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Publication Abstract from PubMed

SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a is a putative viral ion channel implicated in autophagy inhibition, inflammasome activation and apoptosis. 3a protein and anti-3a antibodies are found in infected patient tissues and plasma. Deletion of 3a in SARS-CoV-1 reduces viral titer and morbidity in mice, suggesting it could be an effective target for vaccines or therapeutics. Here, we present structures of SARS-CoV-2 3a determined by cryo-EM to 2.1-A resolution. 3a adopts a new fold with a polar cavity that opens to the cytosol and membrane through separate water- and lipid-filled openings. Hydrophilic grooves along outer helices could form ion-conduction paths. Using electrophysiology and fluorescent ion imaging of 3a-reconstituted liposomes, we observe Ca(2+)-permeable, nonselective cation channel activity, identify mutations that alter ion permeability and discover polycationic inhibitors of 3a activity. 3a-like proteins are found across coronavirus lineages that infect bats and humans, suggesting that 3a-targeted approaches could treat COVID-19 and other coronavirus diseases.

Cryo-EM structure of SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a in lipid nanodiscs.,Kern DM, Sorum B, Mali SS, Hoel CM, Sridharan S, Remis JP, Toso DB, Kotecha A, Bautista DM, Brohawn SG Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2021 Jul;28(7):573-582. doi: 10.1038/s41594-021-00619-0., Epub 2021 Jun 22. PMID:34158638^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.