SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Nucleocapsid protein - (1-419), His-Tag

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Nucleocapsid protein (1-419) with His-Tag and C-terminal GFP.

The SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes for a spike protein, an envelope protein, a Introduction membrane protein, and a nucleoprotein. The spike (S) glycoprotein of coronaviruses is essential for binding of the virus to the host cell at the beginning of the infection process. Of particular note is the amino acid sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) at position 403-405 of the spike protein. These 3 amino acids are conserved in all known SARS-Co-2 viruses, but not in other types of coronavirus.

Outside of SARS-CoV-2, the RGD sequence occurs particularly in proteins of the extracellular matrix (connective tissue), for example in fibronectin and vitronectin. This enables cells to bind to the RGD sequence with the help of certain cell surface receptors, the integrins. In addition to the SARS-CoV-2 viruses, well-known viruses such as HMPV, HCV or EBV also use the RGD to penetrate the cell.

Beneath its envelope membrane, the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 consists of a icosaedric nucleocapsid that contains its genectic information in form of positive sensed single-stranded RNA. The RNA is contained in a nucleoprotein complex, consisting of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Nucleocapsid protein. This phophoprotein is necessary to keep the capsid in its helical symmetry and aids with packaging into the viral capsid by acting as a molecular RNA chaperone. Together with the matrix (M) protein, the N-protein is one of the most abundant proteins in the viral particle, it is important for viral replication and is also known for modulating cellular signalling. It is highly immunogenic and its sequence is very conserved, therefore it is an attractive target for diagnostic purposes.

Protein sequence:

Sequence without tags (AA 1-419):
MSDNGPQNQRNAPRITFGGPSDSTGSNQNGERSGARSKQRRPQGLPNNTASWFTALTQHGKEDLKFPRGQGVPINTNSSPDDQIGYYRRATRRIRGGDGKMKDLSPRWYFYYLGTGPEA
GLPYGANKDGIIWVATEGALNTPKDHIGTRNPANNAAIVLQLPQGTTLPKGFYAEGSRGGSQASSRSSSRSRNSSRNSTPGSSRGTSPARMAGNGGDAALALLLLDRLNQLESKMSGKG
QQQQGQTVTKKSAAEASKKPRQKRTATKAYNVTQAFGRRGPEQTQGNFGDQELIRQGTDYKHWPQIAQFAPSASAFFGMSRIGMEVTPSGTWLTYTGAIKLDDKDPNFKDQVILLNKHIDAY
KTFPPTEPKKDKKKKADETQALPQRQKKQQTVTLLPAADLDDFSKQLQQSMSSADSTQAS

RefSeq Links: YP_009724397.2; UniProt: P0DTC9

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Nucleocapsid protein (1-419) Protein can be used for the development of diagnostic kits. It is not for direct detection of SARS-Cov-2. The counterpart to SARS-CoV-2 is ACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme-2), which has previously been described as a receptor for SARS-CoV.