Preferred Label : SARS Coronavirus Protease Pathway;
NCIt related terms : SARS Coronavirus Protease;
Alternative definition : BIOCARTA: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has affected thousands of individuals,
causing fever, and pneumonia with a mortality rate estimated at 10-18%. Human coronaviruses
cause mild respiratory illness and account for about a third of all cases of the common
cold. A novel coronavirus has been identified as the causative agent of SARS and its
genome has been sequenced. The enveloped SARS virus contains a large plus strand RNA
genome, approximately 30,000 nucleotides. Examination of the SARS coronavirus sequences
reveals that the rep gene covers over 20,000 nucleotides and encodes two overlapping
polyproteins cleaved by viral proteases into smaller protein products. Translation
of the longer polyprotein encoded by the rep gene requires a ribosomal frameshift.
Other viral genes are predicted to encode the transmembrane spike protein S involved
in viral fusion with host cells, the envelope protein E, the membrane protein M and
the nucleocapsid protein N that binds to the RNA genome as well as several additional
open reading frames with unknown functions. Viral entry into the cell is followed
by translation of the viral rep gene, which codes for a viral protease within the
polyprotein, Mpro or 3CLpro. The SARS 3CLpro has also been verified in vitro to cleave
after the Gln residue at Leu-Gln-(Ser, Ala, Gly). Polypeptides released from the polyproteins
by the main viral protease Mpro or 3CLpro include the viral polymerase and a protease.
Both products are essential for viral replication and transcription. Structural crystals
of a porcine coronavirus protease with a transition state inhibitor suggest that inhibitors
of the distantly related rhinovirus protease like the drug AG7088 may be modified
to produce drugs that block the SARS protease and viral replication. Blocking entry
of the SARS virus into cells, involving recognition of cellular receptors by the S
spike protein, may provide another strategy for the development of drugs to treat
SARS. (This definition may be outdated - see the DesignNote.);
NCIt note : The BIOCARTA Definition (ALT_DEFINITION) for this pathway concept was provided by
BioCarta. This property was not created by, nor is it maintained by the NCI Thesaurus
staff. Additionally, BioCarta is no longer updating its pathway data; thus, the BIOCARTA
Definition might be outdated or inaccurate. Please see the Terms and Conditions for
Use at http://www.biocarta.com/.;
Biocarta ID : h_SARSpathway;
Origin ID : C39229;
UMLS CUI : C1519126;
- Semantic type(s)
- has_gene_product_element
- pathway_has_gene_element