The Complex Proteolipidic Behavior of the SARS-CoV-2 Envelope Protein Channel: Weak Selectivity and Heterogeneous Oligomerization.

ABSTRACT: The envelope (E) protein is a small polypeptide that can form ion channels in coronaviruses. In SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the agent that caused the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and its predecessor SARS-CoV-1, E protein is found in the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), where virion budding takes place. Several reports claim that E protein promotes the formation of "cation-selective channels". However, whether this term represents specificity to certain ions (e.g., potassium or calcium) or the partial or total exclusion of anions is debatable. Herein, we discuss this claim based on the available data for SARS-CoV-1 and -2 E and on new experiments performed using the untagged full-length E protein from SARS-CoV-2 in planar lipid membranes of different types, in

SUBMITTER: Surya W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10420310 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature