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Mutations in Coronavirus Spike Protein

by Eric Martz
Black spots are mutations of concern in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reported by UK scientists in December, 2020. RNA viruses mutate quickly so mutations are expected. These mutations may speed up contagion, but are unlikely to cause more severe COVID-19 and unlikely to reduce vaccine effectiveness. ACE2 binding residues. Animation shows priming via cleavage by furin.
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Structural flexibility of the periplasmic protein, FlgA, regulates flagellar P-ring assembly in Salmonella enterica.

H Matsunami, YH Yoon, VA Meshcheryakov, K Namba, FA Samatey. Scientific Reports 2016 doi: 10.1038/srep27399
A periplasmic flagellar chaperone protein, FlgA, is required for P-ring assembly in bacterial flagella of taxa such as Salmonella enterica or Escherichia coli. Here we present the open and closed crystal structures of FlgA from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, grown under different crystallization conditions. An intramolecular disulfide cross-linked form of FlgA caused a dominant negative effect on motility of the wild-type strain.

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Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus
Although only a few people in the USA get Eastern Equine Encephalitis every year, the fatality rate is 30%, and many survivors have ongoing neurological problems. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes from animals, especially birds, to humans. This RNA virus has a complicated capsid (a slab of which is shown) composed of protein shells with an enclosed lipid bilayer. The structures of virus capsids can be explored using free FirstGlance in Jmol.

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