Coatomer complex I is required for the transport of SARS-CoV-2 progeny virions from the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 undergoes budding within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) and delivers progeny virions to the cell surface by employing vesicular transport. However, the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using three-dimensional electron microscopic analysis, such as array tomography and electron tomography, we found that virion-transporting vesicles possessed a coated protein on their membrane and demonstrated that the coated protein was coatomer complex I (COPI). During the later stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we observed a notable alteration in the distribution of COPI and ERGIC throughout the cytoplasm. Depletion of COPB2, a key component of COPI, led to the confinement of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins in the perinuclear region, where progeny virions were accumulated within the ERGIC. While the expression levels of viral proteins within cells were comparable, this depletion significantly reduced the efficiency of virion release, leading to the significant inhibition of viral replication. Hence, our findings suggest COPI as a critical player in facilitating the transport of SARS-CoV-2 progeny virions from the ERGIC. Thus, COPI could be a promising target for the development of antivirals against SARS-CoV-2.