Cited by 1,387SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchAnimal Virus Infections StudiesCOVID-19 Clinical Research Studies

SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein D614G mutation increases virion spike density and infectivity

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Zhang, Lizhou, Jackson, Cody B., Mou, Huihui, Ojha, Amrita, Peng, Haiyong, Quinlan, Brian D., Rangarajan, Erumbi S., Pan, Andi +7 more·2020·Nature Communications

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 variants with spike (S)-protein D614G mutations now predominate globally. We therefore compare the properties of the mutated S protein (S G614 ) with the original (S D614 ). We report here pseudoviruses carrying S G614 enter ACE2-expressing cells more efficiently than those with S D614 . This increased entry correlates with less S1-domain shedding and higher S-protein incorporation into the virion. Similar results are obtained with virus-like particles produced with SARS-CoV-2 M, N, E, and S proteins. However, D614G does not alter S-protein binding to ACE2 or neutralization sensitivity of pseudoviruses. Thus, D614G may increase infectivity by assembling more functional S protein into the virion.

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  • The B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 lineages all harbor a N501Y mutation in the RBD, which increases the affinity for the ACE2 receptor, and a D614G mutation, which increases virion spike density, infectivity, and transmissibility.

    “The B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 lineages all harbor a N501Y mutation in the RBD, which increases the affinity for the ACE2 receptor (57, 58), and a D614G mutation, which increases virion spike density, infectivity, and transmissibility (59, 60).”

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Authors
Zhang, L., Jackson, C. B., Mou, H., Ojha, A., Peng, H., Quinlan, B. D., Rangarajan, E. S., Pan, A., Vanderheiden, A., Suthar, M. S., Li, W., Izard, T., Rader, C., Farzan, M., & Choe, H.
Affiliations
  • Scripps Research Institute (US)
  • Emory University (US)
  • National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Farzan, Michael
  • Choe, Hyeryun
Venue
Nature Communications
Published
2020-11-26
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
6013-6013
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3107112434
Cited by
1,387
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 56 · 2024: 88 · 2023: 162 · 2022: 329 · 2021: 519 · 2020: 209
FWCI
40.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI129868)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Virus Infections Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, spike protein, D614G mutation, viral infectivity, virus-like particles, ACE2 binding, neutralization sensitivity, pseudovirus, SARS-CoV-2 variants

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