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Roohi A, Gharagozlou S. Vitamin D supplementation and calcium: Many-faced gods or nobody in fighting against Corona Virus Disease 2019. Clin Nutr ESPEN 2024; 62:172-184. [PMID: 38901939 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.05.015] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
In December 2019, Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified and designated as a pandemic in March 2020 due to rapid spread of the virus globally. At the beginning of the pandemic, only a few treatment options, mainly focused on supportive care and repurposing medications, were available. Due to its effects on immune system, vitamin D was a topic of interest during the pandemic, and researchers investigated its potential impact on COVID-19 outcomes. However, the results of studies about the impact of vitamin D on the disease are inconclusive. In the present narrative review, different roles of vitamin D regarding the COVID-19 have been discussed to show that vitamin D supplementation should be recommended carefully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Roohi
- Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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2
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Cubisino SAM, Milenkovic S, Conti-Nibali S, Musso N, Bonacci P, De Pinto V, Ceccarelli M, Reina S. Electrophysiological properties and structural prediction of the SARS-CoV-2 viroprotein E. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1334819. [PMID: 38606285 PMCID: PMC11007222 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1334819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus SARS- CoV-2, has caused millions of sick people and thousands of deaths all over the world. The viral positive-sense single-stranded RNA encodes 31 proteins among which the spike (S) is undoubtedly the best known. Recently, protein E has been reputed as a potential pharmacological target as well. It is essential for the assembly and release of the virions in the cell. Literature describes protein E as a voltage-dependent channel with preference towards monovalent cations whose intracellular expression, though, alters Ca2+ homeostasis and promotes the activation of the proinflammatory cascades. Due to the extremely high sequence identity of SARS-CoV-2 protein E (E-2) with the previously characterized E-1 (i.e., protein E from SARS-CoV) many data obtained for E-1 were simply adapted to the other. Recent solid state NMR structure revealed that the transmembrane domain (TMD) of E-2 self-assembles into a homo-pentamer, albeit the oligomeric status has not been validated with the full-length protein. Prompted by the lack of a common agreement on the proper structural and functional features of E-2, we investigated the specific mechanism/s of pore-gating and the detailed molecular structure of the most cryptic protein of SARS-CoV-2 by means of MD simulations of the E-2 structure and by expressing, refolding and analyzing the electrophysiological activity of the transmembrane moiety of the protein E-2, in its full length. Our results show a clear agreement between experimental and predictive studies and foresee a mechanism of activity based on Ca2+ affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefano Conti-Nibali
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Nicolò Musso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonacci
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Vito De Pinto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- We.MitoBiotech S.R.L, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Simona Reina
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- We.MitoBiotech S.R.L, Catania, Italy
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3
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Miura K, Suzuki Y, Ishida K, Arakawa M, Wu H, Fujioka Y, Emi A, Maeda K, Hamajima R, Nakano T, Tenno T, Hiroaki H, Morita E. Distinct motifs in the E protein are required for SARS-CoV-2 virus particle formation and lysosomal deacidification in host cells. J Virol 2023; 97:e0042623. [PMID: 37830820 PMCID: PMC10617393 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00426-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused a global public health crisis. The E protein, a structural protein found in this virus particle, is also known to be a viroporin. As such, it forms oligomeric ion channels or pores in the host cell membrane. However, the relationship between these two functions is poorly understood. In this study, we showed that the roles of E protein in virus particle and viroporin formation are distinct. This study contributes to the development of drugs that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus particle formation. Additionally, we designed a highly sensitive and high-throughput virus-like particle detection system using the HiBiT tag, which is a useful tool for studying the release of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koya Miura
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Youichi Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kotaro Ishida
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Masashi Arakawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Hong Wu
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Fujioka
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akino Emi
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koki Maeda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Ryusei Hamajima
- Laboratory of Structural and Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakano
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Tenno
- Laboratory of Structural and Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
- BeCellBar LLC, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Hiroaki
- Laboratory of Structural and Molecular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
- BeCellBar LLC, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Eiji Morita
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
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4
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Poggio E, Vallese F, Hartel AJW, Morgenstern TJ, Kanner SA, Rauh O, Giamogante F, Barazzuol L, Shepard KL, Colecraft HM, Clarke OB, Brini M, Calì T. Perturbation of the host cell Ca 2+ homeostasis and ER-mitochondria contact sites by the SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins E and M. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:297. [PMID: 37120609 PMCID: PMC10148623 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05817-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The clinical phenotypes are variable, ranging from spontaneous recovery to serious illness and death. On March 2020, a global COVID-19 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). As of February 2023, almost 670 million cases and 6,8 million deaths have been confirmed worldwide. Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, contain a single-stranded RNA genome enclosed in a viral capsid consisting of four structural proteins: the nucleocapsid (N) protein, in the ribonucleoprotein core, the spike (S) protein, the envelope (E) protein, and the membrane (M) protein, embedded in the surface envelope. In particular, the E protein is a poorly characterized viroporin with high identity amongst all the β-coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, HCoV-OC43) and a low mutation rate. Here, we focused our attention on the study of SARS-CoV-2 E and M proteins, and we found a general perturbation of the host cell calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis and a selective rearrangement of the interorganelle contact sites. In vitro and in vivo biochemical analyses revealed that the binding of specific nanobodies to soluble regions of SARS-CoV-2 E protein reversed the observed phenotypes, suggesting that the E protein might be an important therapeutic candidate not only for vaccine development, but also for the clinical management of COVID designing drug regimens that, so far, are very limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Poggio
