The value of electrostatic potentials of the spike receptor binding and N-terminal domains in addressing transmissibility and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Stefano Pascarella; Massimo Ciccozzi; Martina Bianchi; Domenico Benvenuto; Roberto Cauda; Antonio Cassone

doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2022.02.023

The value of electrostatic potentials of the spike receptor binding and N-terminal domains in addressing transmissibility and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

J Infect. 2022 May;84(5):e62-e63. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.02.023. Epub 2022 Feb 23.

Authors

Stefano Pascarella¹, Massimo Ciccozzi², Martina Bianchi¹, Domenico Benvenuto², Roberto Cauda³, Antonio Cassone⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemical Sciences "A Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.
² Medical Statistic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit, University of Biomedical Campus, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Center of Genomics, Genetics and Biology, Siena, Italy. Electronic address: a.cassone@pologgb.com.

Abstract

Comparison of the surface electrostatic potential of the N-terminal (NTD) and the Receptor Binding Domains (RBD) of the Wuhan and Omicron Spikes. The entire Spikes are represented with transparent ribbon models. Only the NTD and RBD surfaces of the chain A are represented. Domain net charges are reported within parenthesis beside the domain labels. Surface color ranges from -5.0 (red) to + 5.0 (blue) kT/e. Image, graphical abstract

Publication types

Letter

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Humans
Mutation
Protein Binding
SARS-CoV-2* / genetics
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / genetics
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism
Static Electricity

Substances

Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
spike protein, SARS-CoV-2

Supplementary concepts

SARS-CoV-2 variants