Crystal structure of mouse coronavirus receptor-binding domain complexed with its murine receptor.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Peng, Guiqing; Sun, Dawei; Rajashankar, Kanagalaghatta R; Qian, Zhaohui; Holmes, Kathryn V; Li, Fang

Source:

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Volume 108, Issue 26, p.10696-701 (2011)

Keywords:

Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Carcinoembryonic Antigen, Crystallography, X-Ray, Evolution, Molecular, Mice, Models, Molecular, Molecular Sequence Data, Protein Conformation, Receptors, Virus, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Abstract:

<p>Coronaviruses have evolved diverse mechanisms to recognize different receptors for their cross-species transmission and host-range expansion. Mouse hepatitis coronavirus (MHV) uses the N-terminal domain (NTD) of its spike protein as its receptor-binding domain. Here we present the crystal structure of MHV NTD complexed with its receptor murine carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1a (mCEACAM1a). Unexpectedly, MHV NTD contains a core structure that has the same β-sandwich fold as human galectins (S-lectins) and additional structural motifs that bind to the N-terminal Ig-like domain of mCEACAM1a. Despite its galectin fold, MHV NTD does not bind sugars, but instead binds mCEACAM1a through exclusive protein-protein interactions. Critical contacts at the interface have been confirmed by mutagenesis, providing a structural basis for viral and host specificities of coronavirus/CEACAM1 interactions. Sugar-binding assays reveal that galectin-like NTDs of some coronaviruses such as human coronavirus OC43 and bovine coronavirus bind sugars. Structural analysis and mutagenesis localize the sugar-binding site in coronavirus NTDs to be above the β-sandwich core. We propose that coronavirus NTDs originated from a host galectin and retained sugar-binding functions in some contemporary coronaviruses, but evolved new structural features in MHV for mCEACAM1a binding.</p>