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Vallese
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andreas J W Hartel
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Travis J Morgenstern
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott A Kanner
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Oliver Rauh
- Membrane Biophysics, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Flavia Giamogante
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Barazzuol
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Kenneth L Shepard
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Henry M Colecraft
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Doctoral Program in Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Oliver Biggs Clarke
- Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marisa Brini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Study Center for Neurodegeneration (CESNE), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Tito Calì
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
- Study Center for Neurodegeneration (CESNE), University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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5
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Zhou S, Lv P, Li M, Chen Z, Xin H, Reilly S, Zhang X. SARS-CoV-2 E protein: Pathogenesis and potential therapeutic development. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 159:114242. [PMID: 36652729 PMCID: PMC9832061 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a devastating global pandemic, which has seriously affected human health worldwide. The discovery of therapeutic agents is extremely urgent, and the viral structural proteins are particularly important as potential drug targets. SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein is one of the main structural proteins of the virus, which is involved in multiple processes of the virus life cycle and is directly related to pathogenesis process. In this review, we present the amino acid sequence of the E protein and compare it with other two human coronaviruses. We then explored the role of E protein in the viral life cycle and discussed the pathogenic mechanisms that E protein may be involved in. Next, we summarize the potential drugs against E protein discovered in the current studies. Finally, we described the possible effects of E protein mutation on virus and host. This established a knowledge system of E protein to date, aiming to provide theoretical insights for mitigating the current COVID-19 pandemic and potential future coronavirus outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Panpan Lv
- Clinical Laboratory, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Mingxue Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zihui Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hong Xin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Svetlana Reilly
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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6
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Juthi RT, Sazed SA, Sarmin M, Haque R, Alam MS. COVID-19 and diarrhea: putative mechanisms and management. Int J Infect Dis 2023; 126:125-131. [PMID: 36403817 PMCID: PMC9672967 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has recently posed a threat to global health by spreading at a high rate and taking millions of lives worldwide. Along with the respiratory symptoms, there are gastrointestinal manifestations and one of the most common gastrointestinal symptoms is diarrhea which is seen in a significant percentage of COVID-19 patients. LITERATURE REVIEW Several studies have shown the plausible correlation between overexpressed angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in enterocytes and SARS-CoV-2, as ACE2 is the only known receptor for the virus entry. Along with the dysregulated ACE2, there are other contributing factors such as gut microbiome dysbiosis, adverse effects of antiviral and antibiotics for treating infections and inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 which bring about increased permeability of gut cells and subsequent occurrence of diarrhea. Few studies found that the SARS-CoV-2 is capable of damaging liver cells too. No single effective treatment option is available. LIMITATIONS Confirmed pathophysiology is still unavailable. Studies regarding global population are also insufficient. CONCLUSION In this review, based on the previous works and literature, we summarized the putative molecular pathophysiology of COVID-19 associated diarrhea, concomitant complications and the standard practices of management of diarrhea and hepatic manifestations in international setups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rifat Tasnim Juthi
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Saiful Arefeen Sazed
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Monira Sarmin
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rashidul Haque
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Shafiul Alam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh,Corresponding author. Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Scientist, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh. Tel: +8801711-469232
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7
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Weak Point of SARS-CoV-2: Human and Viral Ion Channels under External Physical Fields. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315185. [PMID: 36499511 PMCID: PMC9737394 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ionic E-nanochannel (viroporin) is the weak point of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the (still threatening) COVID-19 since it is vital to the virus's budding and propagation. Therefore, targeting it to disable its functions ought to incapacitate, or at least weaken, the virus. The ionic currents inside this channel could be affected and disturbed by direct physical attack via the actions of external fields. The paper presents the first step towards the application of such methods in the fight against the current pandemic, numerical simulations of external fields' impact on ionic currents through viral channels. These simulations-based on the actual, detailed physical nanostructure of ionic channels, measured experimentally and reported in the literature-show that external physical fields can diminish the channel's currents and that the lower the channel's selectivity, the stronger the effect. Simulations suggest that SARS-CoV-2 E-viroporin is almost non-selective, which means that the whole virus ought to be highly vulnerable to the actions of external physical fields, much more vulnerable than the much more selective human cell ionic channels. If corroborated by experiment, this observation may result in an innovative method of dealing with the recent pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 and other similar viruses.
