36az
Structure of BA.1-S-RBD/2130WT/2196-S93Y
Structural highlights
FunctionSPIKE_SARS2 attaches the virion to the cell membrane by interacting with host receptor, initiating the infection (By similarity). Binding to human ACE2 receptor and internalization of the virus into the endosomes of the host cell induces conformational changes in the Spike glycoprotein (PubMed:32142651, PubMed:32075877, PubMed:32155444). Uses also human TMPRSS2 for priming in human lung cells which is an essential step for viral entry (PubMed:32142651). Proteolysis by cathepsin CTSL may unmask the fusion peptide of S2 and activate membranes fusion within endosomes.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_04099][1] [2] [3] mediates fusion of the virion and cellular membranes by acting as a class I viral fusion protein. Under the current model, the protein has at least three conformational states: pre-fusion native state, pre-hairpin intermediate state, and post-fusion hairpin state. During viral and target cell membrane fusion, the coiled coil regions (heptad repeats) assume a trimer-of-hairpins structure, positioning the fusion peptide in close proximity to the C-terminal region of the ectodomain. The formation of this structure appears to drive apposition and subsequent fusion of viral and target cell membranes.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_04099] Acts as a viral fusion peptide which is unmasked following S2 cleavage occurring upon virus endocytosis.[HAMAP-Rule:MF_04099] Publication Abstract from PubMedThe ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2, particularly the emergence of Omicron subvariants, compromised the effectiveness of many therapeutic antibodies. In this study, we employed a structure-guided computational design strategy to systematically optimize the COV2-2196 antibody for improved neutralization of Omicron variants. Through iterative rounds of computational design and experimental validation, we identified key paratope mutations that restored and enhanced antibody binding and neutralization potency against resistant viral strains. Cryo-EM structural analysis revealed the molecular basis for these improvements, highlighting how targeted modifications can accommodate epitope changes introduced by viral evolution. Our approach demonstrates that effective antibody optimization can be achieved using accessible computational resources, providing a practical framework for rapid therapeutic development. These findings underscore the potential of structure-based design to address challenges posed by viral antigenic drift and support the development of broadly effective antibody therapeutics for emerging infectious diseases. Structure-Guided Design of Therapeutic Antibodies Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variants.,Pallesen J, Du J, Wu Y, Ghosh S, Bayruns K, Sadeesh R, Weiner D Res Sq [Preprint]. 2026 Jun 24:rs.3.rs-9917568. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9917568/v1. PMID:42396495[4] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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