‘Dance’ of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can help in developing vaccines
The multiple dynamic structures of the coronavirus spike proteins – the molecular machine which permits the access of coronavirus into our cells, has been deciphered by the researchers of at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, this study can aid as a ‘recipe’ for the manufacturers of the coronavirus vaccine.
The easy and basic principle behind most of the coronavirus vaccine under development is: Subjecting the body to the spike protein to trick the immune system into thinking that it has been attacked by a virus or other pathogenic microbes and thus triggering an immune reaction.
Consequently, the 3-Dimensional framework of the spike protein is the first to be completely examined as well as characterized, and researchers are still attempting to discover about the coronavirus’ spike proteins.
Breakthrough Research By IISER
The ‘free energy’ that is essential in understanding recognizing exactly how the molecule will certainly react with its environments governs the stability of every biomolecular structure.
This free energy profile for various coronavirus spike protein structures has been explained by IISER’s researchers.
The spike proteins are composed of 3 intertwined chains of amino acids said Susmita Roy, assistant professor, IISER, Kolkata.
Susmita Roy explains a bizarre dynamics within the spike protein caused by the interactions between these amino acid chains as the ‘dance of spike protein’ causes the continual shift from up positions to down positions, folding the top ends of each chain into a ‘down’ or unfolding into an ‘up’ position.
The states in which spike protein is likely to assist the coronavirus in attaching to host cells was determined by the researchers. The outcomes of the research are released in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.
Roy stated that the chains are more exposed when they are upwards, which aids them to discover and bind to the cell receptors of the host.
These states induce the human body’s immune response, and hence studying about it can help develop vaccines that induce a better immune response, as per the researchers.
The ‘free energy’ linked with the distinct structures was identified using the existing data on the structure of the spike proteins. Additionally, they identified which structures bring about a greater affinity towards the ACE2 receptors, the enzyme used by the spike protein to acquire entry into the host cells.
Roy stated that they have actually identified all the possible structural ensembles in spike proteins, and also when either one or two chains are in up position – the ACE2 receptors bind extremely well
How this will be useful?
The study team claimed that the interaction-level information of the spike protein can give deep perspicacity into establishing reliable therapeutic targets along with design vaccines.
Roy claimed that they can ascertain that for altering the spike proteins this research is like a recipe. The vaccine developers can adjust the amino acid chains to get the most suitable arrangement of the spike protein as the atomic degree mechanism of the spike proteins is known.
This is not the very first time a group has tried to uncover the molecular-level structure of the spike proteins, however, the previous research utilized Cryogenic electron microscopy which fell short to capture the altering characteristics of the molecular-level structure of the spike protein.
However, a detailed map of the structures’ alterations in response to interactions within the spike protein was determined by the IISER’s computational study team.
Additionally, the research highlights several differences between the spike proteins of the SARS virus that previously caused the pandemic in the year 2003 and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Roy stated that the characteristics of the spike proteins differ, even though the structures are extremely comparable.
Comparing the characteristics of the spike protein in SARS and MERS viruses, the up-down activity is much more prevalent in the SARS-CoV-2, which may be why SARS-CoV-2 transmit rapidly.
‘Dance’ of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can help in developing vaccines
Author: Sruthi S