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8
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Probing effects of the SARS-CoV-2 E protein on membrane curvature and intracellular calcium. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA (BBA) - BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183994. [PMID: 35724739 PMCID: PMC9212275 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.183994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 contains four structural proteins in its genome. These proteins aid in the assembly and budding of new virions at the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). Current fundamental research efforts largely focus on one of these proteins – the spike (S) protein. Since successful antiviral therapies are likely to target multiple viral components, there is considerable interest in understanding the biophysical role of its other structural proteins, in particular structural membrane proteins. Here, we have focused our efforts on the characterization of the full-length envelope (E) protein from SARS-CoV-2, combining experimental and computational approaches. Recombinant expression of the full-length E protein from SARS-CoV-2 reveals that this membrane protein is capable of independent multimerization, possibly as a tetrameric or smaller species. Fluorescence microscopy shows that the protein localizes intracellularly, and coarse-grained MD simulations indicate it causes bending of the surrounding lipid bilayer, corroborating a potential role for the E protein in viral budding. Although we did not find robust electrophysiological evidence of ion-channel activity, cells transfected with the E protein exhibited reduced intracellular Ca2+, which may further promote viral replication. However, our atomistic MD simulations revealed that previous NMR structures are relatively unstable, and result in models incapable of ion conduction. Our study highlights the importance of using high-resolution structural data obtained from a full-length protein to gain detailed molecular insights, and eventually permitting virtual drug screening.
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9
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Cao Y, Yang R, Wang W, Jiang S, Yang C, Wang Q, Liu N, Xue Y, Lee I, Meng X, Yuan Z. Effects of membrane lipids on phospholamban pentameric channel structure and ion transportation mechanisms. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 224:766-775. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.10.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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10
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Loh D, Reiter RJ. Melatonin: Regulation of Viral Phase Separation and Epitranscriptomics in Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8122. [PMID: 35897696 PMCID: PMC9368024 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The relentless, protracted evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus imposes tremendous pressure on herd immunity and demands versatile adaptations by the human host genome to counter transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic alterations associated with a wide range of short- and long-term manifestations during acute infection and post-acute recovery, respectively. To promote viral replication during active infection and viral persistence, the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein regulates host cell microenvironment including pH and ion concentrations to maintain a high oxidative environment that supports template switching, causing extensive mitochondrial damage and activation of pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling cascades. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial distress induce dynamic changes to both the host and viral RNA m6A methylome, and can trigger the derepression of long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE1), resulting in global hypomethylation, epigenetic changes, and genomic instability. The timely application of melatonin during early infection enhances host innate antiviral immune responses by preventing the formation of "viral factories" by nucleocapsid liquid-liquid phase separation that effectively blockades viral genome transcription and packaging, the disassembly of stress granules, and the sequestration of DEAD-box RNA helicases, including DDX3X, vital to immune signaling. Melatonin prevents membrane depolarization and protects cristae morphology to suppress glycolysis via antioxidant-dependent and -independent mechanisms. By restraining the derepression of LINE1 via multifaceted strategies, and maintaining the balance in m6A RNA modifications, melatonin could be the quintessential ancient molecule that significantly influences the outcome of the constant struggle between virus and host to gain transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic dominance over the host genome during acute infection and PASC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Loh
- Independent Researcher, Marble Falls, TX 78654, USA;
| | - Russel J. Reiter
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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11
