The envelope protein of SARS-CoV-2 increases intra-Golgi pH and forms a cation channel that is regulated by pH.

ABSTRACT:

Key points

We report a novel method for the transient expression of SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein in intracellular organelles and the plasma membrane of mammalian cells and Xenopus oocytes. Intracellular expression of SARS-CoV-2 E protein increases intra-Golgi pH. By targeting the SARS-CoV-2 E protein to the plasma membrane, we show that it forms a cation channel, viroporin, that is modulated by changes of pH. This method for studying the activity of viroporins may facilitate screening for new antiviral drugs to identify novel treatments for COVID-19.

Abstract

The envelope (E) protein of coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-1 is proposed to form an ion channel or viroporin that participates in viral propagation and pathogenesis. Here we developed a technique to study the E prote

SUBMITTER: Cabrera-Garcia D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8251088 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature