Structural images of Mpro and polyprotein complex (IMAGE)
Caption
A new study provides insight into how a long string of connected proteins called a polyprotein in the SARS-CoV-2 virus is cleaved apart by a protease called Mpro, an important step during virus replication. Using an imaging technique called cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), the research team proposes that the stepwise cleavage process is dictated by the polyprotein's structure. Top left: Cryo-EM image of the Mpro and polyprotein complex (greyscale, particles of the complex are indicated by green circles). Top middle and right: 2D-class averages of the complex. Bottom: Cryo-EM density map of the complex (gray transparent) shows the densities of the polyprotein (dashed oval) outside from the recognition site binding Mpro (green and cyan).
Credit
Murakami Laboratory / Penn State
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License
CC BY