Host cell membrane proteins located near SARS-CoV-2 spike protein attachment sites are identified using proximity labeling and proteomic analysis

Contrasting mechanistic susceptibilities of hematopoietic and endothelial stem-progenitor cells in respective pathogeneses of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 infections

The multitude of cellular types can be expected to behave differently when receiving invading pathogens such as mammalian viruses. The nature-dictated causes for such intrinsic cellular diversity become the criteria for the emergence of specific virus-receptor interactions on that particular host cellular surface, in order to accommodate contact with various other living entities whether desirable to the host or not. At present, we are presented with an example of two contrasting behaviours wherein the well-known HIV-1 and the more recently emergent SARS-CoV-2 cause adverse consequences to the differentiation and functions of progenitor stem cells. These include the two different downstream multipotent CD34+ hematopoietic (HSPC) and CD133+ endothelial (ESPC) stem-progenitor cells of their common pluripotent hemangioblast precursors. The two viruses target the respective endothelial and hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells to thrive upon the relevant host cellular surrounded stromal microenvironments by adopting reciprocally-driven mechanistic routes, which incidentally cause pathogenesis either directly of ESPC (SARS-CoV-2), or indirectly of HSPC (HIV-1). HIV-1 utilizes the CD4+ T-lymphocyte receptor thereby advancing pathogenesis indirectly to the CD34+ HSPC. SARS-CoV-2 directly targets the CD133+ ESPC via ACE2 receptor causing cytokine storms of the CD4+ T-lymphocytes. In this manner, these two viruses cause and extend their damage to the other cellular sub/types coexisting in the host cellular microenvironments. The infected individuals require clinical interventions that are efficacious to prevent cellular dysfunction and ultimate cell depletion or death. We infer from these viruses mediated pathogeneses mechanisms a potential common origin of microRNA molecular therapies to address cellular dysfunctions and prevent cell loss.

Exploring the World of Membrane Proteins: Techniques and Methods for Understanding Structure, Function, and Dynamics

In eukaryotic cells, membrane proteins play a crucial role. They fall into three categories: intrinsic proteins, extrinsic proteins, and proteins that are essential to the human genome (30% of which is devoted to encoding them). Hydrophobic interactions inside the membrane serve to stabilize integral proteins, which span the lipid bilayer. This review investigates a number of computational and experimental methods used to study membrane proteins. It encompasses a variety of technologies, including electrophoresis, X-ray crystallography, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), biophysical methods, computational methods, and artificial intelligence. The link between structure and function of membrane proteins has been better understood thanks to these approaches, which also hold great promise for future study in the field. The significance of fusing artificial intelligence with experimental data to improve our comprehension of membrane protein biology is also covered in this paper. This effort aims to shed light on the complexity of membrane protein biology by investigating a variety of experimental and computational methods. Overall, the goal of this review is to emphasize how crucial it is to understand the functions of membrane proteins in eukaryotic cells. It gives a general review of the numerous methods used to look into these crucial elements and highlights the demand for multidisciplinary approaches to advance our understanding.