2ieq

From Proteopedia

Revision as of 18:39, 29 January 2008

Core Structure of S2 from the Human Coronavirus NL63 Spike Glycoprotein

Overview

Human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) has recently been identified as a, causative agent of acute respiratory tract illnesses in infants and young, children. The HCoV-NL63 spike (S) protein mediates virion attachment to, cells and subsequent fusion of the viral and cellular membranes. This, viral entry process is a primary target for vaccine and drug development., HCoV-NL63 S is expressed as a single-chain glycoprotein and consists of an, N-terminal receptor-binding domain (S1) and a C-terminal transmembrane, fusion domain (S2). The latter contains two highly conserved heptad-repeat, (HR) sequences that are each extended by 14 amino acids relative to those, of the SARS coronavirus or the prototypic murine coronavirus, mouse, hepatitis virus. Limited proteolysis studies of the HCoV-NL63 S2 fusion, core identify an alpha-helical domain composed of a trimer of the HR, segments N57 and C42. The crystal structure of this complex reveals three, C42 helices entwined in an oblique and antiparallel manner around a, central triple-stranded coiled coil formed by three N57 helices. The, overall geometry comprises distinctive high-affinity conformations of, interacting cross-sectional layers of the six helices. As a result, this, structure is unusually stable, with an apparent melting temperature of 78, degrees C in the presence of the denaturant guanidine hydrochloride at 5 M, concentration. The extended HR regions may therefore be required to prime, the group 1 S glycoproteins for their fusion-activating conformational, changes during viral entry. Our results provide an initial basis for, understanding an intriguing interplay between the presence or absence of, proteolytic maturation among the coronavirus groups and the membrane, fusion activity of their S glycoproteins. This study also suggests a, potential strategy for the development of improved HCoV-NL63 fusion, inhibitors.

About this Structure

2IEQ is a Single protein structure of sequence from Human coronavirus nl63 with and as ligands. Full crystallographic information is available from OCA.

Reference

Core Structure of S2 from the Human Coronavirus NL63 Spike Glycoprotein(,)., Zheng Q, Deng Y, Liu J, Hoek L, Berkhout B, Lu M, Biochemistry. 2006 Dec 26;45(51):15205-15. Epub 2006 Dec 1. PMID:17176042

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