tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Cell Biosci
. 2026 May 24.
doi: 10.1186/s13578-026-01587-y. Online ahead of print.
The transmembrane segments of SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 govern viral intracellular trafficking
Manqi Cao[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lang Qin[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 [/SUP], Huaan Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wenhao Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Qiao Ling[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiaxin Zhuang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fushi Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zhihui Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Weiyi Huang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Huijie Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yushan Xue[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiayi Yang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiayue Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Liubing Du[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Deyin Guo[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ji-An Pan[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Xiaoxue Peng[SUP] 5 6 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
After entry, coronaviruses deliver their genomic RNA to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment to build replication organelles, yet how the RNA first contacts membranes is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the first transmembrane helix of nsp3 serves as an address code, inserting into the ER via SEC61A1 during translation and is then escorted to the ERGIC by the COPII factors SAR1A and LMAN1. Deletion or proline substitution of key residues in this helix trapped the RNA in the cytosol and crippled viral replication. A 24-residue peptide (Y24) modeled on the helix inhibited viral replication, and AAV9-delivered A20-2 peptide reduced lung viral RNA and pathology in mice. This host-targeted approach offers a potential broad-spectrum strategy against emerging coronaviruses.
Keywords: ERGIC; Intracellular trafficking; SARS-CoV-2; SEC61; Transmembrane segment; nsp3.
. 2026 May 24.
doi: 10.1186/s13578-026-01587-y. Online ahead of print.
The transmembrane segments of SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 govern viral intracellular trafficking
Manqi Cao[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lang Qin[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 [/SUP], Huaan Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wenhao Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Qiao Ling[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiaxin Zhuang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fushi Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zhihui Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Weiyi Huang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Huijie Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yushan Xue[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiayi Yang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jiayue Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Liubing Du[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Deyin Guo[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ji-An Pan[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Xiaoxue Peng[SUP] 5 6 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 42178594
- DOI: 10.1186/s13578-026-01587-y
After entry, coronaviruses deliver their genomic RNA to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment to build replication organelles, yet how the RNA first contacts membranes is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the first transmembrane helix of nsp3 serves as an address code, inserting into the ER via SEC61A1 during translation and is then escorted to the ERGIC by the COPII factors SAR1A and LMAN1. Deletion or proline substitution of key residues in this helix trapped the RNA in the cytosol and crippled viral replication. A 24-residue peptide (Y24) modeled on the helix inhibited viral replication, and AAV9-delivered A20-2 peptide reduced lung viral RNA and pathology in mice. This host-targeted approach offers a potential broad-spectrum strategy against emerging coronaviruses.
Keywords: ERGIC; Intracellular trafficking; SARS-CoV-2; SEC61; Transmembrane segment; nsp3.