Following the rule: formation of the 6-helix bundle of the fusion core from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus spike protein and identification of potent peptide inhibitors

By Jieqing Zhu, Gengfu Xiao, Yanhui Xu, Fang Yuan, Congyi Zheng, Yueyong Liu, Huimin Yan, David K Cole, John I Bell, Zihe Rao, Po Tien, George F Gao

March 27, 2020

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Title

Following the rule: formation of the 6-helix bundle of the fusion core from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus spike protein and identification of potent peptide inhibitors

Author

Jieqing Zhu, Gengfu Xiao, Yanhui Xu, Fang Yuan, Congyi Zheng, Yueyong Liu, Huimin Yan, David K Cole, John I Bell, Zihe Rao, Po Tien, George F Gao

Year

2004

Journal

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is a newly identified member of Family Coronaviridae. Coronavirus envelope spike protein S is a class I viral fusion protein which is characterized by the existence of two heptad repeat regions (HR1 and HR2) (forming a complex called fusion core). Here we report that by using in vitro bio-engineering techniques, SARS-CoV HR1 and HR2 bind to each other and form a typical 6-helix bundle. The HR2, either as a synthetic peptide or as a GST-fusion polypeptide, is a potent inhibitor of virus entry. The results do show that SARS-CoV follows the general fusion mechanism of class I viruses and this lays the ground for identification of virus fusion/entry inhibitors for this devastating emerging virus.

Full Article

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006291X0400912X

Instrument

J-715

Keywords

Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Thermal stability, Biochemistry