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Sun C, Xie C, Bu GL, Zhong LY, Zeng MS. Molecular characteristics, immune evasion, and impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:202. [PMID: 35764603 PMCID: PMC9240077 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01039-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The persistent COVID-19 pandemic since 2020 has brought an enormous public health burden to the global society and is accompanied by various evolution of the virus genome. The consistently emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants harboring critical mutations impact the molecular characteristics of viral proteins and display heterogeneous behaviors in immune evasion, transmissibility, and the clinical manifestation during infection, which differ each strain and endow them with distinguished features during populational spread. Several SARS-CoV-2 variants, identified as Variants of Concern (VOC) by the World Health Organization, challenged global efforts on COVID-19 control due to the rapid worldwide spread and enhanced immune evasion from current antibodies and vaccines. Moreover, the recent Omicron variant even exacerbated the global anxiety in the continuous pandemic. Its significant evasion from current medical treatment and disease control even highlights the necessity of combinatory investigation of the mutational pattern and influence of the mutations on viral dynamics against populational immunity, which would greatly facilitate drug and vaccine development and benefit the global public health policymaking. Hence in this review, we summarized the molecular characteristics, immune evasion, and impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 variants and focused on the parallel comparison of different variants in mutational profile, transmissibility and tropism alteration, treatment effectiveness, and clinical manifestations, in order to provide a comprehensive landscape for SARS-CoV-2 variant research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 510060, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chu Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 510060, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guo-Long Bu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 510060, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lan-Yi Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 510060, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mu-Sheng Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 510060, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, 510060, Guangzhou, China.
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12
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Xia X, Cheng A, Wang M, Ou X, Sun D, Mao S, Huang J, Yang Q, Wu Y, Chen S, Zhang S, Zhu D, Jia R, Liu M, Zhao XX, Gao Q, Tian B. Functions of Viroporins in the Viral Life Cycle and Their Regulation of Host Cell Responses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:890549. [PMID: 35720341 PMCID: PMC9202500 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.890549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Viroporins are virally encoded transmembrane proteins that are essential for viral pathogenicity and can participate in various stages of the viral life cycle, thereby promoting viral proliferation. Viroporins have multifaceted effects on host cell biological functions, including altering cell membrane permeability, triggering inflammasome formation, inducing apoptosis and autophagy, and evading immune responses, thereby ensuring that the virus completes its life cycle. Viroporins are also virulence factors, and their complete or partial deletion often reduces virion release and reduces viral pathogenicity, highlighting the important role of these proteins in the viral life cycle. Thus, viroporins represent a common drug-protein target for inhibiting drugs and the development of antiviral therapies. This article reviews current studies on the functions of viroporins in the viral life cycle and their regulation of host cell responses, with the aim of improving the understanding of this growing family of viral proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Xia
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Xumin Ou
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Di Sun
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Sai Mao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Juan Huang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Qiao Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Ying Wu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Shun Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Shaqiu Zhang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Dekang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Mafeng Liu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Xin-Xin Zhao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Qun Gao
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
| | - Bin Tian
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China.,Avian Disease Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, China
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13
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Kuzmin A, Orekhov P, Astashkin R, Gordeliy V, Gushchin I. Structure and dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein monomer. Proteins 2022; 90:1102-1114. [PMID: 35119706 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses, especially severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), present an ongoing threat to human wellbeing. Consequently, elucidation of molecular determinants of their function and interaction with the host is an important task. Whereas some of the coronaviral proteins are extensively characterized, others remain understudied. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the structure and dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein (a viroporin) in the monomeric form. The protein consists of the hydrophobic α-helical transmembrane domain (TMD) and amphiphilic α-helices H2 and H3, connected by flexible linkers. We show that TMD has a preferable orientation in the membrane, while H2 and H3 reside at the membrane surface. Orientation of H2 is strongly influenced by palmitoylation of cysteines Cys40, Cys43, and Cys44. Glycosylation of Asn66 affects the orientation of H3. We also observe that the monomeric E protein both generates and senses the membrane curvature, preferably localizing with the C-terminus at the convex regions of the membrane; the protein in the pentameric form displays these properties as well. Localization to curved regions may be favorable for assembly of the E protein oligomers, whereas induction of curvature may facilitate the budding of the viral particles. The presented results may be helpful for a better understanding of the function of the coronaviral E protein and viroporins in general, and for overcoming the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kuzmin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Philipp Orekhov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Faculty of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Roman Astashkin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia.,Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, Grenoble, France
