UCLouvain - UNamur
" One of the key determining factors in viral infection is the entry of the virus into the host cells. Different CoVs including MHV, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV have been consistently demonstrated to engage the endocytic pathway as the main mechanism for viral entry into a variety types of host cells. At present, the entry mechanisms and the implication of the endocytic pathway of the new emerging SARS-CoV-2 have not been reported directly. It is known that SARS-CoV-2 utilizes the same receptor of SARS-CoV, which is angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2) for viral entry into the host cells. Since SARS-CoV-2 also binds to the same ACE2 receptor as SARS-CoV it is highly possible that this new CoV utilizes the same endocytic pathway for entry into the host cells. Besides, a recent report suggests that SARS-CoV-2 invaded host cells via another route of CD147-spike protein. Our lab is studying the endocytosis mechanism of several plasma membrane receptors previously identified in a proteomic screening (Renard et al., Nat Comm., 2020). We propose here to decipher the exact mechanism of endocytosis of ACE2 and CD147 in different human cell lines. Understanding these mechanisms is important in the search of effective therapeutic agents in the treatment of COVID-19 caused by this new CoV. Strong expertise in membrane trafficking and endocytosis in different model organisms. Techniques: molecular and cell biology, high resolution and live confocal microscopy, mass spectrometry, biochemistry. "
Funding: 2019-2020: FNRS, CDR (J.0119.19) 2017-2022: FWB, ARC (17/22-085)
Publication References: Villers J., Savocco J., ... and Morsomme P. (2017) Nitrogen sources and Gap1 control Put4, Dal5 and Ptr2 protein levels in the yeast plasma membrane, Moll Cell Proteomics, 16, 1652-1668, doi :10.1074/mcp.M116.064923 Renard H.F., Johannes L. and Morsomme P. (2018) The increasing diversity of biological membrane fission mechanisms, Trends Cell Biol, 28, 274-286, Savocco J., Nootens S., ... and Morsomme P. (2019) The yeast α-arrestin Art2 is the key regulator of the ubiquitylation-dependent endocytosis of plasma membrane vitamin B1 transporters, PLOS Biology, doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000512 Renard H.F., Tyckaert F., ... and Morsomme P. (2020) Endophilin-A3 and Galectin-8 control the clathrin-independent endocytosis of CD166, Nature communications, 11(1):1457. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15303-y
Contact: UCLouvain, LIBST, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.