Host-membrane interacting interface of the SARS coronavirus envelope protein: Immense functional potential of C-terminal domain

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is the most virulent pathogen causing high mortality and economic loss in shrimp aquaculture and various crustaceans. Therefore, the understanding of molecular mechanisms of WSSV infection is important to develop effective therapeutics to control the spread of this viral disease. In a previous study, we found that VP37 could bind with shrimp haemocytes through the interaction between its C-terminal domain and heparin-like molecules on the shrimp cells, and this interaction can also be inhibited by sulphated galactan. In this study, we present the crystal structure of C-terminal domain of VP37 from WSSV at a resolution of 2.51 Å. The crystal structure contains an eight-stranded β-barrel fold with an antiparallel arrangement and reveals a trimeric assembly. Moreover, there are two sulphate binding sites found in the position corresponding to R213 and K257. In order to determine whether these sulphate binding sites are involved in binding of VP37 to heparin, mutagenesis was performed to replace these residues with alanine (R213A and K257A), and the Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) system was used to study the interaction of each mutated VP37 with heparin. The results showed that mutants R213A and K257A exhibited a significant loss in heparin binding activity. These findings indicated that the sites of R213 and K257 on the C-terminal domain of envelope protein VP37 are essential for binding to sulphate molecules of heparin. This study provides further insight into the structure of C-terminal domain of VP37 and it is anticipated that the structure of VP37 might be used as a guideline for development of antivirus agent targeting on the VP37 protein.

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Recombinant Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Protein Forms a Dimer through Its C-terminal Domain

Journal of Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1074/jbc.m501015200 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 280 (24) ◽

pp. 23280-23286 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

I-Mei Yu ◽

Christin L. T. Gustafson ◽

Jianbo Diao ◽

John W. Burgner ◽

Zhihong Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Nucleocapsid Protein ◽

Sars Coronavirus ◽

Terminal Domain

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The SARS coronavirus envelope protein E targets the PALS1 tight junction factor and alters formation of tight junctions of epithelial cells

10.5353/th_b4716924 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Wing-lim Chan

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Tight Junction ◽

Tight Junctions ◽

Envelope Protein ◽

Sars Coronavirus

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NSP1: A yeast nuclear envelope protein localized at the nuclear pores exerts its essential function by its carboxy-terminal domain

Cell ◽

10.1016/0092-8674(90)90063-k ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 61 (6) ◽

pp. 979-989 ◽

Cited By ~ 90

Author(s):

Ulf Nehrbass ◽

Hildegard Kern ◽

Ann Mutvei ◽

Heinz Horstmann ◽

Brigitte Marshallsay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Envelope ◽

Envelope Protein ◽

Nuclear Pores ◽

Terminal Domain ◽

Carboxy Terminal Domain ◽

Essential Function ◽

Carboxy Terminal

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Presence of SARS-Coronavirus-2 in sewage

10.1101/2020.03.29.20045880 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

Gertjan Medema ◽

Leo Heijnen ◽

Goffe Elsinga ◽

Ronald Italiaander

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Envelope Protein ◽

Nucleocapsid Protein ◽

Protein Gene ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Sars Coronavirus ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

First Case ◽

Sensitive Tool ◽

Nucleocapsid Protein Gene

AbstractIn the current COVID-19 pandemic, a significant proportion of cases shed SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) with their faeces. To determine if SARS-CoV-2 is present in sewage during the emergence of COVID-19 in the Netherlands, sewage samples of 7 cities and the airport were tested using RT-PCR against three fragments of the nucleocapsid protein gene (N1-3) and one fragment of the envelope protein gene (E). No SARS-CoV-2 was detected in samples of February 6, three weeks before the first case was reported in the Netherlands on February 27. On March 5, the N1 fragment was detected in sewage of five sites. On March 15/16, the N1 fragment was detected in sewage of six sites, and the N3 and E fragment were detected at 5 and 4 sites respectively. This is the first report of detection of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage. The detection of the virus in sewage, even when the COVID-19 prevalence is low, indicates that sewage surveillance could be a sensitive tool to monitor the circulation of the virus in the population.

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