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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

De novo Identification of Actively Translated Open Reading Frames with Ribosome Profiling Data
Published on: February 18, 2022
Structural insights into ORF10 recognition by ZYG11B.
Bing Zhang1, Yao Li1, Qiqi Feng1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
Researchers elucidated how the SARS-CoV-2 ORF10 protein N-terminus interacts with ZYG11B, a key component of the CRL2 ubiquitin ligase. This finding advances understanding of viral protein recognition and may aid in developing new COVID-19 therapies.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, a significant global health threat.
- The SARS-CoV-2 ORF10 protein's N-terminus is recognized by ZYG11B, a substrate receptor for the Cullin 2-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL2) complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which ZYG11B recognizes the N-terminus of the SARS-CoV-2 ORF10 protein.
- To provide structural insights into the ZYG11B-ORF10 interaction.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography was employed to determine the structure of ZYG11B bound to an ORF10 N-terminal peptide.
- Structural analysis of the ZYG11B-ORF10 complex.
Main Results:
- The crystal structure of ZYG11B in complex with the ORF10 N-terminal peptide was successfully determined.
- Detailed structural information on the recognition interface between ZYG11B and ORF10 was obtained.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a structural basis for the recognition of the SARS-CoV-2 ORF10 N-terminus by ZYG11B.
- Understanding this interaction expands knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 protein function and offers potential avenues for novel COVID-19 therapeutic strategies.
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