A brand-new research study exposes how the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 communicates with Fragile X-related proteins, affecting its spread and recommending increased vulnerability for people with Fragile XSyndrome Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Researchers have actually discovered an unanticipated connection in between coronavirus and Fragile X Syndrome, which is the most typical genetic reason for intellectual impairment.
How does coronavirus spread through the body? A brand-new research study can assist us address that concern. Professor Jakob Nilsson from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research is among the scientists accountable for the research study.
“When a < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>virus</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>A virus is a tiny infectious agent that is not considered a living organism. It consists of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, that is surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid. Some viruses also have an outer envelope made up of lipids that surrounds the capsid. Viruses can infect a wide range of organisms, including humans, animals, plants, and even bacteria. They rely on host cells to replicate and multiply, hijacking the cell's machinery to make copies of themselves. This process can cause damage to the host cell and lead to various diseases, ranging from mild to severe. Common viral infections include the flu, colds, HIV, and COVID-19. Vaccines and antiviral medications can help prevent and treat viral infections.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes =" [{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex ="0" function ="link" > infection contaminates the body, it pirates part of the body’s equipment either to produce brand-new infection particles or to combat the cell’s antiviral defense.What we needed to know was which part of the equipment< period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>SARS-CoV-2</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the official name of the virus strain that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Previous to this name being adopted, it was commonly referred to as the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the Wuhan coronavirus, or the Wuhan virus.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex ="0" function ="link" > SARS-CoV-2 targets,”Jakob Nilsson states.
SARS-CoV-2 is the coronavirus version that triggered the < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>COVID-19</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>First identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, COVID-19, or Coronavirus disease 2019, (which was originally called "2019 novel coronavirus" or 2019-nCoV) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has spread globally, resulting in the 2019–22 coronavirus pandemic.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex ="0" function ="link" > COVID-19 pandemic.
“This suggests that we should perhaps be more attentive to these patients.”–ProfessorJakobNilsson
“We were extremely surprised to find that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks proteins associated with Fragile X Syndrome, which is the most common hereditary cause of intellectual disability,”JakobNilsson states.
(************************************************************************************************** )even more check out the connection in between coronavirus and theFragile X-related proteins,Postdoc(*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************** )Garvanska, who did the laboratory work, utilized different cell-biological and biochemical techniques to comprehend the procedure.(********** )(************ )The group needed to know whether pirating theFragile X-related proteins was crucial to the infection’ capability to spread out through the body.Together with a group of scientists from theUniversity ofTexasMedicalBranch, they for that reason produced a‘mutant virus’
Fragile XSyndrome
- The syndrome, which is triggered by a flaw in the so-called FMR1 gene, is the most typical reason for genetic intellectual impairment.
- (******************************************************************************************************************************************************* )is characterised by intellectual impairment– typically moderate to serious in boys/men and moderate in girls/women.
- Around 1 in 4,000 child young boys and 1 in 10,000 child women are born with Fragile X Syndrome.
“We mutated a small part of the virus protein, NSP3, that binds to the Fragile X-related proteins, and the cell culture test showed that this reduces the virus’ ability to spread. Moreover, tests on hamsters showed that infection with the mutated virus had a less severe impact on the lungs in the early stages of infection,” Dimitriya Garvanska discusses and includes:
“That is, binding to Fragile X-related proteins is vital to the virus’ ability to spread. Subsequent tests showed that these proteins are part of the cell’s antiviral defense, and that SARS-CoV-2 seeks to counteract this defense system by hijacking the proteins.”
The outcomes of the research study might show that individuals with Fragile X Syndrome are more vulnerable to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other infections.
“This suggests that we should perhaps be more attentive to these patients,” Jakob Nilsson states.
The research study supplies insight into the possible reason for Fragile X Syndrome
Aside from determining the connection in between coronavirus and Fragile X Syndrome, Jakob Nilsson, Dimitriya Garvanska and their coworkers likewise got a much deeper understanding of Fragile X Syndrome.
“We know that Fragile X-related proteins are key to brain development. Because when we do not have enough of them, we run into problems. But we do not know why they are so important. In this study, we have learned that they bind to another protein, UBAP2L, which helps determine which proteins the cell produces,” Jakob Nilsson states.
The scientists likewise discovered that anomalies in the Fragile X-related proteins avoid them from binding to UBAP2L.
“This suggests that to understand Fragile X Syndrome we need to understand how this affects the production of proteins in the cell,” Jakob Nilsson discusses.
While the brand-new research study can be referred to as essential research study, the outcomes might however show beneficial in future treatment.
“So far, this is speculation. But basically, the more insight we gain into these mechanisms, the better are our chances of impacting them in the future,” Jakob Nilsson concludes.
You can check out the research study “SARS-CoV-2 hijacks fragile X mental retardation proteins for efficient infection” in EMBO Reports
Reference: “The NSP3 protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds fragile X mental retardation proteins to disrupt UBAP2L interactions” by Dimitriya H Garvanska, R Elias Alvarado, Filip Oskar Mundt, Richard Lindqvist, Josephine Kerzel Duel, Fabian Coscia, Emma Nilsson, Kumari Lokugamage, Bryan A Johnson, Jessica A Plante, Dorothea R Morris, Michelle N Vu, Leah K Estes, Alyssa M Mc Leland, Jordyn Walker, Patricia A Crocquet-Valdes, Blanca Lopez Mendez, Kenneth S Plante, David H Walker, Melanie Bianca Weisser, Anna K Överby, Matthias Mann, Vineet D Menachery and Jakob Nilsson, 2 January 2024, EMBO Reports
DOI: 10.1038/ s44319-023-00043- z
