Cited by 524SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Researchvaccines and immunoinformatics approachesMonoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research

Potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies directed against spike N-terminal domain target a single supersite

Open access
Cerutti, Gabriele, Guo, Yicheng, Zhou, Tongqing, Gorman, Jason, Lee, Myungjin, Rapp, Micah, Reddem, Eswar R., Yu, Jian +15 more·2021·Cell Host & Microbe

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Numerous antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV-2 have been identified, and these generally target either the receptor-binding domain (RBD) or the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the viral spike. While RBD-directed antibodies have been extensively studied, far less is known about NTD-directed antibodies. Here, we report cryo-EM and crystal structures for seven potent NTD-directed neutralizing antibodies in complex with spike or isolated NTD. These structures defined several antibody classes, with at least one observed in multiple convalescent donors. The structures revealed that all seven antibodies target a common surface, bordered by glycans N17, N74, N122, and N149. This site-formed primarily by a mobile β-hairpin and several flexible loops-was highly electropositive, located at the periphery of the spike, and the largest glycan-free surface of NTD facing away from the viral membrane. Thus, in contrast to neutralizing RBD-directed antibodies that recognize multiple non-overlapping epitopes, potent NTD-directed neutralizing antibodies appear to target a single supersite.

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  1. Pinto D, Park Y-J, Beltramello M, Walls AC, Tortorici MA, Bianchi S, Jaconi S, Culap K, Zatta F, De Marco A, (2020a). Structural and functional analysis of a potent sarbecovirus neutralizing antibody. bioRxiv, 2020.2004.2007.023903.

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Authors
Cerutti, G., Guo, Y., Zhou, T., Gorman, J., Lee, M., Rapp, M., Reddem, E. R., Yu, J., Bahna, F., Bimela, J., Huang, Y., Katsamba, P. S., Liu, L., Nair, M. S., Rawi, R., Olia, A. S., Wang, P., Zhang, B., Chuang, G.-Y., Ho, D. D., Sheng, Z., Kwong, P. D., & Shapiro, L.
Affiliations
  • Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center (US)
Corresponding author
  • Kwong, Peter D.
  • Shapiro, Lawrence
Venue
Cell Host & Microbe
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-05
Volume
29
Issue
5
Pages
819-833.e7
ISSN
1931-3128 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3136437538
Cited by
519
References
89
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 93 · 2022: 141 · 2021: 151
FWCI
35.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Host & Microbe (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Simons Foundation (SF349247)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM103310, GM129539)
  • National Institutes of Health (P41 GM103403, P30 GM124165)
  • Vaccine Research Center
  • Office of Science (W-31-109-Eng-38)
  • Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology and Innovation
  • Basic Energy Sciences
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, neutralizing antibodies, antibody-antigen complex structure, cryo-EM structure, crystal structure, glycans, beta-hairpin, epitope mapping, convalescent donors, receptor binding domain
MeSH terms
Protein Domains, SARS-CoV-2, Antibodies, Viral, Humans, Mutation, Protein Conformation, Antibodies, Neutralizing, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

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