Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 C.1.2 S (GCN4-IZ) His-tag Protein, CF

Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 C.1.2 S (GCN4-IZ) His-tag Protein, CF Summary

Product Specifications

Product Datasheets

Carrier Free

CF stands for Carrier Free (CF). We typically add Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) as a carrier protein to our recombinant proteins. Adding a carrier protein enhances protein stability, increases shelf-life, and allows the recombinant protein to be stored at a more dilute concentration. The carrier free version does not contain BSA.

In general, we advise purchasing the recombinant protein with BSA for use in cell or tissue culture, or as an ELISA standard. In contrast, the carrier free protein is recommended for applications, in which the presence of BSA could interfere.

Background: Spike

SARS-CoV-2, which causes the global pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses that also include MERS‑CoV and SARS-CoV-1. Coronaviruses are commonly comprised of four structural proteins: Spike protein (S), Envelope protein (E), Membrane protein (M) and Nucleocapsid protein (N) (1). The SARS-CoV-2 S protein is a glycoprotein that mediates membrane fusion and viral entry. The S protein is homotrimeric, with each ~180-kDa monomer consisting of two subunits, S1 and S2 (2). In SARS-CoV-2, as with most coronaviruses, proteolytic cleavage of the S protein into S1 and S2 subunits is required for activation. The S1 subunit is focused on attachment of the protein to the host receptor while the S2 subunit is involved with cell fusion (3-5).The S protein of SARS-CoV-2 shares 75% and 29% amino acid sequence identity with S protein of SARS‑CoV-1 and MERS, respectively (6, 7). The low aa sequence homology is consistent with the finding that SARS and MERS‑CoV bind different cellular receptors (8). The RBD of SARS-CoV-2 binds a metallopeptidase, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE‑2), similar to SARS-CoV-1, but with much higher affinity and faster binding kinetics (9). Before binding to the ACE‑2 receptor, structural analysis of the S1 trimer shows that only one of the three RBD domains is in the "up" conformation. This is an unstable and transient state that passes between trimeric subunits but is nevertheless an exposed state to be targeted for neutralizing antibody therapy (10). Polyclonal antibodies to the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 protein have been shown to inhibit interaction with the ACE‑2 receptor, confirming RBD as an attractive target for vaccinations or antiviral therapy (11). There is also promising work showing that the RBD may be used to detect presence of neutralizing antibodies present in a patient's bloodstream, consistent with developed immunity after exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 (12). A SARS-CoV-2 variant (C.1.2) carrying the aa substitution Pro25Leu, Cys136Phe, Tyr144del, Arg190Ser, Asp215Gly, Ala243del, Leu244del, Tyr449His, Glu484Lys, Asn501Tyr, Leu585Phe, Asp614Gly, His655Tyr, Asn679Lys, Thr716Ile, and Thr859Asn in spike protein was evolved from C.1. It was first identified in May 2021 in South Africa and rapidly spreaded globally. Whether these mutations in the spike protein would cause more severe symptom or decrease the efficacy of vaccine-induced immunity is still under investigation (13).

Related Research Areas

• Infectious Diseases