3
Coronaviruses (CoVs)are a large family of enveloped viruses that cause
respiratory tract infectious diseases with symptoms similar to the typical
common cold .CoVs are categorized into three genus groups, -CoVs, -
𝛼 𝛽
CoVs, and -CoVs.
𝛾
COVID-19 belongs to 𝛽-CoVs similar to SARS and Middle East
Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which are identified as bat-origin that infect
people through an intermediate host .
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The MERS-CoV-infectedindividuals develop a cluster of symptoms like
fever, shortness of breath, and multi-organ failure in critically ill patients .
Since 2012, 27 countries have reported MERS cases, including Austria,
Egypt, China, Malaysia, and Bahrain. Between September 2012 and 28
February 2022, a total of 2585 cases, including 891 associated deaths
(case fatality rate: 35%) have been globally reported to WHO under the
International Health Regulations.
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The most commonCT radiographic finding in hospitalized
patients with MERS-CoV infection
bilateral predominantly subpleural and basilar airspace changes
more extensive ground-glass opacities than consolidation
The subpleural and peri broncho vascular predilection of the
abnormalities is suggestive of an organizing pneumonia pattern
Schematic presentation ofthe (MERS-CoV) genome Structure
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The average full-length genome sequences of the MERS-CoV based on the
(HCoV-EMC/2012-JX869059) is 30 107 bp
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The M proteinof
(MERS-CoV)
The target protein of this study is RNA-dependent
RNA Polymerase (M).
M protein plays important role in structure-stabilizing
of N protein as it is located in the internal core of
virions .
It has been demonstrated that M proteins of some
CoVs have much higher immunogenicity for T-cell
responses than the nonstructural viral proteins .In
addition,
it plays a critical role in virus-specific B-cell response
due to its ability to produce efficient neutralizing
antibodies in SARS patients.
The M protein of (MERS-CoV) of 219 amino acids
(accession number YP_009047210) was retrieved from
UniProt Knowledgebase (UniPro t KB), were
predicted and analyzed using different bioinformatics
prediction tools.
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Using bioinformaticsmethods, we analyzed the MERS CoV E protein’s sequence and its secondary and three-
dimensions structures .
The goal of protein structure prediction is to estimate the spatial position of every atom of protein molecules
from the amino acid sequence by computational methods.
Depending on the availability of homologous templates in the PDB library, structure prediction approaches are
categorized into template-based modelling (TBM) and free modelling (FM) .
Subsequently, the structures of all the sequences in the genome can be modelled using plain comparative modelling
methods. In other words, all future protein structure prediction work would be comparative modelling. On the other
hand, other structure prediction methods still can be useful in the future; for example, ab initio algorithms can still be
used to study the theoretical basis of the protein folding problem .
10.
Protein structure prediction
Importantproteomic tool for understanding phenomena in modern
molecular and cell biology and has important applications in
biotechnology and medicine.
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One of these applications is the prediction of three-dimensional
structures of virus proteins.
This will aid in drug design and integrative understanding of
viral processes.
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Objective
3-D structure predictionof M by using Servers and software according to
CASP.
Prediction and analysis of motifs and PTMS of M.
Functional analysis of M.
Structural classification
Correlation of Structural and Functional Prediction.
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predicted conserved regionof the M protein of (MERS-CoV) Using bio edit
and Clustal omega.
Region Position Consensus Segment
Length
Average
entropy (Hx)
Region 1 29 to 70 FLLITIVLQYGYPSRSMTVYVFKMFVLWLLWPSSMALSIFSA 42 0.0058
Region 2 95 to 124 SYFVQSIRLFMRTGSWWSFNPETNCLLNVP 30 0.0000
Region 3 130 to 148 VVRPLVEDSTSVTAVVTNG 19 0.0192
Region 4 170 to 213 TVAKPNVLIALKMVKRQSYGTNSGVAIYHRYKAGNYRSPPITAD 44 0.0055
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Using ThreaDom andProDom, the M protein of (MERS-CoV) had
only one domain (6-199) with Score 912 (355.9 bits), E value 1e-
122 and Identities 165/194 (85%). Moreover, in case of NCBI
conserved domain, there is one domain [ID: cd21567] entitled
Membrane (or Matrix) protein from Middle East respiratory
syndrome-related coronavirus and related beta coronaviruses in
the C lineage with Interval [2-218], E-value [2.46e-156]. This
group contains the Membrane (M) protein of Middle East
respiratory syndrome (MERS)-related CoV, bat-CoV HKU5, and
similar proteins from beta coronaviruses in the merbecovirus
subgenera (C lineage)
Predicted Secondary structureand solvent accessibility of the M
protein of (MERS-CoV) using different servers
(PredictProtein….Etc.).
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Secondary 2ry structure Solvent Accessibility
Others (Turn/coil/loope) Strand Helix Exposed Buried
Percentage (6.39%,35.62% ( 20.09% 37.90% 32% 34%
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First: Construction ofinitial model using target-
template alignment.
Second: Reduced-level structure assembly and
refinement simulations.
Third: Model evaluation and selection.
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C
B
A
The best predictedthree-dimensional structure of M protein of (MERS-CoV) by AlphaFold server.
(a) Ribbon view of best predicted model, (b) Solvent-accessible surface view showed the exposed
regions. (c) The cartoon view showed One block (2-214) in the CoV_M family which was
highlighted in green.
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The best templatestructure for (Domain1) and (Domain2) of NSP12 of SARS-
COV-2 using MUSTER Server and mTM-align server.
Scores
Domains
Subject Tm-Score RMSD Sequence
identity
Subject length Aligned
Length
Description
Domain1 6nurA 0.7010 0.51 0.602 793 246
SARS-CORONAVIRUS
NSP12 BOUND TO NSP7
AND NSP8 CO-FACTORS
Domain2 6nurA 0.9974 0.39 0.744 793 442
SARS-CORONAVIRUS
NSP12 BOUND TO NSP7
AND NSP8 CO-FACTORS
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Predicted motifs ofmembrane protein of MERS-
CoV using motifs finder, smart and Pfam
Server Family POSITION E-value Description
Start End
Motifs Finder CoV_M 16 211 1.4e-72 Coronavirus M matrix/glycoprotein
Smart CoV_M 2 214 4.8e-70 Coronavirus M matrix/glycoprotein
Pfam CoV_M 14 214 1.4e-72 Coronavirus M matrix/glycoprotein
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The membrane (M)protein is the most abundant structural protein and defines the
shape of the viral envelope, being the central organizer of coronavirus assembly.
The target protein plays a critical role in protein-protein interactions (as well as protein-
RNA interactions) since virus-like particle (VLP) formation in many CoVs requires
only the M and envelope (E) proteins for efficient virion assembly [PMID:25855243].
Interaction of spike (S) with M is necessary for retention of S in the ER-Golgi
intermediate compartment (ERGIC)/Golgi complex and its incorporation into new
virions; binding of M to nucleocapsid (N) proteins stabilizes the nucleocapsid.
Together, M and E proteins make up the viral envelope and their interaction is
sufficient for the production and release of virus-like particles.