Spike-expressing Stable Cell Lines

The spike protein plays a key role in inducing neutralizing antibody and T cell responses and protective immunity during infection with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, the successful expression and purification of the spike proteins provide a rational basis for developing effective and economic subunit SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Creative Biolabs has established several stable cell lines that can stably express spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

The genomic RNA of SARS-CoV-2 encodes a non-structural replicase polyprotein and structural proteins, including spikes (S), envelopes (E), membranes (M), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. SARS-CoV-2 shares many similarities with the original SARS-CoV. It was found that the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV have almost the same 3-D structure in the receptor binding domain that maintains Van der Waals force. The SARS-CoV peak (S) protein consists of two subunits; the S1 subunit contains a receptor binding domain that binds to the host cell receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2, and the S2 subunit mediates between the virus and the host cell membrane integration. During infection with SARS-CoV, the S protein plays a key role in inducing neutralizing antibody and T cell responses and protective immunity. Based on biochemical interaction studies and crystal structure analysis, SARS-CoV spike protein has strong binding affinity to human ACE2. SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV spike proteins have 76.5% identity in the amino acid sequence. More importantly, SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV spike proteins have high homology. The SARS-CoV-2 spike is 10 to 20 times more likely to bind to ACE2 on human cells than the SARS-COV, which may make it easier for SARS-CoV-2 to spread from person to person than SARS-COV.

Fig.2 SARS-CoV S protein structure and its complex with the receptor AcE2. (Du L. 2009)

Spike protein plays a key role in viral infection and pathogenesis.

1) Receptor binding. The RBD in S1 is responsible for the binding of the virus to the host cell receptor.
2) Viral fusion. Conformational changes in S2 promote fusion between the viral envelope and the host cell membrane.

Potential Therapeutic Approaches Based on S Protein

Spike-expressing Stable Cell Lines

In order to further study the spike protein of the highly contagious virus SARS-CoV-2, Creative Biolabs has dedicated to establishing a stable CHO cell line that can stably express spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The spike protein expressed in such cell line maintains intact conformation and strong immunogenicity with high potential for use as an effective and economic subunit SARS-COV-2 vaccine. This spike-expressing stable cell line could be used for large-quantity production of S-based vaccine.

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Reference

1. Du L; et al. The spike protein of SARS-CoV--a target for vaccine and therapeutic development. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2009, 7(3):226-36.

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