A review of bioinformatics studies on the function of structural and non-structural proteins and the level of glycoprotein inhibiting Heme metabolism by SARS-CoV-2 virus

[摘要] Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory infection. Its virus called SARS-COV-2 whichis an RNA virus with high homology to the bat coronavirus. In this review study, first the molecular andcellular characteristics and the proliferation and replication of SARS-COV-2 are investigated. Then, by reviewingbioinformatics studies regarding protected domain analysis, homology modeling, and moleculardocking, the biological role of some specific SARS-COV-2 proteins are examined. The results showed thatthe open reading frame 8 (ORF8) and surface glycoprotein could bind to porphyrin. At the same time,ORF1ab, ORF10, and ORF3a can attack the heme part of hemoglobin to dissociate iron and form porphyrin.This attack reduces hemoglobin ability to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide. As a result, lung cellsbecome severely inflamed due to their inability to exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen, which leads tolarge ground-glass opacities on CT scan images. Based on the bioinformatics results, chloroquine canprevent ORF1ab, ORF3a, and ORF10 from attacking hemoglobin to form porphyrin and avoid the bindingof ORF8 and surface glycoprotein to porphyrin, which effectively relieves the symptoms of acute respiratorysyndrome. In the current pandemic, bioinformatics studies are of great importance for preventingthe spread of COVID-19, developing drugs and vaccines, and clinical practice.

[学科分类] 基础医学

[关键词] SARS-CoV-2;nonstructural protein;Glycoprotein;ORF8;Bioinformatics