tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Sci Adv
. 2021 Apr 16;7(16):eabf3671.
doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abf3671. Print 2021 Apr.
The SARS-CoV-2 Spike variant D614G favors an open conformational state
Rachael A Mansbach[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Srirupa Chakraborty[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Kien Nguyen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David C Montefiori[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Bette Korber[SUP] 1 [/SUP], S Gnanakaran[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic underwent a rapid transition with the emergence of a dominant viral variant (from the "D-form" to the "G-form") that carried an amino acid substitution D614G in its "Spike" protein. The G-form is more infectious in vitro and is associated with increased viral loads in the upper airways. To gain insight into the molecular-level underpinnings of these characteristics, we used microsecond all-atom simulations. We show that changes in the protein energetics favor a higher population of infection-capable states in the G-form through release of asymmetry present in the D-form inter-protomer interactions. Thus, the increased infectivity of the G-form is likely due to a higher rate of profitable binding encounters with the host receptor. It is also predicted to be more neutralization sensitive owing to enhanced exposure of the receptor binding domain, a key target region for neutralizing antibodies. These results are critical for vaccine design.
. 2021 Apr 16;7(16):eabf3671.
doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abf3671. Print 2021 Apr.
The SARS-CoV-2 Spike variant D614G favors an open conformational state
Rachael A Mansbach[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Srirupa Chakraborty[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Kien Nguyen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David C Montefiori[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Bette Korber[SUP] 1 [/SUP], S Gnanakaran[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33863729
- DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf3671
Abstract
The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic underwent a rapid transition with the emergence of a dominant viral variant (from the "D-form" to the "G-form") that carried an amino acid substitution D614G in its "Spike" protein. The G-form is more infectious in vitro and is associated with increased viral loads in the upper airways. To gain insight into the molecular-level underpinnings of these characteristics, we used microsecond all-atom simulations. We show that changes in the protein energetics favor a higher population of infection-capable states in the G-form through release of asymmetry present in the D-form inter-protomer interactions. Thus, the increased infectivity of the G-form is likely due to a higher rate of profitable binding encounters with the host receptor. It is also predicted to be more neutralization sensitive owing to enhanced exposure of the receptor binding domain, a key target region for neutralizing antibodies. These results are critical for vaccine design.