Omicron variant and change of electrostatic interactions between receptor binding domain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor

Abstract

BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants are currently a new hazard. Since the first appearance of classical SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019, pathogen genetic alterations have continued to occur, and some new hazardous forms have already emerged. The underlying pathophysiological process leading to clinical issue is molecular change caused by genetic mutation. AIM To determine the change in the interaction between receptor binding domain of omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). METHODS The researchers investigated how alterations in the binding area of the SARS receptor CoV2 interacted electrostatically with the ACE2 receptor. In this report, three important coronavirus disease 2019 variants, beta, delta, and omicron, were investigated. RESULTS According to this study, there was a change of electrostatic interactions between the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 with the ACE2 receptor due to each studied variant. The most change was detected in omicron variant followed by delta variant and beta variant. CONCLUSION Our results may support the clinical finding that the omicron variant is more transmissible than the wild type and other variants.