Coronavirus accessory protein ORF3 biology and its contribution to viral behavior and pathogenesis

Fusheng Si; Shuai Song; Ruisong Yu; Zhen Li; Wenqiang Wei; Chao Wu

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.106280

Coronavirus accessory protein ORF3 biology and its contribution to viral behavior and pathogenesis

iScience. 2023 Apr 21;26(4):106280. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106280. Epub 2023 Feb 28.

Authors

Fusheng Si¹, Shuai Song², Ruisong Yu¹, Zhen Li¹, Wenqiang Wei³, Chao Wu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Breeding Pig, Shanghai 201106, P.R. China.
² Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture of Rural Affairs, and Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510640, P.R. China.
³ Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China.
⁴ Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

Abstract

Coronavirus porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is classified in the genus Alphacoronavirus, family Coronaviridae that encodes the only accessory protein, ORF3 protein. However, how ORF3 contributes to viral pathogenicity, adaptability, and replication is obscure. In this review, we summarize current knowledge and identify gaps in many aspects of ORF3 protein in PEDV, with emphasis on its unique biological features, including membrane topology, Golgi retention mechanism, potential intrinsic disordered property, functional motifs, protein glycosylation, and codon usage phenotypes related to genetic evolution and gene expression. In addition, we propose intriguing questions related to ORF3 protein that we hope to stimulate further studies and encourage collaboration among virologists worldwide to provide constructive knowledge about the unique characteristics and biological functions of ORF3 protein, by which their potential role in clarifying viral behavior and pathogenesis can be possible.

Keywords: Porcine molecular biology; Protein; Virology.

Publication types

Review