Beta Variant (B.1.351) Spike Expression Vectors

Optimized SARS-CoV-2 Spike gene (B.1.351 - South African origin) for mammalian cell expression

pUNO1-SpikeV3 and pUNO1-SpikeV3-dfur plasmids have been specifically designed for the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein in mammalian cells with either a functional or inactivated furin (dfur) cleavage site. These plasmids encode the full-length Spike sequence from the Beta variant (B.1.351), and for optimal cellular expression, it is codon-optimized and the C‑terminal ER-retention signal has been removed [1, 2].

Beta Variant (B.1.351 lineage) Spike Expression vectors
for cell fusion and flow cytometry assays

Gene Description

These plasmids encode the Spike protein from the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant (B.1.351), first reported in South Africa in October 2020. This variant is classified as a member of Clade 20H/501Y.V2  and B.1.351 v2 lineage (Nextstrain/Pango lineage classification) [3]. It is characterized by the presence of a number of deletions and mutations within the Spike coding region, of which, several are of concern [3,4]. 

• S1 domain: L18F, D80A, D215G, deletion L242-L244, D614G
• RBD: K417N, E484K, N501Y
• S2 domain: A701V

Learn more about SARS-CoV-2 Variants

The Spike protein contains a furin cleavage site that affects its cellular expression [5, in-house data]. Therefore, depending on your application InvivoGen offers:

• pUNO1-SpikeV3: with a functional furin cleavage site allowing Spike/ACE2 cell fusion assays
• pUNO1-SpikeV3-dfur: with an inactive furin (dfur) cleavage site allowing improved surface expression for flow cytometry detection

 More details

General Plasmid Description

These plasmids feature a potent mammalian expression cassette composed of the ubiquitous human EF1α-HTLV composite promoter and the SV40 polyadenylation (pAn) signal.  The codon-optimized ORF includes the native SARS-CoV-2 Spike signal sequence. The plasmids are selectable with Blasticidin in both E. coli and mammalian cells (transient and stable transfection).

Applications

• Spike-mediated cell fusion assays with pUNO1-SpikeV3
• Cell surface detection by flow cytometry with pUNO1-SpikeV3-dfur
• Screening of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors including small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, or convalescent plasma

References:

1. Johnson, M.C. et al. 2020. Optimized Pseudotyping Conditions for the SARS-COV-2 Spike Glycoprotein. J Virol 94.
2. Ou, X. et al. 2020. Characterization of spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 on virus entry and its immune cross-reactivity with SARS-CoV. Nat Commun 11, 1620.
3. Garcia-Beltran, W.F. et al. 2021. Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants escape neutralization by vaccine-induced humoral immunity. Cell. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.03.013
4. Tegally, H. et al. 2020. Emergence and rapid spread of a new severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineage with multiple spike mutations in South Africa. Medrxiv. doi:10.1101/2020.12.21.20248640v1
5. Coutard, B. et al. 2020. The spike glycoprotein of the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV contains a furin-like cleavage site absent in CoV of the same clade. Antiviral Res 176, 104742.

Figures

InvivoGen's anti-SARS-CoV2RBD mAbs allow the detection of Spike surface expression by mammalian cells for a set of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
Human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells featuring stable cell surface expression of Spike variants were incubated with either Anti-CoV2RBD-cas-mIgG2a, Anti-CoV2RBD-imd-mIgG2a, Anti-CoV2RBD-bam-mIgG2a, or Anti-CoV2RBD-ete-mIgG2a mAbs for 1 hour at 4°C. Cells were then washed and incubated with a PE-conjugated goat anti-murine IgG for 1 hour at 4°C, and surface staining was analyzed by FACS. The grey line indicates the maximal fluorescence intensity for unstained cells.

Specifications

pUNO1-SpikeV3

• Origin: Beta Variant (B.1.351 lineage) | South African origin
• Sequence Reference: GISAID EPI_ISL_745146
• Codon Optimized
• ORF size: 3756 bp
• Sequencing primers:
  - Forward HTLV 5’UTR: TGCTTGCTCAACTCTACGTC
  - Reverse SV40 pAn: AACTTGTTTATTGCAGCTT
• Quality Control:
  - Plasmid construct is confirmed by restriction analysis and full‑length open reading frame (ORF) sequencing.
  - After purification by ion-exchange chromatography, predominant supercoiled conformation is verified by electrophoresis.

pUNO1-SpikeV3-dfur

• Origin: Beta Variant (B.1.351 lineage) | South African origin
• Sequence Reference: GISAID EPI_ISL_745146
• Codon Optimized and R683/5A mutations
• ORF size: 3756 bp
• Sequencing primers:
  - Forward HTLV 5’UTR: TGCTTGCTCAACTCTACGTC
  - Reverse SV40 pAn: AACTTGTTTATTGCAGCTT
• Quality Control:
  - Plasmid construct is confirmed by restriction analysis and full‑length open reading frame (ORF) sequencing.
  - After purification by ion-exchange chromatography, predominant supercoiled conformation is verified by electrophoresis.

Contents

pUNO1-SpikeV3 and pUNO1-SpikeV3-dfur are provided as follows:

Please note: Each plasmid is sold separately. 

• 20 μg of lyophilized DNA
• 2 x 1 ml Blasticidin at 10 mg/ml

 The product is shipped at room temperature.

Lyophilized DNA should be stored at -20 °C.

Resuspended DNA should be stored at -20 °C and is stable for up to 1 year.

Blasticidin is a harmful compound. Refer to the safety data sheet for handling instructions. Store Blasticidin at 4 °C or -20 °C for up to two years. The product is stable for 2 weeks at 37 °C.

Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Details

Furin cleavage site in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein

A furin cleavage sequence (RRxR) is found within a polybasic cleavage site (681-PRRSR/SVA-688) at the boundary between the S1 and S2 domains (S1/S2) of the Spike protein [1]. Furin is enriched in the Golgi apparatus, where it functions to cleave proteins into their 'mature/active forms'. Specifically, it is suggested that cleavage at this site by furin pre-primes the SARS-CoV-2 S protein during its production. This allows further processing by cell surface host proteases (e.g. TMPRSS2)  upon binding to ACE2, which ultimately facilitates viral-host membrane fusion [2,3].

► In a mammalian expression system (e.g. HEK293 cells), to maximize the surface expression of the S protein, the furin cleavage site in InvivoGen's pUNO1-SpikeV3-dfur has been inactivated (in-house data). The crucial recognition residues have been mutated (R683A and R685A) ensuring that the S protein is not cleaved by furin. 

Furthermore, the S protein possesses cell-cell fusogenic activity and has been shown to trigger large syncytia formation (multi-nucleated cells). Notably, overexpression of an uncleavable S protein (mutated/inactivated furin cleavage site) has been shown to not induce cell-cell fusion, suggesting that cleavage at the multibasic site is a requirement for syncytia formation [3].

► To study cell-cell fusion by the SARS-CoV-2 spike, InvivoGen offers the pUNO1-SpikeV3 plasmid. 

References:

1. Coutard, B. et al. 2020. The spike glycoprotein of the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV contains a furin-like cleavage site absent in CoV of the same clade. Antiviral Res 176, 104742.
2. Johnson, B.A. et al. 2021. Loss of furin cleavage site attenuates SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Nature
3. Papa, G. et al. 2021. Furin cleavage of SARS-CoV-2 Spike promotes but is not essential for infection and cell-cell fusion. PLoS Pathog 17, e1009246.