SARS-CoV-2-Structural Genes

SARS-CoV-2 (or 2019-nCoV) is the causative agent for COVID-19. This virus belongs to lineage B of the β-coronavirus genus [1]. Coronaviruses are relatively large enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA (~30 kb) viruses. The SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes four structural proteins and other accessory or non-structural proteins (including the viral pp1a-pp1ab replicase, the 3C-like protease (3CLpro), the papain-like protease (PLpro), and the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase RdRp)) [2, 3].

SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins are:

Spike (S) forms large trimeric structures that are essential for entry into host cells upon receptor binding and membrane fusion. Spike proteins are targeted by host neutralizing antibodies.

Envelope (E) is only present in small quantities and most likely forms ion channels. E proteins are not necessarily needed for viral replication but are essential for infectivity and pathogenesis.

Matrix/Membrane (M) is the most abundant structural protein of the virus. M proteins are responsible for membrane curvature of the viral envelope, notably through their interaction with the E proteins.

Nucleocapsid (N) binds to the viral RNA genome and ensures the maintenance of the RNA in a ‘beads-on-a-string’ conformation.

Depending on your applications, InvivoGen offers SARS-CoV-2-Structural Genes cloned into mammalian expression plasmids, or into production plasmids with a His- or Fc-tag.

Read our reviews on COVID-19:

• The infection cycle of SARS-CoV-2
• Treatment with repurposed drugs
• Predicted host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2
• Vaccine development
• Protective immunity & Re-infection

References

1. Zhu, N. et al., 2020. A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med 382, 727-733.
2. Fehr, A.R. & Perlman, S. 2015. Coronaviruses: an overview of their replication and pathogenesis. Methods Mol Biol 1282, 1-23.
3. Zhou, P. et al., 2020. A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin. Nature 579, 270-273.