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Kenward C, Vuckovic M, Paetzel M, Strynadka NCJ. Kinetic comparison of all eleven viral polyprotein cleavage site processing events by SARS-CoV-2 main protease using a linked protein FRET platform. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107367. [PMID: 38750796 PMCID: PMC11209022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) remains an essential therapeutic target for COVID-19 post infection intervention given its critical role in processing the majority of viral proteins encoded by the genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Upon viral entry, the +ssRNA genome is translated into two long polyproteins (pp1a or the frameshift-dependent pp1ab) containing all the nonstructural proteins (nsps) required by the virus for immune modulation, replication, and ultimately, virion assembly. Included among these nsps is the cysteine protease Mpro (nsp5) which self-excises from the polyprotein, dimerizes, then sequentially cleaves 11 of the 15 cut-site junctions found between each nsp within the polyprotein. Many structures of Mpro (often bound to various small molecule inhibitors or peptides) have been detailed recently, including structures of Mpro bound to each of the polyprotein cleavage sequences, showing that Mpro can accommodate a wide range of targets within its active site. However, to date, kinetic characterization of the interaction of Mpro with each of its native cleavage sequences remains incomplete. Here, we present a robust and cost-effective FRET based system that benefits from a more consistent presentation of the substrate that is also closer in organization to the native polyprotein environment compared to previously reported FRET systems that use chemically modified peptides. Using this system, we were able to show that while each site maintains a similar Michaelis constant, the catalytic efficiency of Mpro varies greatly between cut-site sequences, suggesting a clear preference for the order of nsp processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calem Kenward
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Centre for Blood Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marija Vuckovic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Centre for Blood Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark Paetzel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Natalie C J Strynadka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Centre for Blood Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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2
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Yadav AJ, Kumar S, Maurya S, Bhagat K, Padhi AK. Interface design of SARS-CoV-2 symmetrical nsp7 dimer and machine learning-guided nsp7 sequence prediction reveals physicochemical properties and hotspots for nsp7 stability, adaptation, and therapeutic design. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:14046-14061. [PMID: 38686454 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp01014k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, driven by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), necessitates a profound understanding of the virus and its lifecycle. As an RNA virus with high mutation rates, SARS-CoV-2 exhibits genetic variability leading to the emergence of variants with potential implications. Among its key proteins, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is pivotal for viral replication. Notably, RdRp forms dimers via non-structural protein (nsp) subunits, particularly nsp7, crucial for efficient viral RNA copying. Similar to the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2, there is a possibility that the nsp7 might also undergo mutational selection events to generate more stable and adaptable versions of nsp7 dimer during virus evolution. However, efforts to obtain such cohesive and comprehensive information are lacking. To address this, we performed this study focused on deciphering the molecular intricacies of nsp7 dimerization using a multifaceted approach. Leveraging computational protein design (CPD), machine learning (ML), AlphaFold v2.0-based structural analysis, and several related computational approaches, we aimed to identify critical residues and mutations influencing nsp7 dimer stability and adaptation. Our methodology involved identifying potential hotspot residues within the dimeric nsp7 interface using an interface-based CPD approach. Through Rosetta-based symmetrical protein design, we designed and modulated nsp7 dimerization, considering selected interface residues. Analysis of physicochemical features revealed acceptable structural changes and several structural and residue-specific insights emphasizing the intricate nature of such protein-protein complexes. Our ML models, particularly the random forest regressor (RFR), accurately predicted binding affinities and ML-guided sequence predictions corroborated CPD findings, elucidating potential nsp7 mutations and their impact on binding affinity. Validation against clinical sequencing data demonstrated the predictive accuracy of our approach. Moreover, AlphaFold v2.0 structural analyses validated optimal dimeric configurations of affinity-enhancing designs, affirming methodological precision. Affinity-enhancing designs exhibited favourable energetics and higher binding affinity as compared to their counterparts. The obtained physicochemical properties, molecular interactions, and sequence predictions advance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 evolution and inform potential avenues for therapeutic intervention against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar Jeet Yadav
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Shivank Kumar
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Shweata Maurya
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Khushboo Bhagat
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Aditya K Padhi
- Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biomolecular Design, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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3
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Arya R, Tripathi P, Nayak K, Ganesh J, Bihani SC, Ghosh B, Prashar V, Kumar M. Insights into the evolution of mutations in SARS-CoV-2 non-spike proteins. Microb Pathog 2023; 185:106460. [PMID: 37995880 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has been driven by the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations across all the viral proteins. Although mutations in the spike protein have received significant attention, understanding the prevalence and potential impact of mutations in other viral proteins is essential for comprehending the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of approximately 14 million sequences of SARS-CoV-2 deposited in the GISAID database until December 2022 to identify prevalent mutations in the non-spike proteins at the global and country levels. Additionally, we evaluated the energetics of each mutation to better understand their impact on protein stability. While the consequences of many mutations remain unclear, we discuss potential structural and functional significance of some mutations. Our study highlights the ongoing evolutionary process of SARS-CoV-2 and underscores the importance of understanding changes in non-spike proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimanshee Arya
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Preeti Tripathi
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Karthik Nayak
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India; School of Chemical Sciences, UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari, Mumbai, 400098, India
| | - Janani Ganesh
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Subhash C Bihani
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Biplab Ghosh
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400094, India; Beamline Development & Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Vishal Prashar
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400094, India.
