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ABSTRACT: Objectives
Understanding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) mode of host cell recognition may help to fight the disease and save lives. The spike protein of coronaviruses is the main driving force for host cell recognition.Methods
In this study, the COVID-19 spike binding site to the cell-surface receptor (Glucose Regulated Protein 78 (GRP78)) is predicted using combined molecular modeling docking and structural bioinformatics. The COVID-19 spike protein is modeled using its counterpart, the SARS spike.Results
Sequence and structural alignments show that four regions, in addition to its cyclic nature have sequence and physicochemical similarities to the cyclic Pep42. Protein-protein docking was performed to test the four regions of the spike that fit tightly in the GRP78 Substrate Binding Domain ? (SBD?). The docking pose revealed the involvement of the SBD? of GRP78 and the receptor-binding domain of the coronavirus spike protein in recognition of the host cell receptor.Conclusions
We reveal that the binding is more favorable between regions III (C391-C525) and IV (C480-C488) of the spike protein model and GRP78. Region IV is the main driving force for GRP78 binding with the predicted binding affinity of -9.8?kcal/mol. These nine residues can be used to develop therapeutics specific against COVID-19.
SUBMITTER: Ibrahim IM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7102553 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Ibrahim Ibrahim M IM Abdelmalek Doaa H DH Elshahat Mohammed E ME Elfiky Abdo A AA
The Journal of infection 20200310 5
<h4>Objectives</h4>Understanding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) mode of host cell recognition may help to fight the disease and save lives. The spike protein of coronaviruses is the main driving force for host cell recognition.<h4>Methods</h4>In this study, the COVID-19 spike binding site to the cell-surface receptor (Glucose Regulated Protein 78 (GRP78)) is predicted using combined molecular modeling docking and structural bioinformatics. The COVID-19 spike protein is modeled using its counte ...[more]