| | - Valentin Gordeliy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia.,Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, Grenoble, France.,Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany.,JuStruct: Jülich Center for Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Ivan Gushchin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
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14
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Vindeirinho JM, Pinho E, Azevedo NF, Almeida C. SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostics Based on Nucleic Acids Amplification: From Fundamental Concepts to Applications and Beyond. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:799678. [PMID: 35402302 PMCID: PMC8984495 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.799678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic ignited the development of countless molecular methods for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 based either on nucleic acid, or protein analysis, with the first establishing as the most used for routine diagnosis. The methods trusted for day to day analysis of nucleic acids rely on amplification, in order to enable specific SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection. This review aims to compile the state-of-the-art in the field of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) used for SARS-CoV-2 detection, either at the clinic level, or at the Point-Of-Care (POC), thus focusing on isothermal and non-isothermal amplification-based diagnostics, while looking carefully at the concerning virology aspects, steps and instruments a test can involve. Following a theme contextualization in introduction, topics about fundamental knowledge on underlying virology aspects, collection and processing of clinical samples pave the way for a detailed assessment of the amplification and detection technologies. In order to address such themes, nucleic acid amplification methods, the different types of molecular reactions used for DNA detection, as well as the instruments requested for executing such routes of analysis are discussed in the subsequent sections. The benchmark of paradigmatic commercial tests further contributes toward discussion, building on technical aspects addressed in the previous sections and other additional information supplied in that part. The last lines are reserved for looking ahead to the future of NAATs and its importance in tackling this pandemic and other identical upcoming challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- João M. Vindeirinho
- National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research (INIAV, I.P), Vairão, Portugal
- Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eva Pinho
- National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research (INIAV, I.P), Vairão, Portugal
- Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno F. Azevedo
- Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinarian Research (INIAV, I.P), Vairão, Portugal
- Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Carina Almeida,
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15
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Cavezzi A, Menicagli R, Troiani E, Corrao S. COVID-19, Cation Dysmetabolism, Sialic Acid, CD147, ACE2, Viroporins, Hepcidin and Ferroptosis: A Possible Unifying Hypothesis. F1000Res 2022; 11:102. [PMID: 35340277 PMCID: PMC8921693 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.108667.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: iron and calcium dysmetabolism, with hyperferritinemia, hypoferremia, hypocalcemia and anemia have been documented in the majority of COVID-19 patients at later/worse stages. Furthermore, complementary to ACE2, both sialic acid (SA) molecules and CD147 proved relevant host receptors for SARS-CoV-2 entry, which explains the viral attack to multiple types of cells, including erythrocytes, endothelium and neural tissue. Several authors advocated that cell ferroptosis may be the core and final cell degenerative mechanism. Methods: a literature research was performed in several scientific search engines, such as PubMed Central, Cochrane Library, Chemical Abstract Service. More than 500 articles were retrieved until mid-December 2021, to highlight the available evidence about the investigated issues. Results: based on COVID-19 literature data, we have highlighted a few pathophysiological mechanisms, associated with virus-based cation dysmetabolism, multi-organ attack, mitochondria degeneration and ferroptosis. Our suggested elucidated pathological sequence is: a) spike protein subunit S1 docking with sialylated membrane glycoproteins/receptors (ACE2, CD147), and S2 subunit fusion with the lipid layer; b) cell membrane morpho-functional changes due to the consequent electro-chemical variations and viroporin action, which induce an altered ion channel function and intracellular cation accumulation; c) additional intracellular iron concentration due to a deregulated hepcidin-ferroportin axis, with higher hepcidin levels. Viral invasion may also affect erythrocytes/erythroid precursors, endothelial cells and macrophages, through SA and CD147 receptors, with relative hemoglobin and iron/calcium dysmetabolism. AB0 blood group, hemochromatosis, or environmental elements may represent possible factors which affect individual susceptibility to COVID-19. Conclusions: our literature analysis confirms the combined role of SA molecules, ACE2, CD147, viroporins and hepcidin in determining the cation dysmetabolism and final ferroptosis in the cells infected by SARS-CoV-2. The altered ion channels and electrochemical gradients of the cell membrane have a pivotal role in the virus entry and cell dysmetabolism, with subsequent multi-organ immune-inflammatory degeneration and erythrocyte/hemoglobin alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attilio Cavezzi
