Structure-based discovery of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus fusion inhibitor.
A novel human coronavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), has caused outbreaks of a SARS-like illness with high case fatality rate. The reports of its person-to-person transmission through close contacts have raised a global concern about its pandemic potential. Here we characterize the six-helix bundle fusion core structure of MERS-CoV spike protein S2 subunit by X-ray crystallography and biophysical analysis. We find that two peptides, HR1P and HR2P, spanning residues 998-1039 in HR1 and 1251-1286 in HR2 domains, respectively, can form a stable six-helix bundle fusion core structure, suggesting that MERS-CoV enters into the host cell mainly through membrane fusion mechanism. HR2P can effectively inhibit MERS-CoV replication and its spike protein-mediated cell-cell fusion. Introduction of hydrophilic residues into HR2P results in significant improvement of its stability, solubility and antiviral activity. Therefore, the HR2P analogues have good potential to be further developed into effective viral fusion inhibitors for treating MERS-CoV infection.
1] Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China [2].
Lu
L
Lu
1] Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China [2].
Qi
Q
Liu
1] National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2].
Yun
Y
Zhu
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Kwok-Hung
KH
Chan
National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Lili
L
Qin
Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Yuan
Y
Li
Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Qian
Q
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Jasper Fuk-Woo
JF
Chan
Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Lanying
L
Du
Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Fei
F
Yu
Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Cuiqing
C
Ma
National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Sheng
S
Ye
State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Kwok-Yung
KY
Yuen
National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Rongguang
R
Zhang
1] Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology of Ministries of Education and Health, Shanghai Medical College and Institute of Medical Microbiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China [2] Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Shibo
S
Jiang
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006801:Humans; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D053586:Virus Internalization; D014779:Virus Replication
D010455:Peptides; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins