Reasoning of spike glycoproteins being more vulnerable to mutations among 158 coronavirus proteins from different species

Abstract

In this study, we used the probabilistic models developed by us over the last several years to analyze 158 proteins from coronaviruses in order to determine which protein is more vulnerable to mutations. The results provide three lines of evidence suggesting that the spike glycoprotein is different from the other coronavirus proteins: (1) the spike glycoprotein is more sensitive to mutations, this is the current state of the spike glycoprotein, (2) the spike glycoprotein has undergone more mutations in the past, this is the history of spike glycoprotein, and (3) the spike glycoprotein has a bigger potential towards future mutations, this is the future of spike glycoprotein. Furthermore, this study gives a clue on the species susceptibility regarding different proteins.

Fig. 1

Predictable and unpredictable portions in coronavirus proteins. The data are presented as median with interquartile range. * the predictable and unpredictable portions in spike glycoprotein group are statistically different from any other protein groups at p<0.05 level, except for hemagglutinin-esterase precursor group. # the predictable and unpredictable portions in spike glycoprotein group are statistically different from hemagglutinin-esterase precursor, membrane protein and nucleocapsid protein groups at p<0.05 level. † the predictable and unpredictable portions in spike glycoprotein group are statistically different from hemagglutinin-esterase precursor, and membrane protein groups at p<0.05 level.

Fig. 2

Percent of unpredictable types and frequencies with respect to whether the actual value is larger or smaller than the predicted value in coronavirus proteins. The data are presented as mean ± SD. * the percents of unpredictable types/frequencies in spike glycoprotein group are statistically different from other protein groups at p<0.05 level. # the percents of unpredictable types in spike glycoprotein group are statistically different from any other protein groups at p<0.05 level, except for hemagglutinin-esterase precursor and nucleocapsid protein groups.

Fig. 3

Magnitude of difference between actual and predicted values in coronavirus proteins. The data are presented as mean ± SD. * indicates the difference between actual and predicted values in spike glycoprotein group is statistically different from any other protein group at p<0.05 level. # indicates the difference between actual and predicted values in spike glycoprotein group is statistically different from other protein groups at p<0.05 level, except for envelope protein group.

Fig. 4

Number of amino-acid pairs in envelop proteins from different species with respect to the difference between their actual and predicted values. The data are presented as mean ± SD.

Fig. 5

Number of amino-acid pairs in hemagglutinin-esterase precursor proteins from different species with respect to the difference between their actual and predicted values. The data are presented as mean ± SD.

Fig. 6

Number of amino-acid pairs in membrane glycoproteins from different species with respect to the difference between their actual and predicted values. The data are presented as mean ± SD.

Fig. 7

Number of amino-acid pairs in nonstructural proteins from different species with respect to the difference between their actual and predicted values. The data are presented as mean ± SD.

Fig. 8

Number of amino-acid pairs in nucleocapsid proteins from different species with respect to the difference between their actual and predicted values. The data are presented as mean ± SD.

Fig. 9

Number of amino-acid pairs in spike glycoproteins from different species with respect to the difference between their actual and predicted values. The data are presented as mean ± SD.

Fig. 10

Number of amino-acid pairs in other proteins from different species with respect to the difference between their actual and predicted values. The data are presented as mean ± SD.