0000000001313183
AUTHOR
Martin Beck
In situ structural analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spike reveals flexibility mediated by three hinges
AbstractThe spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is required for cell entry and is the major focus for vaccine development. We combine cryo electron tomography, subtomogram averaging and molecular dynamics simulations to structurally analyze Sin situ. Compared to recombinant S, the viral S is more heavily glycosylated and occurs predominantly in a closed pre-fusion conformation. We show that the stalk domain of S contains three hinges that give the globular domain unexpected orientational freedom. We propose that the hinges allow S to scan the host cell surface, shielded from antibodies by an extensive glycan coat. The structure of native S contr…
In situ structural analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spike reveals flexibility mediated by three hinges
Flexible spikes The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein enables viral entry into host cells by binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and is a major target for neutralizing antibodies. About 20 to 40 spikes decorate the surface of virions. Turoňová et al. now show that the spike is flexibly connected to the viral surface by three hinges that are well protected by glycosylation sites. The flexibility imparted by these hinges may explain how multiple spikes act in concert to engage onto the flat surface of a host cell. Science, this issue p. 203
Rational linkage of magnetic molecules using click chemistry
Established CuAAC click reactions are used for the first time to assemble magnetic molecules to an extended molecular arrangement. This novel synthetic approach is expected to be a general approach to link SMMs as an important precondition to realize quantum computing.
A detailed MSn study for the molecular identification of a dimer formed from oxidation of pinene
Abstract Dimeric products formed in the oxidation of α- and β-pinene have been frequently observed in laboratory and field studies of biogenic SOA formation. While their existence is undoubted, their exact chemical structures remain unclear. This study uses a combined two step approach aiming on the molecular identification of the most important of the various dimers that have been observed in biogenic secondary organic aerosol formation, a dimer with the molecular weight 358 g mol−1. The first step is the application of a functional group derivatization technique (esterification) to quantify the number of carboxylic acid groups in the target molecule. Based on the detailed interpretation o…
CCDC 910513: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Christian Plenk, Jasmin Krause, Martin Beck, Eva Rentschler|2015|Chem.Commun.|51|6524|doi:10.1039/C5CC00595G