| Structural highlights
Function
[SPIKE_SARS2] attaches the virion to the cell membrane by interacting with host receptor, initiating the infection (By similarity). Binding to human ACE2 receptor and internalization of the virus into the endosomes of the host cell induces conformational changes in the Spike glycoprotein (PubMed:32142651, PubMed:32075877, PubMed:32155444). Uses also human TMPRSS2 for priming in human lung cells which is an essential step for viral entry (PubMed:32142651). Proteolysis by cathepsin CTSL may unmask the fusion peptide of S2 and activate membranes fusion within endosomes.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_04099][1] [2] [3] mediates fusion of the virion and cellular membranes by acting as a class I viral fusion protein. Under the current model, the protein has at least three conformational states: pre-fusion native state, pre-hairpin intermediate state, and post-fusion hairpin state. During viral and target cell membrane fusion, the coiled coil regions (heptad repeats) assume a trimer-of-hairpins structure, positioning the fusion peptide in close proximity to the C-terminal region of the ectodomain. The formation of this structure appears to drive apposition and subsequent fusion of viral and target cell membranes.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_04099] Acts as a viral fusion peptide which is unmasked following S2 cleavage occurring upon virus endocytosis.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_04099]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), bearing an unusually high number of mutations, has become a dominant strain in many countries within several weeks. We report here structural, functional, and antigenic properties of its full-length spike (S) protein with a native sequence in comparison with those of previously prevalent variants. Omicron S requires a substantially higher level of host receptor ACE2 for efficient membrane fusion than other variants, possibly explaining its unexpected cellular tropism. Mutations not only remodel the antigenic structure of the N-terminal domain of the S protein but also alter the surface of the receptor-binding domain in a way not seen in other variants, consistent with its remarkable resistance to neutralizing antibodies. These results suggest that Omicron S has acquired an extraordinary ability to evade host immunity by excessive mutations, which also compromise its fusogenic capability.
Structural and functional impact by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike mutations.,Zhang J, Cai Y, Lavine CL, Peng H, Zhu H, Anand K, Tong P, Gautam A, Mayer ML, Rits-Volloch S, Wang S, Sliz P, Wesemann DR, Yang W, Seaman MS, Lu J, Xiao T, Chen B Cell Rep. 2022 Apr 26;39(4):110729. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110729. Epub 2022 , Apr 11. PMID:35452593[4]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Wrapp D, Wang N, Corbett KS, Goldsmith JA, Hsieh CL, Abiona O, Graham BS, McLellan JS. Cryo-EM structure of the 2019-nCoV spike in the prefusion conformation. Science. 2020 Feb 19. pii: science.abb2507. doi: 10.1126/science.abb2507. PMID:32075877 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abb2507
- ↑ Hoffmann M, Kleine-Weber H, Schroeder S, Kruger N, Herrler T, Erichsen S, Schiergens TS, Herrler G, Wu NH, Nitsche A, Muller MA, Drosten C, Pohlmann S. SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and Is Blocked by a Clinically Proven Protease Inhibitor. Cell. 2020 Apr 16;181(2):271-280.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.052. Epub 2020, Mar 5. PMID:32142651 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.052
- ↑ Walls AC, Park YJ, Tortorici MA, Wall A, McGuire AT, Veesler D. Structure, Function, and Antigenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein. Cell. 2020 Mar 6. pii: S0092-8674(20)30262-2. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.058. PMID:32155444 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.058
- ↑ Zhang J, Cai Y, Lavine CL, Peng H, Zhu H, Anand K, Tong P, Gautam A, Mayer ML, Rits-Volloch S, Wang S, Sliz P, Wesemann DR, Yang W, Seaman MS, Lu J, Xiao T, Chen B. Structural and functional impact by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike mutations. Cell Rep. 2022 Apr 26;39(4):110729. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110729. Epub 2022 , Apr 11. PMID:35452593 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110729
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