800.227.0627

Structure of Coronavirus nCoV 2019/2020

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses. The club-like spikes projecting out from their surface gave them the name. Coronaviruses possess an unusual large RNA genome as well as a unique replication strategy. Coronaviruses cause a variety of diseases in animals ranging from cows, pigs to chicken, and other birds. In humans, coronaviruses can cause potentially lethal respiratory infections.

Coronaviruses belong to the largest group of viruses called the Nidovirales order. Members of this order include the Coronaviridae, Arteriviridae, and Roniviridae families. The Coronvirinae are one of two subfamilies in the Coronaviridae family. Coronavirinae are further subdivided into for groups, the alpha, beta, gamma, and delta coronaviruses. Nowadays, these viruses are divided using phylogenetic clustering. These virus families have animal and human hosts. The Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) are examples.

Nidoviruses contain an infectious, linear, positive-sense RNA genome that is capped and polyadenylated. Based on their genome size, nidoviruses are divided into two groups large and small nidoviruses.

All Nidovirales viruses are enveloped, non-segmented positive-sense RNA viruses containing very huge genomes.

Common features of coronaviruses include

(i) a highly conserved genomic organization with a large replicase gene preceding structural and accessory genes,

(ii) expression of many non-structural genes by ribosomal frameshifting,

(iii) several unique of unusual enzymatic activities encoded within the large replicase-transcriptase polyprotein, and

(iv) expression of downstream genes by synthesis of 3’-nested sub-genomic mRNAs.

The typical organization of the genome is

5’-leader-UTR-replicase-S(Spike)-E(Envelope)-M(Membrane)-N(Nucleocapsid)-3’-UTR-poly(A) tail.

Accessory genes are interspersed within the structural genes at the 3’-end of the genome.

Accessory proteins are not needed for replication in tissue culture but appear to be important in viral pathogenesis. The synthesis of polypeptide 1ab (pp1ab) involves programmed ribosomal frame shifting during translation of open-reading frame 1a (orf1a). Frame shifting results in a new reading frame that produces a trans-frame protein product. In coronaviruses, a fixed portion of the ribosomes translating orf1a change reading frame at a specific location now decoding information contained in orf1b.

U_UUA_AAC is a universal frame-shifting site

Coronaviruses contain a frameshifting stimulation element as a conserved RNA sequence forming a stem-loop that promotes ribosomal frameshifting. Ribosomal frameshifting is a mechanism in which open-reading frame 1b (orf1b) is expressed. Replicase-transcriptase proteins are encoded in open-reading frame 1a and 1b (orf1a and orf1b) and are synthesized initially as two large polyproteins termed pp1a and pp1b. A comparative analysis performed by Baranov et al. in 2004 revealed the sequence U_UUA_AAC as a universal shift site. Frameshifting was characterized in SARS-CoV cultured in mammalian cells using a dual luciferse reporter system and mass spectrometry. Tandem tRNA slippage on the sequence U_UUA_AAC was confirmed by mutagenic analysis of the shift site. Mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of affinity tagged frameshift products. Further analysis of the frameshifting site showed that a proposed RNA secondary structure in loop II and two unpaired nucleotides at the stem I-stem II junction in SARS-CoV are important for frameshift stimulation.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

   

Taxonomy: Group IV ((+)single-stranded RNA, ssRNA); Coronviridae; Coronavirinae; Betacoronavirus;
                       Sarbecovirus; Severe Acut Respiratory Cornavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Virion:         Enveloped, sperical, 60 to 140 nm in diameter with 9 to 12 nm spikes

Genome:      ~ 30 kb positive-sense, ssRNA

RNA Transcript:  5'-cap, 3'-poly-A tail

Proteome:  10 proteins

Transmission: Links to seafood and animal market cases suggest animal-to-human transmission.
                            Sustained human-to-human transmission observed in later cases.

Phylogeny:  Closely related to bat-SL-CoVZC45 and bat-SL-CoVZX21.

Reference Genome:  GenBank: MN908947; PMID: 31978945; CDC-2019-nCoV




Model of Coronavirus COVID19 Transcription. A possible model of the coronavirus COVID19 transcription mechanism is shown here. The model is based on the genomic sequence and the model for the transcription of coronaviruses as proposed by Sawicki et al. in 2007. The organization and the expression of the Wuhan seafood market pneumonia virus isolate [reference genome] Wuhan-Hu-1 genome is depicted here. Structural relationships of the genome and subgenome mRNAs are shown. Orfs are defined by the published genome sequence. Possible autoproteolytic processing of orfs1a and orf1ab polypeptides into protein nsp1 to 16 are shown as well.      

