Abundant transmission of Corona Virus Nsp2 RNA Topoisomerse I120F Mutants with Concurrence D614G Spike Protein Mutation in Australia

Abstract

We previously predicted Nsp2 Corona virus protein as RNA topoisomerase through amino acid homology among Vibrio haemolytica DNA topoisomerase IA/IV as well as DNA primase, DNA gyrase and bi-subunit Trypanosoma brucei DNA topoisomerase IB. Many DNA topoisomerase I/III have RNA topoisomerase activity and such ubiquitous enzymes are conserved and involved in the regulation of replication and transcription. We have checked here mutational profile of Nsp2 RNA topoisomerase analyzing >10000 orf1a 4405 amino acid length Corona virus polyprotein. Mutant proteins were selected by BLAST search having 99.84% sequence similarity and 181-818aa portion Nsp2 protein (protein id. QIU82057) was analyzed using CLUSTAL Omega software. We found 26 different mutations where most changes were selected at Isoleucine and Alanine into Valine or Leucine into Phenylanaline pinpointing conserved nature of the Corona virus RNA topoisomerase. Major nonsense very abundant mutations were found at I120F (Isoleucine to Phenylalanine). Other important mutations were R27C, I198V, T85I, L410F, I559V and P583S. The I120F mutation was abundant in Australian isolates and its spread was seen in the Bangladesh and other countries like USA. We suggest that abundant I120F mutation of Nsp2 Topoisomerase may increase transmission of Corona virus by stabilizing RNA structure for efficient virus pakaging. Interestingly, such mutations were found in association of D614G mutation of Spike protein, known to >70% increase infectivity. On the contrary, all P583S Nsp2 mutants analyzed had no concurrence D614G spike protein mutation. Many silent mutations (5-7) were detected by genome wide analysis but no N501Y Spike protein mutation. This is first report that predicts a link of greater Corona virus transmission with Nsp2 protein I120F and spike protein D614G mutations.