Freeze-Framing SARS-CoV-2 Spikes

The rod-like spike proteins on the surface of SARS CoV-2 are the tip of the spear of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spikes bind to human cells via the ACE2 receptor and then dramatically change shape. They jack-knife, folding in on themselves to fuse their own membrane with the membrane of our cells. And that opens the door to coronavirus infection.

The spike protein is the main protein targeted by our antibodies and the protein used in most vaccines now in clinical trials. A study led by Boston Children’s Hospital freeze-frames the spike protein for the first time in its “before” and “after” shapes.

In the process, the study captured some surprise features in the “after” shape that may have implications for vaccine and therapeutic development. The investigators, led by Bing Chen, PhD, believe these features may help SARS-CoV-2 hide from the immune system and survive longer in the environment.

Freeze-framing SARS-CoV-2 spikes

Using the technique of cryogenic electron microscopy, Chen and colleagues established the molecular structure of the spike protein, both before and after fusion of the virus and cell membranes. In the “after” post-fusion state, the protein assumes a rigid hairpin shape, they showed.

Intriguingly, they also found that the spike can go from its original “before” shape into the “after” form prematurely, without the virus binding to a cell at all.

“We propose that there are two routes for the conformational changes,” says Chen, in Boston Children’s Division of Molecular Medicine. “One is ACE2 dependent, and allows the virus to enter a host cell. The second is ACE2 independent.”

A coronavirus defense mechanism?

As a result of the spontaneous shape change, coronavirus particles often bear both forms of the spike protein. The rigid “after” form protrudes slightly more from the virus surface. Chen suggests that being able to assume this alternate shape may help keep SARS-CoV-2 from breaking down, when it lands on a surface for example. That could explain why the virus appears to remain viable on various surfaces for hours to days.

“Most viruses don’t survive long outside the host,” Chen says. “We think the rigid structure of these post-fusion spikes protects the virus.”

Evading immune detection

The researchers speculate that having some spikes take the post-fusion form prematurely may also protect SARS-CoV-2 from our immune system, inducing antibodies that are non-neutralizing and ineffective in containing the virus. In effect, the post-fusion spikes may act as decoys that distract the immune system.

The team was also surprised to find that the post-fusion spikes, similar to the pre-fusion spikes, have glycans, or sugar molecules, at evenly spaced locations on their surface. Glycans are another feature that helps the virus avoid immune detection.

Chen believes his team’s findings have implications for vaccine development. Current vaccines that use the spike protein to stimulate the immune system may have varying mixes of the pre- and post-fusion forms, he says. And this may limit their protective efficacy.

“We need to think about how to stabilize the spike protein,” he says. “If the protein is not stable, you may be able to induce antibodies, but they will be less effective in terms of blocking the virus. There may be batch-to-batch variation.”

Lessons from HIV

Chen’s many years of research on HIV have helped give his team a leg up on studying SARS-CoV-2. Both viruses are what’s known as envelope viruses, and need to fuse their membranes with those of the cells they’re infecting. Both use the same jack-knifing shape change, and both have spike proteins on their surface that are decorated with sugars. Finally, HIV vaccine developers struggle with the challenge of developing neutralizing antibodies. HIV, too, distracts the immune system into creating multiple antibodies that don’t shut down the virus.

“I think SARS-CoV-2 is probably an easier target than HIV, but we will have to see,” says Chen. “If this first round of vaccines does not work well in phase 3 trials, this new understanding of the spike structure may help us design stronger vaccines.”

Reference

Cai et al. (2020). Distinct conformational states of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Science. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abd4251

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