Reference

Baranov PV, Henderson CM, Anderson CB, Gesteland RF, Atkins JF, Howard MT (February 2005). "Programmed ribosomal frameshifting in decoding the SARS-CoV genome". Virology. 332 (2): 498-510. [Pubmed]

Buchan, J.R.; Stansfield, I. (2007). "Halting a cellular production line: responses to ribosomal pausing during translation". Biol Cell. 99 (9): 475–487. [Source]

Fehr & Perlman; Coronaviruses: An overview of their replication and pathogenesis. Method Mol Biol. 2015; 1282:1-23. [
PMC

Sawicki SG, Sawicki DL, Siddell SG. A contemporary view of coronavirus transcription. J Virol. 2007 Jan;81(1):20-9. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01358-06. Epub 2006 Aug 23. PMID: 16928755; PMCID: PMC1797243. [PMC]

Yang H, Yang M, Ding Y, Liu Y, Lou Z, Zhou Z, Sun L, Mo L, Ye S, Pang H, Gao GF, Anand K, Bartlam M, Hilgenfeld R, Rao Z; The crystal structures of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus main protease and its complex with an inhibitor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (2003) 100 p.13190-5. [Pubmed]


Genomic structure of Wuhan seafood market pneumonia virus [Now COVID-19]

Isolate 2019-nCoV/USA-AZ1/2020  -  2019 Outbreak Info


      
Source: Wiki Commonns; CDC Commons 


 

#

Position

 1..29903 WSMPV Wuhan seafood market pneumonia virus

1

1-265

 5’-UTR

2

266-21555

Orf1ab: Polyprotein. Ribosomal slippage, id "QHQ82463.1"

3

266-805

Orf1abnsp1Leader protein produced by both pp1a and pp1ab.

Protein id "YP_009725297.1" .


Promotes cellular mRNA degradation and blocks host cell translation.

The result is blocking of the innate immune response.

4

806-2719

Orf1abnsp2, produced by both pp1a and pp1ab. protein_id="YP_009725298.1".


Binds to prohibitin proteins. No known function as of 2020 (?).

5

2720-8554

Orf1abnsp3: Contains conserved domains: N-terminal acidic (Ac), predicted phosphoesterase, papain-like proteinase, Y-domain, transmembrane domain 1 (TM1), adenosine diphosphate-ribose 1''-phosphatase (ADRP); produced by both pp1a and pp1ab.

Protein id "
YP_009725299.1".

Large, multidomain transmembrane protein. Activities include:

 

a) ubiquitin-like 1 (Ubl1) and Ac domains interacting with N protein;

b) ADRP activity promoting cytokine expression;

c) Papain-like protease (PLPro)/Deubiquitinase domain.

 

Cleaves viral polyprotein and blocks host immune response.

Ubiquitin-like 2 (UBl2), nucleic acid binding (NAB), G2M,

SARS-unique domain (SUD), Y domains of unknown function.

Known structures: 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/structure/?term=SARS-CoV+PLpro

6

8555-10054

Orf1abnsp4, contains transmembrane domain 2 (TM2);
produced by both pp1a and pp1ab.

Protein id "YP_009725300.1".

Potential transmembrane scaffold protein, important for proper structure of double-membrane vesicles (DMVs).

7

10055-10972

Orf1ab: 3C-like proteinase; nsp5: Main proteinase (Mpro). Mediates cleavages downstream of nsp4. 


The 3D structure [
1UK3] for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus main protease has been determined (Yang et al., 2003); produced by both pp1a and pp1ab.

Protein_id "YP_009725301.1". Cleaves viral polyprotein.


>pdb|1UK3|A Chain A, Crystal Structure Of Sars Coronavirus Main Proteinase (3clpro) At Ph7.6

1--------10--------20--------30--------40--------50

SGFRKMAFPSGKVEGCMVQVTCGTTTLNGLWLDDTVYCPRHVICTAEDML

NPNYEDLLIRKSNHSFLVQAGNVQLRVIGHSMQNCLLRLKVDTSNPKTPK

YKFVRIQPGQTFSVLACYNGSPSGVYQCAMRPNHTIKGSFLNGSCGSVGF

NIDYDCVSFCYMHHMELPTGVHAGTDLEGKFYGPFVDRQTAQAAGTDTTI

TLNVLAWLYAAVINGDRWFLNRFTTTLNDFNLVAMKYNYEPLTQDHVDIL

GPLSAQTGIAVLDMCAALKELLQNGMNGRTILGSTILEDEFTPFDVVRQC

SGVTFQ

8

10973-11842

Orf1abnsp6; putative transmembrane domain; produced by both pp1a and pp1ab. Protein id "YP_009725302.1".

