Deep mutational scans for ACE2 binding, RBD expression, and antibody escape in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 receptor-binding domains.

SARS-CoV-2 continues to acquire mutations in the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) that impact ACE2 receptor binding, folding stability, and antibody recognition. Deep mutational scanning prospectively characterizes the impacts of mutations on these biochemical properties, enabling rapid assessmen...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tyler N Starr, Allison J Greaney, Cameron M Stewart, Alexandra C Walls, William W Hannon, David Veesler, Jesse D Bloom
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-11-01
Series:PLoS Pathogens
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010951
_version_ 1797848191189647360
author Tyler N Starr
Allison J Greaney
Cameron M Stewart
Alexandra C Walls
William W Hannon
David Veesler
Jesse D Bloom
author_facet Tyler N Starr
Allison J Greaney
Cameron M Stewart
Alexandra C Walls
William W Hannon
David Veesler
Jesse D Bloom
author_sort Tyler N Starr
collection DOAJ
description SARS-CoV-2 continues to acquire mutations in the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) that impact ACE2 receptor binding, folding stability, and antibody recognition. Deep mutational scanning prospectively characterizes the impacts of mutations on these biochemical properties, enabling rapid assessment of new mutations seen during viral surveillance. However, the effects of mutations can change as the virus evolves, requiring updated deep mutational scans. We determined the impacts of all single amino acid mutations in the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 RBDs on ACE2-binding affinity, RBD folding, and escape from binding by the LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab) monoclonal antibody. The effects of some mutations in Omicron RBDs differ from those measured in the ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 background. These epistatic shifts largely resemble those previously seen in the Alpha variant due to the convergent epistatically modifying N501Y substitution. However, Omicron variants show additional lineage-specific shifts, including examples of the epistatic phenomenon of entrenchment that causes the Q498R and N501Y substitutions present in Omicron to be more favorable in that background than in earlier viral strains. In contrast, the Omicron substitution Q493R exhibits no sign of entrenchment, with the derived state, R493, being as unfavorable for ACE2 binding in Omicron RBDs as in Wuhan-Hu-1. Likely for this reason, the R493Q reversion has occurred in Omicron sub-variants including BA.4/BA.5 and BA.2.75, where the affinity buffer from R493Q reversion may potentiate concurrent antigenic change. Consistent with prior studies, we find that Omicron RBDs have reduced expression, and identify candidate stabilizing mutations that ameliorate this deficit. Last, our maps highlight a broadening of the sites of escape from LY-CoV1404 antibody binding in BA.1 and BA.2 compared to the ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 background. These BA.1 and BA.2 deep mutational scanning datasets identify shifts in the RBD mutational landscape and inform ongoing efforts in viral surveillance.
first_indexed 2024-04-09T18:23:24Z
format Article
id doaj.art-935a02fbd2d6495d8f961be0fd3e02fe
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1553-7366
1553-7374
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-09T18:23:24Z
publishDate 2022-11-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS Pathogens
spelling doaj.art-935a02fbd2d6495d8f961be0fd3e02fe2023-04-12T05:31:38ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Pathogens1553-73661553-73742022-11-011811e101095110.1371/journal.ppat.1010951Deep mutational scans for ACE2 binding, RBD expression, and antibody escape in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 receptor-binding domains.Tyler N StarrAllison J GreaneyCameron M StewartAlexandra C WallsWilliam W HannonDavid VeeslerJesse D BloomSARS-CoV-2 continues to acquire mutations in the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) that impact ACE2 receptor binding, folding stability, and antibody recognition. Deep mutational scanning prospectively characterizes the impacts of mutations on these biochemical properties, enabling rapid assessment of new mutations seen during viral surveillance. However, the effects of mutations can change as the virus evolves, requiring updated deep mutational scans. We determined the impacts of all single amino acid mutations in the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 RBDs on ACE2-binding affinity, RBD folding, and escape from binding by the LY-CoV1404 (bebtelovimab) monoclonal antibody. The effects of some mutations in Omicron RBDs differ from those measured in the ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 background. These epistatic shifts largely resemble those previously seen in the Alpha variant due to the convergent epistatically modifying N501Y substitution. However, Omicron variants show additional lineage-specific shifts, including examples of the epistatic phenomenon of entrenchment that causes the Q498R and N501Y substitutions present in Omicron to be more favorable in that background than in earlier viral strains. In contrast, the Omicron substitution Q493R exhibits no sign of entrenchment, with the derived state, R493, being as unfavorable for ACE2 binding in Omicron RBDs as in Wuhan-Hu-1. Likely for this reason, the R493Q reversion has occurred in Omicron sub-variants including BA.4/BA.5 and BA.2.75, where the affinity buffer from R493Q reversion may potentiate concurrent antigenic change. Consistent with prior studies, we find that Omicron RBDs have reduced expression, and identify candidate stabilizing mutations that ameliorate this deficit. Last, our maps highlight a broadening of the sites of escape from LY-CoV1404 antibody binding in BA.1 and BA.2 compared to the ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 background. These BA.1 and BA.2 deep mutational scanning datasets identify shifts in the RBD mutational landscape and inform ongoing efforts in viral surveillance.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010951
spellingShingle Tyler N Starr
Allison J Greaney
Cameron M Stewart
Alexandra C Walls
William W Hannon
David Veesler
Jesse D Bloom
Deep mutational scans for ACE2 binding, RBD expression, and antibody escape in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 receptor-binding domains.
PLoS Pathogens
title Deep mutational scans for ACE2 binding, RBD expression, and antibody escape in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 receptor-binding domains.
title_full Deep mutational scans for ACE2 binding, RBD expression, and antibody escape in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 receptor-binding domains.
title_fullStr Deep mutational scans for ACE2 binding, RBD expression, and antibody escape in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 receptor-binding domains.
title_full_unstemmed Deep mutational scans for ACE2 binding, RBD expression, and antibody escape in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 receptor-binding domains.
title_short Deep mutational scans for ACE2 binding, RBD expression, and antibody escape in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 receptor-binding domains.
title_sort deep mutational scans for ace2 binding rbd expression and antibody escape in the sars cov 2 omicron ba 1 and ba 2 receptor binding domains
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010951
work_keys_str_mv AT tylernstarr deepmutationalscansforace2bindingrbdexpressionandantibodyescapeinthesarscov2omicronba1andba2receptorbindingdomains
AT allisonjgreaney deepmutationalscansforace2bindingrbdexpressionandantibodyescapeinthesarscov2omicronba1andba2receptorbindingdomains
AT cameronmstewart deepmutationalscansforace2bindingrbdexpressionandantibodyescapeinthesarscov2omicronba1andba2receptorbindingdomains
AT alexandracwalls deepmutationalscansforace2bindingrbdexpressionandantibodyescapeinthesarscov2omicronba1andba2receptorbindingdomains
AT williamwhannon deepmutationalscansforace2bindingrbdexpressionandantibodyescapeinthesarscov2omicronba1andba2receptorbindingdomains
AT davidveesler deepmutationalscansforace2bindingrbdexpressionandantibodyescapeinthesarscov2omicronba1andba2receptorbindingdomains
AT jessedbloom deepmutationalscansforace2bindingrbdexpressionandantibodyescapeinthesarscov2omicronba1andba2receptorbindingdomains