1
|
Islam MJ, Alom MS, Hossain MS, Ali MA, Akter S, Islam S, Ullah MO, Halim MA. Unraveling the impact of ORF3a Q57H mutation on SARS-CoV-2: insights from molecular dynamics. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37649361 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2252908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
ORF3a is a conserved accessory protein of SARS-CoV-2, linked to viral infection and pathogenesis, with acquired mutations at various locations. Previous studies have shown that the occurrence of the Q57H mutation is higher in comparison to other positions in ORF3a. This mutation is known to induce conformational changes, yet the extent of structural alteration and its role in the viral adaptation process remain unknown. Here we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of wt-ORF3a, Q57H, and Q57A mutants to analyze structural changes caused by mutations compared to the native protein. The MD analysis revealed that Q57H and Q57A mutants show significant structural changes in the dimer conformation than the wt-ORF3a. This dimer conformer narrows down the ion channel cavity, which reduces Na + or K + permeability leading to decrease the antigenic response that can help the virus to escape the host immune system. Non-bonding interaction analysis shows the Q57H mutant has more interacting residues, resulting in more stability within dimer conformation than the wt-ORF3a and Q57A. Moreover, both mutant dimers (Q57H and Q57A) form a novel salt-bridge interaction at the same position between A:Asp142 and B:Lys61, whereas such an interaction is absent in the wt-ORF3a dimer. We have also noticed that the TM3 domain's flexibility in Q57H is increased because of strong inter-domain interactions of TM1 and TM2 within the dimer conformation. These unusual interactions and flexibility of Q57H mutant can have significant impacts on the SARS-CoV-2 adaptations, virulence, transmission, and immune system evasion. Our findings are consistent with the previous experimental data and provided details information on the structural perturbation in ORF3a caused by mutations, which can help better understand the structural change at the molecular level as well as the reason for the high virulence properties of this variant.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Jahirul Islam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Siddik Alom
- Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Md Shahadat Hossain
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ackas Ali
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA
| | - Shaila Akter
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shafiqul Islam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M Obayed Ullah
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad A Halim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fam MS, Sedky CA, Turky NO, Breitinger HG, Breitinger U. Channel activity of SARS-CoV-2 viroporin ORF3a inhibited by adamantanes and phenolic plant metabolites. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5328. [PMID: 37005439 PMCID: PMC10067842 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31764-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has been responsible for the major worldwide pandemic of COVID-19. Despite the enormous success of vaccination campaigns, virus infections are still prevalent and effective antiviral therapies are urgently needed. Viroporins are essential for virus replication and release, and are thus promising therapeutic targets. Here, we studied the expression and function of recombinant ORF3a viroporin of SARS-CoV-2 using a combination of cell viability assays and patch-clamp electrophysiology. ORF3a was expressed in HEK293 cells and transport to the plasma membrane verified by a dot blot assay. Incorporation of a membrane-directing signal peptide increased plasma membrane expression. Cell viability tests were carried out to measure cell damage associated with ORF3a activity, and voltage-clamp recordings verified its channel activity. The classical viroporin inhibitors amantadine and rimantadine inhibited ORF3a channels. A series of ten flavonoids and polyphenolics were studied. Kaempferol, quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate, nobiletin, resveratrol and curcumin were ORF3a inhibitors, with IC50 values ranging between 1 and 6 µM, while 6-gingerol, apigenin, naringenin and genistein were inactive. For flavonoids, inhibitory activity could be related to the pattern of OH groups on the chromone ring system. Thus, the ORF3a viroporin of SARS-CoV-2 may indeed be a promising target for antiviral drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marina Sherif Fam
- Department of Biochemistry, German University in Cairo, Main Entrance of Al Tagamoa Al Khames, New Cairo, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Christine Adel Sedky
- Department of Biochemistry, German University in Cairo, Main Entrance of Al Tagamoa Al Khames, New Cairo, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Nancy Osama Turky
- Department of Biochemistry, German University in Cairo, Main Entrance of Al Tagamoa Al Khames, New Cairo, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Hans-Georg Breitinger
- Department of Biochemistry, German University in Cairo, Main Entrance of Al Tagamoa Al Khames, New Cairo, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Ulrike Breitinger
- Department of Biochemistry, German University in Cairo, Main Entrance of Al Tagamoa Al Khames, New Cairo, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shapira G, Patalon T, Gazit S, Shomron N. Immunosuppression as a Hub for SARS-CoV-2 Mutational Drift. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040855. [PMID: 37112835 PMCID: PMC10145566 DOI: 10.3390/v15040855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is largely determined by host factors, with a wide range of outcomes. Despite an extensive vaccination campaign and high rates of infection worldwide, the pandemic persists, adapting to overcome antiviral immunity acquired through prior exposure. The source of many such major adaptations is variants of concern (VOCs), novel SARS-CoV-2 variants produced by extraordinary evolutionary leaps whose origins remain mostly unknown. In this study, we tested the influence of factors on the evolutionary course of SARS-CoV-2. Electronic health records of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 were paired to viral whole-genome sequences to assess the effects of host clinical parameters and immunity on the intra-host evolution of SARS-CoV-2. We found slight, albeit significant, differences in SARS-CoV-2 intra-host diversity, which depended on host parameters such as vaccination status and smoking. Only one viral genome had significant alterations as a result of host parameters; it was found in an immunocompromised, chronically infected woman in her 70s. We highlight the unusual viral genome obtained from this woman, which had an accelerated mutational rate and an excess of rare mutations, including near-complete truncating of the accessory protein ORF3a. Our findings suggest that the evolutionary capacity of SARS-CoV-2 during acute infection is limited and mostly unaffected by host characteristics. Significant viral evolution is seemingly exclusive to a small subset of COVID-19 cases, which typically prolong infections in immunocompromised patients. In these rare cases, SARS-CoV-2 genomes accumulate many impactful and potentially adaptive mutations; however, the transmissibility of such viruses remains unclear.
