Unveiling the Mechanism of Intracellular Replication of SARS-CoV-2

December 3, 2024

A step forward in drug development against COVID-19

A collaborative research group of Kyoto University and the RIKEN CSRS has elucidated the previously unknown mechanism of vesicular transport involved in the release of progeny SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) virions from infected cells.

First, the researchers observed the ultrastructure of SARS-CoV-2-infected cells using three-dimensional electron microscopy techniques such as array tomography, electron tomography, and immunoelectron microscopy. They found that vesicles transporting progeny virions are associated with the Coatomer Complex I (COPI complex). Then, disrupting the function of the COPI complex in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells caused progeny virions to accumulate within the lumen of the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), significantly suppressing virus production.

This study has revealed the critical role of the COPI complex in the intracellular transport of progeny SARS-CoV-2 virions. These findings are expected to make a substantial contribution to the development of therapeutic drugs targeting the COPI complex to combat COVID-19.

Original article

ｍBio doi: 10.1128/mbio.03331-24

A. Hirabayashi, Y. Muramoto, T. Takenaga, Y. Tsunoda, M. Wakazaki, M. Sato, Yoko F. Fujiharu, N. Nomura, K. Yamauchi, C. Onishi, M. Nakano, K. Toyooka, T. Noda,

"Coatomer complex I is required for the transport of SARS-CoV-2 progeny virions from the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment".

Contact

Kiminori Toyooka
Senior Technical Scientist
Mass Spectrometry and Microscopy Unit