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Cold sensitivity of the SARS-CoV-2 spike ectodomain
Robert J Edwards1,2, Katayoun Mansouri3, Victoria Stalls3
1Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA. rj.edwards@duke.edu.
Abstract:
The SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, a primary target for COVID-19 vaccine development, presents its receptor binding domain in two conformations, the receptor-accessible 'up' or receptor-inaccessible 'down' states. Here we report that the commonly used stabilized S ectodomain construct '2P' is sensitive to cold temperatures, and this cold sensitivity is abrogated in a 'down' state-stabilized ectodomain. Our findings will impact structural, functional and vaccine studies that use the SARS-CoV-2 S ectodomain.
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