Researchers from the United States simulated changes in the SARS-COV-2 S-protein structure, starting with the recognition of the cell to penetrate into it, and showed an important role in the process of glycans. According to scientists, whose work is published in the magazine Elife, the suppression of glying can be a potentially effective strategy for preventing the virus transmission.
The genetic material transmission of the host cell is carried out by coronavirus using an S-protein consisting of three components – a transmembrane beam and two subunits: S1 and S2. The first is binding to the Ace2 receptor molecule on the cell surface, and the second provides the process of fusion of the virus and cell membranes. However, the exact order in which these actions occur still remained unknown.
Researchers at the University of Rice together with colleagues from the Northeastern University were modeled as S2 subunits change during this process. Scientists particularly interested in what role in the process of penetration of the virus in the cell is played by glycans – sugar on the S-protein surface. Thousands of simulations showed that they form a “cell”, which “fixes” S2 after separation from S1 up to the merge of the membranes. In addition, modeling has shown that this process helps the process of merging the membranes, extending the so-called merge peptides. S2 glying significantly increased the chances of merge peptides connect with the host cell. In the absence of glycans, the probability of this was minimal.
“Without glycans, a viral particle will most likely not be able to penetrate into the cell. Our study shows how sugars can control the infectivity (SARS-COV-2 – approx.” Tape.ru “)”, – emphasizes one of the authors of the floor Whitford. .