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Evolutionary relationships and sequence-structure determinants in human SARS coronavirus-2 spike proteins for host
1School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Proteins
|June 17, 2020
Summary
Specific regions in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein are key to human ACE-2 receptor recognition and infection. Bat coronaviruses show an evolutionary link to SARS-CoV-2, indicating a potential origin.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which spreads more readily than SARS-CoV.
- Both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 utilize their spike proteins to bind to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor for cell entry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the specific features of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins responsible for human infection.
- To investigate the evolutionary relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses from different hosts.
Main Methods:
- Generated multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees for representative SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins.
- Analyzed sequence regions and structural determinants involved in ACE-2 receptor recognition.
- Performed complete genome analysis of coronaviruses from bat, civet, and human hosts.
Main Results:
- Identified two N-terminal domain sequence regions ('MESEFR', 'SYLTPG') specific to human SARS-CoV-2.
- Determined that specific sequences ('VGGNY', 'EIYQAGSTPCNGV') and a disulfide bridge (480C-488C) in the receptor-binding domain are crucial for human ACE-2 recognition.
- Found a bat coronavirus genome (MN996532.1) to be the closest relative to human SARS-CoV-2 genomes, with other bat strains (MG772933, MG772934) representing evolutionary intermediates.
Conclusions:
- Specific amino acid sequences and structural features in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein dictate its ability to infect humans via ACE-2.
- Evidence suggests a bat origin for SARS-CoV-2, with intermediate evolutionary stages observed in other bat coronaviruses.
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