Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 N501Y Spike RBD Fc Protein

Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 N501Y Spike RBD Fc Protein Summary

Product Specifications

Product Datasheets

Carrier Free

CF stands for Carrier Free (CF). We typically add Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) as a carrier protein to our recombinant proteins. Adding a carrier protein enhances protein stability, increases shelf-life, and allows the recombinant protein to be stored at a more dilute concentration. The carrier free version does not contain BSA.

In general, we advise purchasing the recombinant protein with BSA for use in cell or tissue culture, or as an ELISA standard. In contrast, the carrier free protein is recommended for applications, in which the presence of BSA could interfere.

Background: Spike RBD

SARS-CoV-2, which causes the global pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses that also include MERS and SARS-CoV-1. Coronaviruses are commonly comprised of four structural proteins: Spike protein (S), Envelope protein (E), Membrane protein (M) and Nucleocapsid protein (N) (1). The SARS-CoV-2 S protein is a glycoprotein that mediates membrane fusion and viral entry. The S protein is homotrimeric, with each ~180-kDa monomer consisting of two subunits, S1 and S2 (2). In SARS-CoV-2, as with most coronaviruses, proteolytic cleavage of the S protein into S1 and S2 subunits is required for activation. The S1 subunit is focused on attachment of the protein to the host receptor while the S2 subunit is involved with cell fusion (3-5). A metallopeptidase, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), has been identified as a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2 through interaction with a receptor binding domain (RBD) located at the C-terminus of S1 subunit (6,7). The RBD of SARS-CoV-2 shares 73% aa identity with the RBD of the SARS-CoV-1, but only 22% amino acid (aa) identity with the RBD of MERS. A SARS-CoV-2 variant carrying the aa substitution N501Y in the RBD is one of the most prevalent mutations found Covid-19 cases (8-10). This mutation was first identified in the virus variant (B.1.1.7 lineage) originally found in London and the southeast UK but rapidly spread globally (8,9). This new virus variant was reported 56% more transmissible than other preexisting variants (11). The N501Y mutation was also later identified in variants found in South Arica (B.1.351 lineage) and Brazil (P.1 lineage). Although there is no evidence to date that B.1.1.7 causes more severe illness, whether the N501Y mutation in RBD would decrease the efficacy of vaccine-induced immunity is still under investigation.

Related Research Areas

• Infectious Diseases