9

11843-12091

Orf1abnsp7; produced by both pp1a and pp1ab. Protein id "YP_009725303.1". 

Forms a hexadecameric complex with nsp8 and may act as a processivity clamp for RNA polymerase.

Structures for SARS-CoV nsp12-nsp7-nsp8 cofactors are known.

10

12092-12685

Orf1abnsp8; produced by both pp1a and pp1ab. Protein id "YP_009725304.1".  

Forms a hexadecameric complex with nsp7 and may act as processivity clamp for RNA polymerase and/or primase.

11

12686-13024

Orf1abnsp9ssRNA-binding protein; produced by both pp1a and pp1ab.

Protein id "YP_009725305.1".

12

13025-13441

Orf1abnsp10; formerly known as growth-factor-like protein (GFL). Produced by both pp1a and pp1ab.

Protein id  "YP_009725306.1". Cofactor for nsp16 and nsp14.

Forms a heterodimer with both and stimulates viral  exoribonuclease (ExoN) and 2-O-methyltransferase

(2-O-MT) activity.

13

13442-13468,

13468-16236

Orf1abRNA-dependent RNA polymerasensp12;

RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp).

Produced by pp1ab only. Protein id "YP_009725307.1".

14

16237-18039

Orf1abhelicasensp13zinc-binding domain (ZD), NTPase/helicase domain (HEL), RNA 5'-triphosphatase; produced by pp1ab only.

Protein id "YP_009725308.1".

15

18040-19620

Orf1ab3'-to-5' exonucleasensp14; produced by pp1ab only.

Protein id "YP_009725309.1

N7 methyl-transferase (MTase) and 3‘-5‘-exoribonuclease (ExoN).

ExoN activity is important for proofreading of viral genome.


Cartoon representation of the structure of the nsp14–nsp10 heterodimer. 


16

19621-20658

Orf1abendoRNAsensp15; produced by pp1ab only.

Protein id  "YP_009725310.1". 

Viral endoribonuclease (NendoU). A structure for the nsp15 (F307L) protein from the MHV coronavirus

was solved in 2006.

17

20659-21552

Orf1ab2'-O-ribose methyltransferasensp16; 2'-O-MT; produced by pp1ab only.

Protein id "YP_009725311.1".

18

266-13483

Orf1ab: pp1a; orf1a polyprotein.

Protein id "
YP_009725295.1". GeneID:"43740578". 

2’-O-MT shielding viral RNA from Melanoma differentiation associated protein 5 (mMDA5) recognition.

19

13442-13480

Orf1abnsp11; produced by pp1a only". Protein_id="YP_009725312.1".

20

21563-25384

S gene = Surface glycoprotein. "QHQ82464.1"
S: Structural protein; spike protein.

Protein id "YP_009724390.1"; GeneID: "43740568"

21

25393-26220

orf3a, “orf3a protein",”QHQ82465.1".

1--------10--------20--------30--------40--------50

MDLFMRIFTIGTVTLKQGEIKDATPSDFVRATATIPIQASLPFGWLIVGV

ALLAVFQSASKIITLKKRWQLALSKGVHFVCNLLLLFVTVYSHLLLVAAG

LEPFLYLYALVYFLQSINFVRIIMRLWLCWKCRSKNPLLYDANYFLCWHT

NCYDYCIPYNSVTSSIVITSGDGTTSPISEHDYQIGGYTEKWESGVKDCV

VLHSYFTSDYYQLYSTQLSTDTGVEHVTFFIYNKIVDEPEEHVQIHTIDG

SSGVVNPVMEPIYDEPTTTTSVPL

22

26245-26472

E gene = Envelope Protein "QHQ82466.1"

1--------10--------20--------30--------40--------50

MYSFVSEETGTLIVNSVLLFLAFVVFLLVTLAILTALRLCAYCCNIVNVSL

VKPSFYVYSRVKNLNSSRVPDLLV

23

26523-27191

M gene: ORF5; structural protein. start=1.

Membrane glycoprotein.

