4MOD

Structure of the MERS-CoV fusion core


Experimental Data Snapshot

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 1.90 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.213 
  • R-Value Work: 0.185 
  • R-Value Observed: 0.186 

Starting Model: experimental
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This is version 1.3 of the entry. See complete history


Literature

Structure of the fusion core and inhibition of fusion by a heptad repeat peptide derived from the S protein of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.

Gao, J.Lu, G.Qi, J.Li, Y.Wu, Y.Deng, Y.Geng, H.Li, H.Wang, Q.Xiao, H.Tan, W.Yan, J.Gao, G.F.

(2013) J Virol 87: 13134-13140

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.02433-13
  • Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
    4MOD

  • PubMed Abstract: 

    Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) recently emerged as a severe worldwide public health concern. The virus is highly pathogenic, manifesting in infected patients with an approximately 50% fatality rate. It is known that the surface spike (S) proteins of coronaviruses mediate receptor recognition and membrane fusion, thereby playing an indispensable role in initiating infection. In this process, heptad repeats 1 and 2 (HR1 and HR2) of the S protein assemble into a complex called the fusion core, which represents a key membrane fusion architecture. To date, however, the MERS-CoV fusion core remains uncharacterized. In this study, we performed a series of biochemical and biophysical analyses characterizing the HR1/HR2 complexes of this novel virus. The HR sequences were variably truncated and then connected with a flexible amino acid linker. In each case, the recombinant protein automatically assembled into a trimer in solution, displaying a typical α-helical structure. One of these trimers was successfully crystallized, and its structure was solved at a resolution of 1.9 Å. A canonical 6-helix bundle, like those reported for other coronaviruses, was revealed, with three HR1 helices forming the central coiled-coil core and three HR2 chains surrounding the core in the HR1 side grooves. This demonstrates that MERS-CoV utilizes a mechanism similar to those of other class I enveloped viruses for membrane fusion. With this notion, we further identified an HR2-based peptide that could potently inhibit MERS-CoV fusion and entry by using a pseudotyped-virus system. These results lay the groundwork for future inhibitory peptidic drug design.


  • Organizational Affiliation

    CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.


Macromolecules
Find similar proteins by:  (by identity cutoff)  |  3D Structure
Entity ID: 1
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
HR1 of S protein, LINKER, HR2 of S protein
A, B
129Human betacoronavirus 2c EMC/2012synthetic constructMutation(s): 0 
Gene Names: spikeS
UniProt
Find proteins for K9N5Q8 (Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (isolate United Kingdom/H123990006/2012))
Explore K9N5Q8 
Go to UniProtKB:  K9N5Q8
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
UniProt GroupK9N5Q8
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
Experimental Data & Validation

Experimental Data

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 1.90 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.213 
  • R-Value Work: 0.185 
  • R-Value Observed: 0.186 
  • Space Group: P 3
Unit Cell:
Length ( Å )Angle ( ˚ )
a = 42.816α = 90
b = 42.816β = 90
c = 75.566γ = 120
Software Package:
Software NamePurpose
Blu-Icedata collection
AMoREphasing
PHENIXrefinement
HKL-2000data reduction
HKL-2000data scaling

Structure Validation

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Entry History 

Deposition Data

Revision History  (Full details and data files)

  • Version 1.0: 2013-10-09
    Type: Initial release
  • Version 1.1: 2017-06-28
    Changes: Source and taxonomy
  • Version 1.2: 2022-08-24
    Changes: Database references
  • Version 1.3: 2023-11-08
    Changes: Data collection, Refinement description