Structural properties of the SARS-CoV-2 Envelope viroporin

Joao Medeiros Silva – @JMSism

The Envelope Protein of SARS-CoV-2 is a viroporin that may induce severe inflammation for COVID. ssNMR+19F gave us the structure and an aromatic gating mechanism regulating this viroporin (💊🎯), induced by calcium and acidic pH. @MeiHongLab #GlobalnmrTC2022 +poster below pic.twitter.com/sXF0MBgces

— Joao Medeiros Silva (@JMSism) August 4, 2022

The Envelope Protein of SARS-CoV-2 forms a viroporin that induces inflammation and acute respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19. Using ssNMR, we describe the structure and gating mechanisms governing this viroporin. 19F-NMR experiments revealed an aromatic network regulating the channel, which adopts an open-configuration at acidic pH and presence of calcium.