German scientists study the structure of the SARS-COV-2 virus using 3D modeling. Molecular decoding of coronavirus will help in finding active to combat the pathogen ingredients.
Structural biologist from Würzburg Andrea Thorn from the very beginning of the pandemic is trying to decipher the individual protein components of SARS-COV-2. This is necessary in order for the developers of vaccines and drugs around the world to find the means of protection writes Berliner Zeitung. In an interview with the publication, a specialist said that thanks to an accurate understanding of the structure of the coronavirus molecules and the presence of their models, you can find out how the virus works. For example, if he captures the human cell and makes it produce more viruses then each step was made of a protein molecule. Therefore, the disconnection of these protein molecules means stopping infection.
What does SARS-COV-2 look like?
Coronavirus is not quite round. It looks like a soap bubble in constant motion. The outer layer is thin soft and consists of fatty acids that are chemically similar to soap. Thus, soap can completely dissolve the virus shell - provided that the hands wash sufficiently long. The outer layer is covered with so-called spikes that allow the virus to penetrate for example in lung cells. But the fact that many call the virus is in fact this is just a "type of transport" Virion. Inside it carries a genetic material for 28 protein molecules. Most of which are first built into the host cell to turn it into an object for the production of viruses.Many believe that viruses cannot be made visible. They may not even realize that color images shown in the media are virus images. The virus and its danger is not visible. "People do not see many dead do not see completely overloaded resuscitation branches because there is a ban on visits. It is also one of the reasons for which we also created and printed
To make a danger more tangible, "the biologist noted.
How to decipher molecular structures
Experts measure not the entire virus, but only its individual molecules. The purpose of structural biologists is to search one of the 28 different proteins of the components of SARS-COV-2. Another task is to crystallize egg protein. The crystals are the size of the tenths of the millimeter and consist of thousands of identical protein molecules. Then this crystal is measured using X-rays on the so-called synchrotron accelerator of particles as bessy II in Berlin. These data also allow us to construct a three-dimensional model of a molecule of which the crystal is made.
As part of the study, the models created on the basis of obtained measurements are checked and improved. The members of the Andrea Thorn team are followed by each atom depicted on a 3D monitor. Bacteria reproduction can take from 1 to 36 months with cleaning until it works. Egg protein crystallizes from 1 to 24 months. Measuring in Synchrotron takes about three minutes. Data collection and assembly of structures with the help of special points occupies from week to four months an expert explained.
To date, scientists measured 17 of 28 virus molecules. While the structures are not so much - the definition takes several weeks or months - but these structures can be easily modeled on the computer. Since only a few of the thousands in the molecule are changed. After a pandemic, the number of studies has significantly decreased and they are no longer funded. A structural biologist believes: if the studies of SARS-COV-2 were conducted constantly scientists would have more knowledge about Coronavirus. It would be a huge advantage and allowed it to better prepare for the next pandemic.