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Computational Study Identifies Human Proteins Structurally Similar to SARS-CoV-2 Proteins


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A coronavirus cell.

A new study has identified the human proteins that share structural similarities with SARS-CoV-2 proteins.

Credit: tonecgi/Shutterstock.com

Russian researchers have identified more than two dozen human proteins that share a structural resemblance to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) proteins.

The researchers designed the Ouroboros algorithm to compare the SARS-CoV-2 proteome with 75,777 human proteins taken from the open-access Uniprot database.

Ouroboros compared primary sequences of SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins that were represented by the one-letter amino acid code, then factored in the common 7-/8-mers and their fusion into longer sequences.

The team identified over two dozen 7-/8-mers in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that were homologous to human proteins.

The researchers contend that homologous SARS-CoV-2 proteins are involved in inducing an autoimmune response, which may underpin the loss of taste and smell, muscle weakness, and pain arising from COVID-19 infection.

From News-Medical Life Sciences
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Abstracts Copyright © 2021 SmithBucklin, Washington, DC, USA


 

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