a POPC bilayer mimicking the viral envelope. Our model demonstrated unique stability under the conditions applied and conforms to known basic principles of TM helix packing. The original computational framework looks promising and could potentially be employed in the construction of 3D models of TM trimers for a wide range of membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena T. Aliper
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay A. Krylov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., 117997 Moscow, Russia
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry E. Nolde
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., 117997 Moscow, Russia
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton A. Polyansky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Structural and Computational Biology, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Campus Vienna BioCenter 5, A-1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman G. Efremov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., 117997 Moscow, Russia
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Correspondence:
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Tien CF, Tsai WT, Chen CH, Chou HJ, Zhang MM, Lin JJ, Lin EJ, Dai SS, Ping YH, Yu CY, Kuo YP, Tsai WH, Chen HW, Yu GY. Glycosylation and S-palmitoylation regulate SARS-CoV-2 spike protein intracellular trafficking. iScience 2022; 25:104709. [PMID: 35813875 PMCID: PMC9250814 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as glycosylation and palmitoylation, are critical to protein folding, stability, intracellular trafficking, and function. Understanding regulation of PTMs of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein could help the therapeutic drug design. Herein, the VSV vector was used to produce SARS-CoV-2 S pseudoviruses to examine the roles of the 611LYQD614 and cysteine-rich motifs in S protein maturation and virus infectivity. Our results show that 611LY612 mutation alters S protein intracellular trafficking and reduces cell surface expression level. It also changes S protein glycosylation pattern and decreases pseudovirus infectivity. The S protein contains four cysteine-rich clusters with clusters I and II as the main palmitoylation sites. Mutations of clusters I and II disrupt S protein trafficking from ER-to-Golgi, suppress pseudovirus production, and reduce spike-mediated membrane fusion activity. Taken together, glycosylation and palmitoylation orchestrate the S protein maturation processing and are critical for S protein-mediated membrane fusion and infection. 611LY612 mutation alters the glycosylation pattern of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein 611LY612 mutation reduces S protein surface expression level Palmitoylation targets mature S protein to the Golgi and plasma membrane Palmitoylation is required for pseudovirus and SARS-CoV-2 production
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Perez-Gomez R. The Development of SARS-CoV-2 Variants: The Gene Makes the Disease. J Dev Biol 2021; 9:58. [PMID: 34940505 PMCID: PMC8705434 DOI: 10.3390/jdb9040058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged towards the end of 2019 that caused a severe respiratory disease in humans called COVID-19. It led to a pandemic with a high rate of morbidity and mortality that is ongoing and threatening humankind. Most of the mutations occurring in SARS-CoV-2 are synonymous or deleterious, but a few of them produce improved viral functions. The first known mutation associated with higher transmissibility, D614G, was detected in early 2020. Since then, the virus has evolved; new mutations have occurred, and many variants have been described. Depending on the genes affected and the location of the mutations, they could provide altered infectivity, transmissibility, or immune escape. To date, mutations that cause variations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein have been among the most studied because of the protein's role in the initial virus-cell contact and because it is the most variable region in the virus genome. Some concerning mutations associated with an impact on viral fitness have been described in the Spike protein, such as D614G, N501Y, E484K, K417N/T, L452R, and P681R, among others. To understand the impact of the infectivity and antigenicity of the virus, the mutation landscape of SARS-CoV-2 has been under constant global scrutiny. The virus variants are defined according to their origin, their genetic profile (some characteristic mutations prevalent in the lineage), and the severity of the disease they produce, which determines the level of concern. If they increase fitness, new variants can outcompete others in the population. The Alpha variant was more transmissible than previous versions and quickly spread globally. The Beta and Gamma variants accumulated mutations that partially escape the immune defenses and affect the effectiveness of vaccines. Nowadays, the Delta variant, identified around March 2021, has spread and displaced the other variants, becoming the most concerning of all lineages that have emerged. The Delta variant has a particular genetic profile, bearing unique mutations, such as T478K in the spike protein and M203R in the nucleocapsid. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the different mutations that have appeared in SARS-CoV-2, mainly on the spike protein. It analyzes their impact on the protein function and, subsequently, on the level of concern of different variants and their importance in the ongoing pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Perez-Gomez
- Translational Genomics Group, Institut Universitari de Biotecnologia y Biomedicina BIOTECMED, Universitat de Valencia, 46100 Valencia, Spain
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