Cold sensitivity of the SARS-CoV-2 spike ectodomain #MMPMID33402708
Edwards RJ; Mansouri K; Stalls V; Manne K; Watts B; Parks R; Janowska K; Gobeil SMC; Kopp M; Li D; Lu X; Mu Z; Deyton M; Oguin TH 3rd; Sprenz J; Williams W; Saunders KO; Montefiori D; Sempowski GD; Henderson R; Munir Alam S; Haynes BF; Acharya P
Nat Struct Mol Biol 2021[Feb]; 28 (2): 128-131 PMID33402708show ga
The SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, a primary target for COVID-19 vaccine development, presents its receptor binding domain in two conformations, the receptor-accessible 'up' or receptor-inaccessible 'down' states. Here we report that the commonly used stabilized S ectodomain construct '2P' is sensitive to cold temperatures, and this cold sensitivity is abrogated in a 'down' state-stabilized ectodomain. Our findings will impact structural, functional and vaccine studies that use the SARS-CoV-2 S ectodomain.