title: Adenovirus-mediated expression of the C-terminal domain of SARS-CoV spike protein is sufficient to induce apoptosis in Vero E6 cells.
abstract: The pro-apoptotic properties of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) structural proteins were studied in vitro. By monitoring apoptosis indicators including chromatin condensation, cellular DNA fragmentation and cell membrane asymmetry, we demonstrated that the adenovirus-mediated over-expression of SARS-CoV spike (S) protein and its C-terminal domain (S2) induce apoptosis in Vero E6 cells in a time- and dosage-dependent manner, whereas the expression of its N-terminal domain (S1) and other structural proteins, including envelope (E), membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) protein do not. These findings suggest a possible role of S and S2 protein in SARS-CoV induced apoptosis and the molecular pathogenesis of SARS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Kadoorie Biological Science Building, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Ken Y C
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Yin Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Chung Chau
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hon
authors.forename: Fanya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Ka Man
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Frederick C C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000821:virology*; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D013997:Time Factors; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C578557:spike glycoprotein, SARS-CoV; C578553:spike protein, mouse hepatitis virus