Genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 can be accelerated by mutations in the nsp14 gene.
iScience
; 26(3): 106210, 2023 Mar 17.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2245599
ABSTRACT
Coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), encode a proofreading exonuclease, nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14), that helps ensure replication competence at a low evolutionary rate compared with other RNA viruses. In the current pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has accumulated diverse genomic mutations including in nsp14. Here, to clarify whether amino acid substitutions in nsp14 affect the genomic diversity and evolution of SARS-CoV-2, we searched for amino acid substitutions in nature that may interfere with nsp14 function. We found that viruses carrying a proline-to-leucine change at position 203 (P203L) have a high evolutionary rate and that a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 virus with the P203L mutation acquired more diverse genomic mutations than wild-type virus during its replication in hamsters. Our findings suggest that substitutions, such as P203L, in nsp14 may accelerate the genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2, contributing to virus evolution during the pandemic.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
English
Journal:
IScience
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.isci.2023.106210
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS