Peak protein of mutant strain B.1.1.7 Mutation, also commonly known as the “UK variant”. It is a full-length protein, which is active in its native trimeric form, which is stabilized in LMNG detergent.
CoV uses its peak glycoprotein (S), a primary target for the neutralizing antibody, to bind to its receptor and mediate membrane fusion and virus entry. Each monomer of trimeric protein S is approximately 180 kDa and contains two subunits, S1 and S2, that mediate membrane binding and fusion, respectively.6 Below, you can find a schematic drawing of the SARS-CoV spike protein -2: NTD, N-terminal domain. FP, fusion peptide. HR1, heptad 1 repeat HR2, heptad 2 repeat TM, transmembrane domain.16
The new SARS-CoV-2 lineage – B.1.1.7 – poses a challenge to these efforts. According to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), “While viruses are known and expected to constantly change through mutation leading to the emergence of new variants, a preliminary analysis in the UK suggests that this variant is significantly more transmissible than previously circulating variants ”[1].
The new lineage B.1.1.7 is characterized by 17 mutations that cause amino acid changes, 8 of which occur in the spike (S) protein gene. The Applied Biosystems TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit, which uses an RT-qPCR test to detect SARS-CoV-2 in multiple countries, contains an S gene target in one of these regions, where amino acid shedding occurs 69 and 70 (69-70del). Due to the multi-purpose design of this assay, the overall sensitivity of the test should not be affected by variant B.1.1.7.
All viruses undergo rapid mutations and adapt quickly to the countermeasures that the immune system creates against them. The SARS-CoV-2 of the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception here. During the pandemic, multiple mutant strains emerged. Peak protein from mutant strain B.1.1.7, also commonly known as the “UK variant”. It is a full-length protein, which is active in its native trimeric form, which is stabilized in LMNG detergent.