Processing of the SARS-CoV pp1a/ab nsp7-10 region

Boris Krichel, Sven Falke, Rolf Hilgenfeld, Lars Redecke, Charlotte Uetrecht*

*Corresponding author for this work
21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus is the causative agent of a respiratory disease with a high case fatality rate. During the formation of the coronaviral replication/ transcription complex, essential steps include processing of the conserved polyprotein nsp7-10 region by the main protease Mpro and subsequent complex formation of the released nsp's. Here, we analyzed processing of the coronavirus nsp7-10 region using native mass spectrometry showing consumption of substrate, rise and fall of intermediate products and complexation. Importantly, there is a clear order of cleavage efficiencies, which is influenced by the polyprotein tertiary structure. Furthermore, the predominant product is an nsp7+8(2: 2) hetero-tetramer with nsp8 scaffold. In conclusion, native MS, opposed to other methods, can expose the processing dynamics of viral polyproteins and the landscape of protein interactions in one set of experiments. Thereby, new insights into protein interactions, essential for generation of viral progeny, were provided, with relevance for development of antivirals.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBiochemical Journal
Volume477
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)1009-1019
Number of pages11
ISSN0264-6021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13.03.2020

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

DFG Research Classification Scheme

  • 2.11-01 Biochemistry
  • 2.21-04 Virology

Coronavirus related work

  • Research on SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19

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