Membrane Protein of Human Coronavirus NL63 Is Responsible for Interaction with the Adhesion Receptor.

ABSTRACT: Human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) is a common respiratory virus that causes moderately severe infections. We have previously shown that the virus uses heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) as the initial attachment factors, facilitating viral entry into the cell. In the present study, we show that the membrane protein (M) of HCoV-NL63 mediates this attachment. Using viruslike particles lacking the spike (S) protein, we demonstrate that binding to the cell is not S protein dependent. Furthermore, we mapped the M protein site responsible for the interaction with HSPG and confirmed its relevance using a viable virus. Importantly, in silico analysis of the region responsible for HSPG binding in different clinical isolates and the Amsterdam I strain did not exhibit any signs of cell culture ad

SUBMITTER: Naskalska A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6744225 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature