Endoplasmic reticulum-associated SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a elicits heightened cytopathic effects despite robust ER-associated degradation.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has tragically claimed millions of lives through coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and there remains a critical gap in our understanding of the precise molecular mechanisms responsible for the associated fatality. One key viral factor of interest is the SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a protein, which has been identified as a potent inducer of host cellular proinflammatory responses capable of triggering the catastrophic cytokine storm, a primary contributor to COVID-19-related deaths. Moreover, ORF3a, much like the spike protein, exhibits a propensity for frequent mutations, with certain variants linked to the severity of COVID-19. Our previous research unveiled two distinct types of ORF3a mutant proteins, cate

SUBMITTER: Zhang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10790703 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature