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SARS-CoV-2 shifts transcription of host gene to increase Spike acylation and boost infectivity (preprint)
biorxiv; 2023.
Preprint
in English
| bioRxiv | ID: ppzbmed-10.1101.2023.04.15.537011
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 infection requires Spike protein mediating fusion between the viral and cellular membranes. The fusogenic activity of Spike requires its post-translational lipid modification by host S-acyltransferases, predominantly ZDHHC20. Previous observations indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection augments the S-acylation of Spike when compared to transfection. Here, we find that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers a change in the transcriptional start site of the zddhc20 gene, both in cells and in an in vivo infection model, resulting in a 67-amino-acid-long N-terminally extended protein with 37-times higher Spike acylating activity, leading to enhanced viral infectivity. Furthermore, we observed the same induced transcriptional change in response to other challenges, such as chemically induced colitis, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks an existing cell damage response pathway to generate more infectious viruses.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Preprints
Database:
bioRxiv
Main subject:
Colitis
/
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
/
COVID-19
/
Infections
Language:
English
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Preprint
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