- Eurocenter Venalinfa, San Benedetto del Tronto, AP, 63074, Italy
| | | | - Emidio Troiani
- Cardiology Unit, Social Security Institute, State Hospital, Cailungo, 47893, San Marino
| | - Salvatore Corrao
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Internal Medicine Division,, ARNAS Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli Hospital Trust, Palermo, Italy
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16
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Perini DA, Aguilella-Arzo M, Alcaraz A, Perálvarez-Marín A, Queralt-Martín M. Dynorphin A induces membrane permeabilization by formation of proteolipidic pores. Insights from electrophysiology and computational simulations. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:230-240. [PMID: 35024095 PMCID: PMC8718563 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynorphins are endogenous neuropeptides that function as ligands for the κ-opioid receptor. In addition to opioid activity, dynorphins can induce several pathological effects such as neurological dysfunctions and cell death. Previous studies have suggested that Dynorphin A (DynA) mediates some pathogenic actions through formation of transient pores in lipid domains of the plasma membrane. Here, we use planar bilayer electrophysiology to show that DynA induces pore formation in negatively charged membranes. We find a large variability in pore conformations showing equilibrium conductance fluctuations, what disregards electroporation as the dominant mechanism of pore formation. Ion selectivity measurements showing cationic selectivity indicate that positive protein charges of DynA are stabilized by phosphatidyl serine negative charges in the formation of combined structures. We complement our study with computational simulations that assess the stability of diverse peptide arrangements in the hydrophobic core of the bilayer. We show that DynA is capable of assembling in charged membranes to form water-filled pores that conduct ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Aurora Perini
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics. Department of Physics. Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
| | - Marcel Aguilella-Arzo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics. Department of Physics. Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
| | - Antonio Alcaraz
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics. Department of Physics. Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
| | - Alex Perálvarez-Marín
- Biophysics Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - María Queralt-Martín
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics. Department of Physics. Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
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17
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Cao Y, Yang R, Wang W, Jiang S, Yang C, Liu N, Dai H, Lee I, Meng X, Yuan Z. Probing the Formation, Structure and Free Energy Relationships of M Protein Dimers of SARS-CoV-2. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:573-582. [PMID: 35047128 PMCID: PMC8756865 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The M protein of the novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) is the major structural component of the viral envelope and is also the minimum requirement for virus particle budding. M proteins generally exist as dimers. In virus assembly, they are the main driving force for envelope formation through lateral interactions and interactions with other viral structural proteins that play a central role. We built 100 candidate models and finally analyzed the six most convincing structural features of the SARS-CoV-2 M protein dimer based on long-timescale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, multiple free energy analyses (potential mean force (PMF) and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MMPBSA)) and principal component analysis (PCA) to obtain the most reasonable structure. The dimer stability was found to depend on the Leu-Ile zipper motif and aromatic amino acids in the transmembrane domain (TMD). Furthermore, the C-terminal domain (CTD) effects were relatively small. These results highlight a model in which there is sufficient binding affinity between the TMDs of M proteins to form dimers through the residues at the interface of the three transmembrane helices (TMHs). This study aims to help find more effective inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 M dimers and to develop vaccines based on structural information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipeng Cao
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060 PR China
- National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin, 300457 PR China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University Affiliated Hospital. 300031, PR China
| | - Wei Wang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060 PR China
| | - Shengpeng Jiang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060 PR China
| | - Chengwen Yang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060 PR China
| | - Ningbo Liu
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060 PR China
| | - Hongji Dai
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060 PR China
- College of Physics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China
| | - Imshik Lee
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cancer Epidemiology of Tianjin, PR China
| | - Xiangfei Meng
- National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin, 300457 PR China
- Corresponding authors.
| | - Zhiyong Yuan
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060 PR China
- Corresponding authors.
