Understanding the molecular tricks of SARS-CoV-2
Richard J. Kutshik , Ishaya Y. Longdet , Kennedy I. Amagon , Bukata B. Bukar , Noel N. Wannang , Jacob A. Kolawole , Kakjing D. Falang , Ukpe Ajima , James G. Damen , Yusuf A. Agabi, Simji S. Gomerep , Ismaila Shittu , Stephen D. Davou
1Plateau State Research Committee on Covid-19 and Other Infectious Diseases, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
3Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
4Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
5Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
6Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
7Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
8National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
9Plateau State Ministry of Health, Jos, Nigeria.
Corresponding author: Richard J. Kutshik
Email: kutshikj@unijos.edu.ng, Phone: +2348098664834
ABSTRACT
Background: The SARS CoV-2 causes Coronavirus disease 2019 resulting in 27,486,960 confirmed cases, 894,983 deaths in 216 countries. Being a novel virus, understanding its nature and behaviours becomes imperative.
Objective: To discuss molecular tricks that coronaviruses employ to maneuver through membranes, escape defense systems and commandeer metabolic machineries.
Methods: Literature search was carried out using various databases based on keywords and only English articles with available data up to 25th June, 2020 were included.
Results: The first tricky task is SARS-CoV-2 enters the host cell through ACE2, involving its spike glycoprotein and serine protease TMPRSS2. As it enters the host cell it hijack membranes inside cells and turn them into virus factories where it builds molecular machinery called replicase complexes to copy their genetic code, which is needed for the next generation of virus particles. Viruses including coronaviruses have evolved different strategies to produce capped mRNA as a molecular trick to synthesise their proteins efficiently and also escape the host cell’s innate immune response. The viruses steal and repurpose proteins from their host cell that will assist in the copying process. SARS coronavirus protein called “nsp1” causes the breakdown of biochemical messages that normally prompt the production of a protein critical to defending the body against viruses. The SARS nsp1 protein degrades the messenger RNA instructions sent from DNA to make interferon beta, which is crucial to host immunity.
Conclusion: Novel SARS-CoV-2 with 29 proteins spreads and impact the world in impeccable ways.
KeyWords: SARS-CoV-2, ACE2, replicase, nsp1, mRNA