Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain -CR3022 Human Antibody Binding Affinity via In silico Engineering Approach

Introduction: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the effective primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2. The interaction between ACE2 and the spike protein of the virus is the crucial step for virus entry into the target cells. ACE2 receptor can be blocked by neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) such...

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Main Authors: Fatemeh Sefid, Zahra Payandeh, Bahman Khalesi, Behzad Mansoori, Marzieh Fotovvat, Maryam Touhidinia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pasteur Institute of Iran 2021-09-01
Series:Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-345-en.html
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author Fatemeh Sefid
Zahra Payandeh
Bahman Khalesi
Behzad Mansoori
Marzieh Fotovvat
Maryam Touhidinia
author_facet Fatemeh Sefid
Zahra Payandeh
Bahman Khalesi
Behzad Mansoori
Marzieh Fotovvat
Maryam Touhidinia
author_sort Fatemeh Sefid
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the effective primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2. The interaction between ACE2 and the spike protein of the virus is the crucial step for virus entry into the target cells. ACE2 receptor can be blocked by neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) such as CR3022 which targets the virus receptor-binding site. Enhancing the binding affinity between CR3022 and ACE2 would lead to a more efficient blockade of virus entry. Methods: In this regard, the amino acids with central roles in the binding affinity of CR3022 antibody to spike protein were substituted. The best mutations to increase the affinity of antibodies were also selected based on protein-protein docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Result: The variants 45 (H:30I/G, H:55D/F, H: 103S/Y, L:59T/F, L:98Y/A), 60(H:31T/D, H:55D/E, H:103S/Y, L:59T/D, L:98Y/F), 67(H:30I/G, H:55D/F, H:103S/Y, L:56 W/L, L:59T/Y, L:61E/G), 69(H:31T/D, H:55D/F, H:103S/Y, L:59T/F, L:98Y/A), and 71(H: 31T/D, H:55D/F, H:103S/Y) with respective binding affinities of -167.3, -167.5, -161.6, -173.0, and -169.8 Kcal/mol had higher binding affinities against the RBD of the SARS-CoV2 spike protein compared to the wild-type Ab. Conclusion: The engineered antibodies with higher binding affinities against the target protein can improve specificity and sensitivity. Thus, a more successful blockade of the ACE2 is achieved, resulting in a better therapeutic outcome. In silico studies can pave the way for designing these engineered molecules avoiding the economic and ethical challenges.
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series Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
spelling doaj-art-99c6e8b79ef043feab1c817ee0469a8a2025-08-20T03:52:24ZengPasteur Institute of IranJournal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases2345-53492345-53302021-09-019315616910.52547/JoMMID.9.3.156Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain -CR3022 Human Antibody Binding Affinity via In silico Engineering ApproachFatemeh Sefid0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7055-8737Zahra Payandeh1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2565-8231Bahman Khalesi2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5723-8624Behzad Mansoori3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9444-7134Marzieh Fotovvat4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3081-4868Maryam Touhidinia5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2267-3970Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran; Department of Biology, Science and Arts University, Yazd, IranImmunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranDepartment of Research and Production of Poultry Viral Vaccine, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, IranDepartment of Medical Genetics, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, IranDepartment of Plant Science, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yazd University, Yazd, IranIntroduction: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the effective primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2. The interaction between ACE2 and the spike protein of the virus is the crucial step for virus entry into the target cells. ACE2 receptor can be blocked by neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) such as CR3022 which targets the virus receptor-binding site. Enhancing the binding affinity between CR3022 and ACE2 would lead to a more efficient blockade of virus entry. Methods: In this regard, the amino acids with central roles in the binding affinity of CR3022 antibody to spike protein were substituted. The best mutations to increase the affinity of antibodies were also selected based on protein-protein docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Result: The variants 45 (H:30I/G, H:55D/F, H: 103S/Y, L:59T/F, L:98Y/A), 60(H:31T/D, H:55D/E, H:103S/Y, L:59T/D, L:98Y/F), 67(H:30I/G, H:55D/F, H:103S/Y, L:56 W/L, L:59T/Y, L:61E/G), 69(H:31T/D, H:55D/F, H:103S/Y, L:59T/F, L:98Y/A), and 71(H: 31T/D, H:55D/F, H:103S/Y) with respective binding affinities of -167.3, -167.5, -161.6, -173.0, and -169.8 Kcal/mol had higher binding affinities against the RBD of the SARS-CoV2 spike protein compared to the wild-type Ab. Conclusion: The engineered antibodies with higher binding affinities against the target protein can improve specificity and sensitivity. Thus, a more successful blockade of the ACE2 is achieved, resulting in a better therapeutic outcome. In silico studies can pave the way for designing these engineered molecules avoiding the economic and ethical challenges.https://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-345-en.htmlcoronavirussarscov- 2antibodybioinformaticsaffinity maturation
spellingShingle Fatemeh Sefid
Zahra Payandeh
Bahman Khalesi
Behzad Mansoori
Marzieh Fotovvat
Maryam Touhidinia
Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain -CR3022 Human Antibody Binding Affinity via In silico Engineering Approach
Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
coronavirus
sarscov- 2
antibody
bioinformatics
affinity maturation
title Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain -CR3022 Human Antibody Binding Affinity via In silico Engineering Approach
title_full Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain -CR3022 Human Antibody Binding Affinity via In silico Engineering Approach
title_fullStr Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain -CR3022 Human Antibody Binding Affinity via In silico Engineering Approach
title_full_unstemmed Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain -CR3022 Human Antibody Binding Affinity via In silico Engineering Approach
title_short Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain -CR3022 Human Antibody Binding Affinity via In silico Engineering Approach
title_sort enhancement of sars cov 2 receptor binding domain cr3022 human antibody binding affinity via in silico engineering approach
topic coronavirus
sarscov- 2
antibody
bioinformatics
affinity maturation
url https://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-345-en.html
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AT bahmankhalesi enhancementofsarscov2receptorbindingdomaincr3022humanantibodybindingaffinityviainsilicoengineeringapproach
AT behzadmansoori enhancementofsarscov2receptorbindingdomaincr3022humanantibodybindingaffinityviainsilicoengineeringapproach
AT marziehfotovvat enhancementofsarscov2receptorbindingdomaincr3022humanantibodybindingaffinityviainsilicoengineeringapproach
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