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18
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Matevosyan A, Allahverdyan AE. Nonequilibrium, weak-field-induced cyclotron motion: A mechanism for magnetobiology. Phys Rev E 2021; 104:064407. [PMID: 35030908 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.104.064407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
There is a long-time quest for understanding physical mechanisms of weak magnetic field interaction with biological matter. Two factors impeded the development of such mechanisms: first, a high (room) temperature of a cellular environment, where a weak, static magnetic field induces a (classically) zero equilibrium response. Second, the friction in the cellular environment is large, preventing a weak field to alter nonequilibrium processes such as a free diffusion of charges. Here we study a class of nonequilibrium steady states of a cellular ion in a confining potential, where the response to a (weak, homogeneous, static) magnetic field survives strong friction and thermal fluctuations. The magnetic field induces a rotational motion of the ion that proceeds with the cyclotron frequency. Such nonequilibrium states are generated by a white noise acting on the ion additionally to the nonlocal (memory-containing) friction and noise generated by an equilibrium thermal bath. The intensity of this white noise can be weak, i.e., much smaller than the thermal noise intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashot Matevosyan
- University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory, 19 J.J. Thompson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom.,Alikhanyan National Laboratory (Yerevan Physics Institute), 2 Alikhanyan Brothers street, Yerevan 0036, Armenia
| | - Armen E Allahverdyan
- Alikhanyan National Laboratory (Yerevan Physics Institute), 2 Alikhanyan Brothers street, Yerevan 0036, Armenia.,Yerevan State University, 1 A. Manoogian street, Yerevan 0025, Armenia
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19
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Guo Y, Wang B, Gao H, Gao L, Hua R, Xu JD. ACE2 in the Gut: The Center of the 2019-nCoV Infected Pathology. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:708336. [PMID: 34631794 PMCID: PMC8493804 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.708336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2019-nCoV is a rapidly contagious pneumonia caused by the recently discovered coronavirus. Although generally the most noticeable symptoms are concentrated in the lungs, the disorders in the gastrointestinal tract are of great importance in the diagnosis of 2019-nCoV. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), an important regulator of many physiological functions, including blood pressure and nutrients absorption, is recently identified as a vital entry for 2019-nCoV to enter host cells. In this review, we summarize its functions both physiologically and pathologically. We also elaborate its conflicting roles from the clews of contemporary researches, which may provide significant indications for pharmacological investigations and clinical uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexin Guo
- Department of Oral Medicine "5+3" Program, Basic Medical College, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Boya Wang
- Undergraduate Student of 2018 Eight Program of Clinical Medicine, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Han Gao
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Basic Medical College, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Rongxuan Hua
- Department of Clinical Medicine "5+3" Program, Basic Medical College, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Dong Xu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Basic Medical College, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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20
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Megyeri K, Dernovics Á, Al-Luhaibi ZII, Rosztóczy A. COVID-19-associated diarrhea. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:3208-3222. [PMID: 34163106 PMCID: PMC8218355 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i23.3208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) recently emerged as a highly virulent respiratory pathogen that is known as the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Diarrhea is a common early symptom in a significant proportion of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 can infect and replicate in esophageal cells and enterocytes, leading to direct damage to the intestinal epithelium. The infection decreases the level of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, thereby altering the composition of the gut microbiota. SARS-CoV-2 elicits a cytokine storm, which contributes to gastrointestinal inflammation. The direct cytopathic effects of SARS-CoV-2, gut dysbiosis, and aberrant immune response result in increased intestinal permeability, which may exacerbate existing symptoms and worsen the prognosis. By exploring the elements of pathogenesis, several therapeutic options have emerged for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, such as biologics and biotherapeutic agents. However, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the feces may facilitate the spread of COVID-19 through fecal-oral transmission and contaminate the environment. Thus gastrointestinal SARS-CoV-2 infection has important epidemiological significance. The development of new therapeutic and preventive options is necessary to treat and restrict the spread of this severe and widespread infection more effectively. Therefore, we summarize the key elements involved in the pathogenesis and the epidemiology of COVID-19-associated diarrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Megyeri
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged 6720, Csongrad, Hungary
| | - Áron Dernovics
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged 6720, Csongrad, Hungary
| | - Zaid I I Al-Luhaibi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged 6720, Csongrad, Hungary
| | - András Rosztóczy
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged 6720, Csongrad, Hungary
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21