| | - Mukesh Kumar
- Protein Crystallography Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400094, India.
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4
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Ghelichkhani F, Gonzalez FA, Kapitonova MA, Rozovsky S. Selenoprotein S Interacts with the Replication and Transcription Complex of SARS-CoV-2 by Binding nsp7. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168008. [PMID: 36773692 PMCID: PMC9911985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) replicates and evades detection using ER membranes and their associated protein machinery. Among these hijacked human proteins is selenoprotein S (selenos). This selenoprotein takes part in the protein quality control, signaling, and the regulation of cytokine secretion. While the role of selenos in the viral life cycle is not yet known, it has been reported to interact with SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 7 (nsp7), a viral protein essential for the replication of the virus. We set to study whether selenos and nsp7 interact directly and if they can still bind when nsp7 is bound to the replication and transcription complex of the virus. Using biochemical assays, we show that selenos binds directly to nsp7. In addition, we found that selenos can bind to nsp7 when it is in a complex with the coronavirus's minimal replication and transcription complex, comprised of nsp7, nsp8, and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase nsp12. In addition, through crosslinking experiments, we mapped the interaction sites of selenos and nsp7 in the replication complex and showed that the hydrophobic segment of selenos is essential for binding to nsp7. This arrangement leaves an extended helix and the intrinsically disordered segment of selenos-including the reactive selenocysteine-exposed and free to potentially recruit additional proteins to the replication and transcription complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farid Ghelichkhani
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Fabio A Gonzalez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Mariia A Kapitonova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Sharon Rozovsky
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
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5
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Ortega MA, García-Montero C, Fraile-Martinez O, Colet P, Baizhaxynova A, Mukhtarova K, Alvarez-Mon M, Kanatova K, Asúnsolo A, Sarría-Santamera A. Recapping the Features of SARS-CoV-2 and Its Main Variants: Status and Future Paths. J Pers Med 2022; 12:995. [PMID: 35743779 PMCID: PMC9225183 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12060995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the two years that we have been experiencing the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, our challenges have been the race to develop vaccines and the difficulties in fighting against new variants due to the rapid ability of the virus to evolve. In this sense, different organizations have identified and classified the different variants that have been emerging, distinguishing between variants of concern (VOC), variants of interest (VOI), or variants under monitoring (VUM). The following review aims to describe the latest updates focusing on VOC and already de-escalated variants, as well as to describe the impact these have had on the global situation. Understanding the intrinsic properties of SARS-CoV-2 and its interaction with the immune system and vaccination is essential to make out the underlying mechanisms that have led to the appearance of these variants, helping to determine the next steps for better public management of this pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (M.A.O.); (C.G.-M.); (O.F.-M.); (M.A.-M.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cielo García-Montero
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (M.A.O.); (C.G.-M.); (O.F.-M.); (M.A.-M.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar Fraile-Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (M.A.O.); (C.G.-M.); (O.F.-M.); (M.A.-M.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paolo Colet
- Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (P.C.); (A.B.); (K.M.); (K.K.)
| | - Ardak Baizhaxynova
- Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (P.C.); (A.B.); (K.M.); (K.K.)
| | - Kymbat Mukhtarova
- Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (P.C.); (A.B.); (K.M.); (K.K.)
| | - Melchor Alvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain; (M.A.O.); (C.G.-M.); (O.F.-M.); (M.A.-M.)
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology, Oncology Service an Internal Medicine (CIBEREHD), University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, 28806 Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Kaznagul Kanatova
- Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (P.C.); (A.B.); (K.M.); (K.K.)
| | - Angel Asúnsolo
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain
| | - Antonio Sarría-Santamera
- Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (P.C.); (A.B.); (K.M.); (K.K.)
