Cryo-EM analysis of the HCoV-229E spike glycoprotein reveals dynamic prefusion conformational changes

Xiyong Song, Yuejun Shi, Wei Ding, Tongxin Niu, Limeng Sun, Yubei Tan, Yong Chen, Jiale Shi, Qiqi Xiong, Xiaojun Huang, Shaobo Xiao, Yanping Zhu, Chongyun Cheng, Zhen F. Fu, Zhi-Jie Liu () and Guiqing Peng ()
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Xiyong Song: Huazhong Agricultural University
Yuejun Shi: Huazhong Agricultural University
Wei Ding: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Tongxin Niu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Limeng Sun: Huazhong Agricultural University
Yubei Tan: Huazhong Agricultural University
Yong Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jiale Shi: Huazhong Agricultural University
Qiqi Xiong: Huazhong Agricultural University
Xiaojun Huang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Shaobo Xiao: Huazhong Agricultural University
Yanping Zhu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chongyun Cheng: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhen F. Fu: Huazhong Agricultural University
Zhi-Jie Liu: Kunming Medical University
Guiqing Peng: Huazhong Agricultural University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Coronaviruses spike (S) glycoproteins mediate viral entry into host cells by binding to host receptors. However, how the S1 subunit undergoes conformational changes for receptor recognition has not been elucidated in Alphacoronavirus. Here, we report the cryo-EM structures of the HCoV-229E S trimer in prefusion state with two conformations. The activated conformation may pose the potential exposure of the S1-RBDs by decreasing of the interaction area between the S1-RBDs and the surrounding S1-NTDs and S1-RBDs compared to the closed conformation. Furthermore, structural comparison of our structures with the previously reported HCoV-229E S structure showed that the S trimers trended to open the S2 subunit from the closed conformation to open conformation, which could promote the transition from pre- to postfusion. Our results provide insights into the mechanisms involved in S glycoprotein-mediated Alphacoronavirus entry and have implications for vaccine and therapeutic antibody design.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20401-y

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