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Cao Y, Yang R, Lee I, Zhang W, Sun J, Wang W, Meng X. Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 E Protein: Sequence, Structure, Viroporin, and Inhibitors. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1114-1130. [PMID: 33813796 PMCID: PMC8138525 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 epidemic is one of the most influential epidemics in history. Understanding the impact of coronaviruses (CoVs) on host cells is very important for disease treatment. The SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein is a small structural protein involved in many aspects of the viral life cycle. The E protein promotes the packaging and reproduction of the virus, and deletion of this protein weakens or even abolishes the virulence. This review aims to establish new knowledge by combining recent advances in the study of the SARS-CoV-2 E protein and by comparing it with the SARS-CoV E protein. The E protein amino acid sequence, structure, self-assembly characteristics, viroporin mechanisms and inhibitors are summarized and analyzed herein. Although the mechanisms of the SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV E proteins are similar in many respects, specific studies on the SARS-CoV-2 E protein, for both monomers and oligomers, are still lacking. A comprehensive understanding of this protein should prompt further studies on the design and characterization of effective targeted therapeutic measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipeng Cao
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for CancerTianjinPeople's Republic of China
- National Supercomputer Center in TianjinTEDA‐Tianjin Economic‐Technological Development AreaTianjinPeople's Republic of China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Infection and ImmunityTianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University Affiliated HospitalTianjinPeople's Republic of China
| | - Imshik Lee
- College of PhysicsNankai UniversityTianjinPeople's Republic of China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for CancerTianjinPeople's Republic of China
| | - Jiana Sun
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for CancerTianjinPeople's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for CancerTianjinPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xiangfei Meng
- National Supercomputer Center in TianjinTEDA‐Tianjin Economic‐Technological Development AreaTianjinPeople's Republic of China
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22
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Barrantes FJ. Structural biology of coronavirus ion channels. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2021; 77:391-402. [PMID: 33825700 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321001431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Viral infection compromises specific organelles of the cell and readdresses its functional resources to satisfy the needs of the invading body. Around 70% of the coronavirus positive-sense single-stranded RNA encodes proteins involved in replication, and these viruses essentially take over the biosynthetic and transport mechanisms to ensure the efficient replication of their genome and trafficking of their virions. Some coronaviruses encode genes for ion-channel proteins - the envelope protein E (orf4a), orf3a and orf8 - which they successfully employ to take control of the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi complex intermediate compartment or ERGIC. The E protein, which is one of the four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, assembles its transmembrane protomers into homopentameric channels with mild cationic selectivity. Orf3a forms homodimers and homotetramers. Both carry a PDZ-binding domain, lending them the versatility to interact with more than 400 target proteins in infected host cells. Orf8 is a very short 29-amino-acid single-passage transmembrane peptide that forms cation-selective channels when assembled in lipid bilayers. This review addresses the contribution of biophysical and structural biology approaches that unravel different facets of coronavirus ion channels, their effects on the cellular machinery of infected cells and some structure-functional correlations with ion channels of higher organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Barrantes
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) - National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), C1107AFF Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Transport mechanisms of SARS-CoV-E viroporin in calcium solutions: Lipid-dependent Anomalous Mole Fraction Effect and regulation of pore conductance. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2021; 1863:183590. [PMID: 33621516 PMCID: PMC7896491 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2021.183590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The envelope protein E of the SARS-CoV coronavirus is an archetype of viroporin. It is a small hydrophobic protein displaying ion channel activity that has proven highly relevant in virus-host interaction and virulence. Ion transport through E channel was shown to alter Ca2+ homeostasis in the cell and trigger inflammation processes. Here, we study transport properties of the E viroporin in mixed solutions of potassium and calcium chloride that contain a fixed total concentration (mole fraction experiments). The channel is reconstituted in planar membranes of different lipid compositions, including a lipid mixture that mimics the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) membrane where the virus localizes within the cell. We find that the E ion conductance changes non-monotonically with the total ionic concentration displaying an Anomalous Mole Fraction Effect (AMFE) only when charged lipids are present in the membrane. We also observe that E channel insertion in ERGIC-mimic membranes – including lipid with intrinsic negative curvature – enhances ion permeation at physiological concentrations of pure CaCl2 or KCl solutions, with a preferential transport of Ca2+ in mixed KCl-CaCl2 solutions. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that the presence of calcium modulates the transport properties of the E channel by interacting preferentially with charged lipids through different mechanisms including direct Coulombic interactions and possibly inducing changes in membrane morphology.
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