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6
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Wang J, Shi Y, Reiss K, Allen B, Maschietto F, Lolis E, Konigsberg WH, Lisi GP, Batista VS. Insights into Binding of Single-Stranded Viral RNA Template to the Replication-Transcription Complex of SARS-CoV-2 for the Priming Reaction from Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Biochemistry 2022; 61:424-432. [PMID: 35199520 PMCID: PMC8887646 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
A minimal replication-transcription complex (RTC) of SARS-CoV-2 for synthesis of viral RNAs includes the nsp12 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and two nsp8 RNA primase subunits for de novo primer synthesis, one nsp8 in complex with its accessory nsp7 subunit and the other without it. The RTC is responsible for faithfully copying the entire (+) sense viral genome from its first 5'-end to the last 3'-end nucleotides through a replication-intermediate (RI) template. The single-stranded (ss) RNA template for the RI is its 33-nucleotide 3'-poly(A) tail adjacent to a well-characterized secondary structure. The ssRNA template for viral transcription is a 5'-UUUAU-3' next to stem-loop (SL) 1'. We analyze the electrostatic potential distribution of the nsp8 subunit within the RTC around the template strand of the primer/template (P/T) RNA duplex in recently published cryo-EM structures to address the priming reaction using the viral poly(A) template. We carried out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with a P/T RNA duplex, the viral poly(A) template, or a generic ssRNA template. We find evidence that the viral poly(A) template binds similarly to the template strand of the P/T RNA duplex within the RTC, mainly through electrostatic interactions, providing new insights into the priming reaction by the nsp8 subunit within the RTC, which differs significantly from the existing proposal of the nsp7/nsp8 oligomer formed outside the RTC. High-order oligomerization of nsp8 and nsp7 for SARS-CoV observed outside the RTC of SARS-CoV-2 is not found in the RTC and not likely to be relevant to the priming reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Wang
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry,
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8114,
United States
| | - Yuanjun Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Yale
University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511-8499, United
States
| | - Krystle Reiss
- Department of Chemistry, Yale
University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511-8499, United
States
| | - Brandon Allen
- Department of Chemistry, Yale
University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511-8499, United
States
| | - Federica Maschietto
- Department of Chemistry, Yale
University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511-8499, United
States
| | - Elias Lolis
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale
University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8066, United
States
| | - William H. Konigsberg
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry,
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8114,
United States
| | - George P. Lisi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and
Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912,
United States
| | - Victor S. Batista
- Department of Chemistry, Yale
University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511-8499, United
States
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Nencka R, Silhan J, Klima M, Otava T, Kocek H, Krafcikova P, Boura E. Coronaviral RNA-methyltransferases: function, structure and inhibition. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:635-650. [PMID: 35018474 PMCID: PMC8789044 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviral methyltransferases (MTases), nsp10/16 and nsp14, catalyze the last two steps of viral RNA-cap creation that takes place in cytoplasm. This cap is essential for the stability of viral RNA and, most importantly, for the evasion of innate immune system. Non-capped RNA is recognized by innate immunity which leads to its degradation and the activation of antiviral immunity. As a result, both coronaviral MTases are in the center of scientific scrutiny. Recently, X-ray and cryo-EM structures of both enzymes were solved even in complex with other parts of the viral replication complex. High-throughput screening as well as structure-guided inhibitor design have led to the discovery of their potent inhibitors. Here, we critically summarize the tremendous advancement of the coronaviral MTase field since the beginning of COVID pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radim Nencka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Silhan
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Klima
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Otava
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Hugo Kocek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Krafcikova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Evzen Boura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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The nucleotide addition cycle of the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109650. [PMID: 34433083 PMCID: PMC8367775 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses have evolved elaborate multisubunit machines to replicate and transcribe their genomes. Central to these machines are the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase subunit (nsp12) and its intimately associated cofactors (nsp7 and nsp8). We use a high-throughput magnetic-tweezers approach to develop a mechanochemical description of this core polymerase. The core polymerase exists in at least three catalytically distinct conformations, one being kinetically consistent with incorporation of incorrect nucleotides. We provide evidence that the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) uses a thermal ratchet instead of a power stroke to transition from the pre- to post-translocated state. Ultra-stable magnetic tweezers enable the direct observation of coronavirus polymerase deep and long-lived backtracking that is strongly stimulated by secondary structures in the template. The framework we present here elucidates one of the most important structure-dynamics-function relationships in human health today and will form the grounds for understanding the regulation of this complex.
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