Collapse
|
4
|
Mahmanzar M, Houseini ST, Rahimian K, Namini AM, Gholamzad A, Tokhanbigli S, Sisakht MM, Farhadi A, Kuehu DL, Deng Y. The First Geographic Identification by Country of Sustainable Mutations of SARS-COV2 Sequence Samples: Worldwide Natural Selection Trends. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.07.18.500565. [PMID: 35898341 PMCID: PMC9327626 DOI: 10.1101/2022.07.18.500565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The high mutation rates of RNA viruses, coupled with short generation times and large population sizes, allow viruses to evolve rapidly and adapt to the host environment. The rapidity of viral mutation also causes problems in developing successful vaccines and antiviral drugs. With the spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, thousands of mutations have been identified, some of which have relatively high incidences, but their potential impacts on virus characteristics remain unknown. The present study analyzed mutation patterns, SARS-CoV-2 AASs retrieved from the GISAID database containing 10,500,000 samples. Python 3.8.0 programming language was utilized to pre-process FASTA data, align to the reference sequence, and analyze the sequences. Upon completion, all mutations discovered were categorized based on geographical regions and dates. The most stable mutations were found in nsp1(8% S135R), nsp12(99.3% P323L), nsp16 (1.2% R216C), envelope (30.6% T9I), spike (97.6% D614G), and Orf8 (3.5% S24L), and were identified in the United States on April 3, 2020, and England, Gibraltar, and, New Zealand, on January 1, 2020, respectively. The study of mutations is the key to improving understanding of the function of the SARS-CoV-2, and recent information on mutations helps provide strategic planning for the prevention and treatment of this disease. Viral mutation studies could improve the development of vaccines, antiviral drugs, and diagnostic assays designed with high accuracy, specifically useful during pandemics. This knowledge helps to be one step ahead of new emergence variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadamin Mahmanzar
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Seyed Taleb Houseini
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Karim Rahimian
- Bioinformatics and Computational Omics Lab (BioCOOL), Department of Biophysics. Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arsham Mikaeili Namini
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Gholamzad
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Tokhanbigli
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran (IAUPS)
| | - Mahsa Mollapour Sisakht
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amin Farhadi
- Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Donna Lee Kuehu
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Youping Deng
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages Indicates Early Circulation of P.1 (Gamma) Variant of Concern in Southern Brazil. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0151121. [PMID: 35171035 PMCID: PMC8849062 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01511-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 P.1 lineage emerged in Amazonas (AM), North Brazil and its evolution has been dynamically reported associated with increased transmissibility and/or immune evasion. Here, we evaluated the lineages circulating in 29 cities in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Southern Brazil between March 2020 and May 2021 and investigated the genetic events associated with the emergence of the P.1. A total of 202 oro/nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 specimens from patients during routine hospital care were submitted to whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic and Bayesian Evolutionary Analyses of the P.1 lineage were carried out to determine the relationship between sequences from RS and AM and dated their common ancestor and origin. One hundred six (53%) sequences were assigned as P.1 and most carried the 22 lineage-defining mutations. All the P.1 sequences included other important mutations, such as P314L and R203K/G204R, and revealed a high genetic diversity in the phylogenetic tree. The time-scaled inference suggests that the oldest P.1 sequences from different Brazilian states share a ancestor with those from AM, but the origin of some sequences from RS is unknown. Further, the common ancestor of sequences from RS is dated to mid-June/July 2020, earlier than those previously reported from AM. Our results demonstrate that there is a high degree of genetic diversity among P.1 sequences, which suggests a continuous evolution and community spread of the virus. Although the first P.1 outbreak was reported in AM, the lineage was associated with multiple introductory events and had already been circulating in Southern Brazil prior to November 2020. IMPORTANCE The SARS-CoV-2 P.1 lineage is associated with increased transmissibility and/or immune evasion and presents a dynamic evolution in Brazil. The significance of our research relies in the fact that we evaluated the SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Southern Brazil between March 2020 and May 2021. This evaluation allowed us to detect the genetic events associated with the emergence of the P.1 and its sublineages. This study is important because we were able to establish that the common ancestor of P.1 sequences from Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, is dated of mid-June/July 2020, earlier than the P.1 sequences previously reported from Amazonas (AM) state. Noteworthy, the high degree of genetic diversity among P.1 sequences found in this study suggests a continuous evolution and community spread of the virus. Moreover, the oldest P.1 sequences from different Brazilian states share a ancestor with those from AM.
Collapse
|