Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 N His-tag Protein, CF

Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 N 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: Nucleocapsid

SARS-Cov-2, which causes the global pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses that are commonly comprised of four structural proteins: Spike protein (S), Envelope protein (E), Membrane protein (M), and Nucleocapsid protein (N) (1). While the S, E and M proteins build up the viral envelop, the N protein is involved transcription, replication and packaging of the viral RNA genome into a helical ribonucleocapsid (RNP) (2, 3). The SARS-Cov-2 N protein is a ~45 kDa protein composed of two independent structural domains connected by a linker region. The N-terminal region contains an RNA binding domain, the linker region interacts with the M protein and the C-terminal region contains a self-association domain (2,3). The SARS-Cov-2 N protein shares 91% and 47% amino acid sequence identity with SARS-Cov-1 and MERS N protein, respectively. The SARS-Cov-2 N protein displays VSR (viral suppressor of RNA interference) activity in mammalian cells (4). Several emerging SARS-CoV-2 genomes have been identified with mutations compared to the Wuhan-Hu-1 SARS-CoV-2 reference sequence. First detected in India in December 2020, the B.1.617.2, or Delta, variant is considered a Variant of Concern (VOC) as it contains several mutations that potentially affect viral fitness and transmissibility. As the N protein is an abundant protein during coronavirus infection and displays high immunogenic activity (5, 6), it has been used to develop diagnostic kit for detecting IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-Cov-2 (7). Within the N protein, there are 4 mutations in the B.1.617.2 variant which might make attractive targets for the development of antiviral therapeutics or potential diagnostic tools.