1.Structural Characteristics of Seven IL-32 Variants
Dong Hyun SOHN ; Tam T NGUYEN ; Sinae KIM ; Saerok SHIM ; Siyoung LEE ; Youngmin LEE ; Hyunjhung JHUN ; Tania AZAM ; Joohee KIM ; Soohyun KIM
Immune Network 2019;19(2):e8-
IL-32 exists as seven mRNA transcripts that can translate into distinct individual IL-32 variants with specific protein domains. These translated protein domains of IL-32 variants code for specific functions that allow for interaction with different molecules intracellularly or extracellularly. The longest variant is IL-32γ possessing 234 amino acid residues with all 11 protein domains, while the shortest variant is IL-32α possessing 131 amino acid residues with three of the protein domains. The first domain exists in 6 variants except IL-32δ variant, which has a distinct translation initiation codon due to mRNA splicing. The last eleventh domain is common domain for all seven IL-32 variants. Numerous studies in different fields, such as inflammation, autoimmunity, pathogen infection, and cancer biology, have claimed the specific biological activity of individual IL-32 variant despite the absence of sufficient data. There are 4 additional IL-32 variants without proper transcripts. In this review, the structural characteristics of seven IL-32 transcripts are described based on the specific protein domains.
Autoimmunity
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Biology
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Codon, Initiator
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Inflammation
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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RNA, Messenger
2.The Progression of SARS Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2): Mutation in the Receptor Binding Domain of Spike Gene
Sinae KIM ; Jong Ho LEE ; Siyoung LEE ; Saerok SHIM ; Tam T. NGUYEN ; Jihyeong HWANG ; Heijun KIM ; Yeo-Ok CHOI ; Jaewoo HONG ; Suyoung BAE ; Hyunjhung JHUN ; Hokee YUM ; Youngmin LEE ; Edward D. CHAN ; Liping YU ; Tania AZAM ; Yong-Dae KIM ; Su Cheong YEOM ; Kwang Ha YOO ; Lin-Woo KANG ; Kyeong-Cheol SHIN ; Soohyun KIM
Immune Network 2020;20(5):e41-
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) is a positive-sense singlestranded RNA (+ssRNA) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The viral genome encodes twelve genes for viral replication and infection. The third open reading frame is the spike (S) gene that encodes for the spike glycoprotein interacting with specific cell surface receptor – angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) – on the host cell membrane. Most recent studies identified a single point mutation in S gene. A single point mutation in S gene leading to an amino acid substitution at codon 614 from an aspartic acid 614 into glycine (D614G) resulted in greater infectivity compared to the wild type SARS-CoV2. We were interested in investigating the mutation region of S gene of SARS-CoV2 from Korean COVID-19 patients. New mutation sites were found in the critical receptor binding domain (RBD) of S gene, which is adjacent to the aforementioned D614G mutation residue. This specific sequence data demonstrated the active progression of SARS-CoV2 by mutations in the RBD of S gene.The sequence information of new mutations is critical to the development of recombinant SARS-CoV2 spike antigens, which may be required to improve and advance the strategy against a wide range of possible SARS-CoV2 mutations.