Protein_id  “YP_009724393.1”. GeneID “43740571"

1--------10--------20--------30--------40--------50

MADSNGTITVEELKKLLEQWNLVIGFLFLTWICLLQFAYANRNRFLYIIKL

IFLWLLWPVTLACFVLAAVYRINWITGGIAIAMACLVGLMWLSYFIASFRL

FARTRSMWSFNPETNILLNVPLHGTILTRPLLESELVIGAVILRGHLRIAG

HHLGRCDIKDLPKEITVATSRTLSYYKLGASQRVAGDSGFAAYSRYRIGNY

KLNTDHSSSSDNIALLVQ

24

27192-27201

?

25

27202-27387

Orf6; Protein id "QHQ82468.1.“.

1--------10--------20--------30--------40--------50

MFHLVDFQVTIAEILLIIMRTFKVSIWNLDYIINLIIKNLSKSLTENKYSQ

LDEEQPMEID

 

ORF6; protein id "YP_009724394.1“. GeneID “43740572"              

1--------10--------20--------30--------40--------50

MFHLVDFQVTIAEILLIIMRTFKVSIWNLDYIINLIIKNLSKSLTENKYSQ

LDEEQPMEID

26

27387-27393

?

27

27394-27759

ORF7a: GeneID  43740573. ORF7a protein. Protein_id id "YP_009724395.1.

1--------10--------20--------30--------40--------50

MKIILFLALITLATCELYHYQECVRGTTVLLKEPCSSGTYEGNSPFHPLA

DNKFALTCFSTQFAFACPDGVKHVYQLRARSVSPKLFIRQEEVQELYSPI

FLIVAAIVFITLCFTLKRKTE

Protein id="YP_009724395.1. GeneID:43740573

MKIILFLALITLATCELYHYQECVRGTTVLLKEPCSSGTYEGNSPFHPLA

DNKFALTCFSTQFAFACPDGVKHVYQLRARSVSPKLFIRQEEVQELYSPI

FLIVAAIVFITLCFTLKRKTE

28

27894-28259

 

ORF8: ORF8 protein. Protein id "YP_009724396.1GeneID:”43740577".

MKFLVFLGIITTVAAFHQECSLQSCTQHQPYVVDDPCPIHFYSKWYIRVG

ARKSAPLIELCVDEAGSKSPIQYIDIGNYTVSCLPFTINCQEPKLGSLVV

RCSFYEDFLEYHDVRVVLDFI

29

28274-29533

N Protein: ORF9; structural protein. Nucleocapsid phosphoprotein.

Protein id "YP_009724397.2. GeneID: ”43740575.

1--------10--------20--------30--------40--------50

MSDNGPQNQRNAPRITFGGPSDSTGSNQNGERSGARSKQRRPQGLPNNTA

SWFTALTQHGKEDLKFPRGQGVPINTNSSPDDQIGYYRRATRRIRGGDGK

MKDLSPRWYFYYLGTGPEAGLPYGANKDGIIWVATEGALNTPKDHIGTRN

PANNAAIVLQLPQGTTLPKGFYAEGSRGGSQASSRSSSRSRNSSRNSTPG

SSRGTSPARMAGNGGDAALALLLLDRLNQLESKMSGKGQQQQGQTVTKKS

AAEASKKPRQKRTATKAYNVTQAFGRRGPEQTQGNFGDQELIRQGTDYKH

WPQIAQFAPSASAFFGMSRIGMEVTPSGTWLTYTGAIKLDDKDPNFKDQV

ILLNKHIDAYKTFPPTEPKKDKKKKADETQALPQRQKKQQTVTLLPAADL

DDFSKQLQQSMSSADSTQA

30

29558-29674

ORF10: ORF10 protein. Protein_id "YP_009725255.1"

GeneID "43740576"

MGYINVFAFPFTIYSLLLCRMNSRNYIAQVDVVNFNLT

31

29675-29903

3‘-UTR


---...---

 " Bio-Synthesis provides a full spectrum of high quality custom oligonucleotide modification services including back-bone modifications, conjugation to fatty acids, biotinylation by direct solid-phase chemical synthesis or enzyme-assisted approaches to obtain artificially modified oligonucleotides, such as BNA antisense oligonucleotidesmRNAs or siRNAs, containing a natural or modified backbone, as well as base, sugar and internucleotide linkages.
Bio-Synthesis also provides biotinylated mRNA and long circular oligonucleotides".

---...---