Unique fibrinogen-binding motifs in the nucleocapsid phosphoprotein of SARS CoV-2 : Potential implications in host-pathogen interactions

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved..

Novel Coronavirus (SARS CoV-2), the etiological agent for the highly contagious Corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has threatened global health and economy infecting around 5.8 million people and causing over 359,200 deaths (as of 28th May 2020, https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/). The clinical manifestations of infected patients generally range from asymptomatic or mild to severe illness, or even death. The ability of the virus to evade the host immune response have been major reasons for high morbidity and mortality. One of the important clinical observations under conditions of critical illness show increased risk of developing disseminated intravascular coagulation. Molecular mechanisms of how SARS CoV-2 induces such conditions still remain unclear. This report describes the presence of two unique motifs in the SARS CoV-2 nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N-protein) that can potentially interact with fibrinogen and possibly prothrombin. This is based on an established function of secretory proteins in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)-coagulase, Efb (Extracellular fibrinogen binding) and vWBP (von Willebrand factor Binding Protein), which are known to regulate the blood clotting cascade and the functions of host immune response. It is hypothesized that having protein interaction motifs that are homologous to these S. aureus proteins, the N-protein of this virus can mimic their functions, which may in turn play a crucial role in formation of blood clots in the host and help the virus evade host immune response. However, this hypothesis needs to be tested in vitro. Considering the overwhelming increase in the incidence of SARS CoV-2 infection globally, this information may be useful for further investigation and could help in deducing new therapeutic strategies to combat advanced stages of this disease.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:144

Enthalten in:

Medical hypotheses - 144(2020) vom: 16. Nov., Seite 110030

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Sangith, Nikhil [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

9001-32-5
Bacterial Proteins
Coagulase
Coronavirus
Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins
Efb protein, Staphylococcus aureus
Fibrinogen
Immune evasion
Journal Article
Motif
Nucleocapsid phosphoprotein, SARS-CoV-2
Peptides
Phosphoproteins
Von Willebrand Factor

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 05.01.2021

Date Revised 19.01.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110030

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM313340099