The Functional Classification of ORF8 in SARS-CoV-2 Replication, Immune Evasion, and Viral Pathogenesis Inferred through Phylogenetic Profiling.

ABSTRACT: ORF8 is a highly variable genomic region of SARS-CoV-2. Although non-essential and the precise functions are unknown, it has been suggested that this protein assists in SARS-CoV-2 replication in the early secretory pathway and in immune evasion. We utilized the binding partners of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in human HEK293T cells and performed genome-wide phylogenetic profiling and clustering analyses in 446 eukaryotic species to predict and discover ORF8 binding partners that share associated functional mechanisms based on co-evolution. Results classified 47 ORF8 binding partner proteins into 3 clusters (groups 1-3), which were conserved in vertebrates (group 1), metazoan (group 2), and eukaryotes (group 3). Gene ontology analysis indicated that group 1 had no significant associated biolo

SUBMITTER: Fahmi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7970180 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature