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The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates receptor binding and cell entry and is the dominant target of the immune system. It exhibits substantial conformational flexibility. It transitions from closed to open conformations to expose its receptor-binding site and, subsequently, from prefusion to postfusion conformations to mediate fusion of viral and cellular membranes. S-protein derivatives are components of vaccine candidates and diagnostic assays, as well as tools for research into the biology and immunology of SARS-CoV-2. Here we have designed mutations in S that allow the production of thermostable, disulfide-bonded S-protein trimers that are trapped in the closed, prefusion state. Structures of the disulfide-stabilized and non-disulfide-stabilized proteins reveal distinct closed and locked conformations of the S trimer. We demonstrate that the designed, thermostable, closed S trimer can be used in serological assays. This protein has potential applications as a reagent for serology, virology and as an immunogen.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/s41594-020-0478-5

Type

Journal

Nat Struct Mol Biol

Publication Date

10/2020

Volume

27

Pages

934 - 941

Keywords

Betacoronavirus, COVID-19 Testing, Clinical Laboratory Techniques, Coronavirus Infections, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Disulfides, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Flow Cytometry, Humans, Immunoglobulin G, Models, Molecular, Mutation, Protein Conformation, Protein Engineering, Protein Multimerization, Protein Stability, SARS-CoV-2, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus, Temperature