Hotspots for mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein: a correspondence analysis

Bibliographic Details
Title: Hotspots for mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein: a correspondence analysis
Authors: Mohammad Reza Rahbar, Abolfazl Jahangiri, Saeed Khalili, Mahboubeh Zarei, Kamran Mehrabani-Zeinabad, Bahman Khalesi, Navid Pourzardosht, Anahita Hessami, Navid Nezafat, Saman Sadraei, Manica Negahdaripour
Source: Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-17 (2021)
Publisher Information: Nature Portfolio, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Medicine, Science
More Details: Abstract Spike glycoprotein (Sgp) is liable for binding of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to the host receptors. Since Sgp is the main target for vaccine and drug designing, elucidating its mutation pattern could help in this regard. This study is aimed at investigating the correspondence of specific residues to the SgpSARS-CoV-2 functionality by explorative interpretation of sequence alignments. Centrality analysis of the Sgp dissects the importance of these residues in the interaction network of the RBD-ACE2 (receptor-binding domain) complex and furin cleavage site. Correspondence of RBD to threonine500 and asparagine501 and furin cleavage site to glutamine675, glutamine677, threonine678, and alanine684 was observed; all residues are exactly located at the interaction interfaces. The harmonious location of residues dictates the RBD binding property and the flexibility, hydrophobicity, and accessibility of the furin cleavage site. These species-specific residues can be assumed as real targets of evolution, while other substitutions tend to support them. Moreover, all these residues are parts of experimentally identified epitopes. Therefore, their substitution may affect vaccine efficacy. Higher rate of RBD maintenance than furin cleavage site was predicted. The accumulation of substitutions reinforces the probability of the multi-host circulation of the virus and emphasizes the enduring evolutionary events.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2045-2322
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01655-y
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/544bd8cf0e0a415d9a08f61c361ac95b
Accession Number: edsdoj.544bd8cf0e0a415d9a08f61c361ac95b
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:20452322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-01655-y
Published in:Scientific Reports
Language:English