Fast Prediction of Binding Affinities of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Mutant N501Y (UK Variant) with ACE2 and Miniprotein Drug Candidates.

ABSTRACT: A recently identified variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as the United Kingdom (UK) variant (lineage B.1.1.7), has an N501Y mutation on its spike protein. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a key protein for the viral entry into the host cells. Here, we report an efficient computational approach, including the simple energy minimizations and binding free energy calculations, starting from an experimental structure of the binding complex along with experimental calibration of the calculated binding free energies, to rapidly and reliably predict the binding affinities of the N501Y mutant with human ACE2 (hACE2) and recently reported miniprotein and hACE2 decoy (CTC-445.2) drug candidates. It has been demonstrated that the N501Y mutation markedly incre

SUBMITTER: Williams AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8084269 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature