Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 B.1.324.1 Spike (GCN4-IZ) Protein, CF

Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 B.1.324.1 Spike (GCN4-IZ) 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). A receptor binding domain (RBD) in the C-terminus of the S1 subunit has been identified and the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 shares 73% amino acid (aa) identity with the RBD of the SARS-CoV-1, but only 22% aa identity with the RBD of MERS‑CoV (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 ACE2 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). Several emerging SARS-CoV-2 genomes have been identified with mutations in the RBD compared to the Wuhan-Hu-1 SARS-CoV-2 reference sequence. The B 1.324.1 variant was identified as a Variant of Concern (VOC) as it contains several mutations of interest in the RBD domain that effect viral fitness and transmissibility: E484K, S494P, and N501Y (13). Structural analysis points to E484K as a potentially crucial mutation as it creates a new site for hACE-2 binding and may enhance binding affinity (14). S494P is also located within the ACE2 receptor binding domain and experimental evidence suggests that mutations at this position decrease antibody binding affinity (15). N501Y is thought to enhance binding affinity for hACE-2 and make the virus more easily transmissible (16, 17). Additionally, the E484K substitution alone has been shown to confer resistance to several monoclonal antibodies and is responsible for the first confirmed SARS-CoV-2 reinfection (18).