Structural and Conformational Impact of Deleterious Spike Protein Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Lineages

A large number of mutations in the Spike (S) protein of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant have been noted to alter the receptor binding domain (RBD) and increase the binding surface and enhance the opening of the binding pocket. The cumulative effect of S1 and S2 subunit mutations can influence the conformational dynamics of the binding surface, facilitating the release of viral genome into host cells.

This study investigates the deleterious mutations across all Omicron lineages identified in our analysis and their effect on the conformational stability of RBD opening.

Whole Genome Sequencing of 231 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients in Karachi, Pakistan, were performed using Illumina Miseq instrument and raw reads were analyzed using viralrecon pipeline. The mutational effects of omicron variant on the stability of S protein, including wild-type (7FG7), close (6VXX) and open (6VYB) states, were assessed through MD simulations.

Four deleterious missense mutations (Tyr505His, Asn764Lys, Asp950Asn, Asn969Lys) were identified in the S1 and S2 subunit of the S protein of omicron variant. In the wildtype and open state mutant models, Tyr505His, Asp950Asn and Asn969Lys caused destabilizing effects, higher RMSDs vs. wild-type, and fluctuations in the RBD (438-510) region and S2 subunit (946-1010), compared to the native structure. These mutations increased the binding pocket propensity to open in mutant model compared to the native open conformation (6VYB). This structural change promoted trimer opening in the open state through α-helix movement in the S2 subunit away from the RBD region. In the closed state, only S2 subunit mutations (Asp950Asn and Asn969Lys) lead to predicted destabilization through the movement of protomer C towards protomer B (RBD region). These S2 subunit mutations are predicted to stabilize the RBD "down" conformation potentially enhancing spike antigenic heterogeneity.

This study highlighted the cumulative effect of S1 (Tyr505His) and S2 (Asp950Asn and Asn969Lys) subunits mutations on different S protein states, potentially controlling its conformational dynamics and presentation to host receptors. Future experimental studies are needed to elucidate the biological significance of these alterations, particularly by establishing a link between the identified mutations and their impact on viral biology.