What is a Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD)?

A receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a key part of a virus located on its ‘spike’ domain that allows it to dock to body receptors to gain entry into cells and lead to infection. These are also the primary targets in the prevention and treatment of viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19.

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What is a Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)?

A receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a short immunogenic fragment from a virus that binds to a specific endogenous receptor sequence to gain entry into host cells. Specifically, these refer to a part of the ‘spike’ glycoprotein (S-domain) which are needed to interact with endogenous receptors to facilitate membrane fusion and delivery to the cytoplasm. Typically, the S-domain is also the site of neutralizing antibodies.

SARS and MERS

The entry of beta-coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV (the virus that causes SARS), requires the binding of its spike glycoprotein, ‘S’ domain, to the ACE2 receptor in the body. Coronaviruses are dotted with such S domains all over their surface giving the appearance of large distinctive ‘crown’ appearance and thus the name ‘corona’/crown, viruses.

Each S domain is around 20nm surface projection that surrounds the periphery of the coronavirus and varies considerably between different coronaviruses. Within the S domain of SARS-CoV, there is a short domain (within S1 subunit) containing just 2 glycosylation sites that secrete short fragments of RBD (by glycosylation) that fold and bind to the ACE2 receptor.

One functional glycosylation site is sufficient to create an RBD fragment that can bind to ACE2. Specific mutations within RBD amino acid residues (e.g. K390) lead to decreased affinity to ACE2. Thus, the binding of the viral RBD on its S-domain is an essential step for membrane fusion and entry into target host cells, as it leads to the S2 domain to transit from a pre-fusion state to a stable post-fusion state anchoring it to the membrane.

Concerning MERS-CoV (the virus that causes MERS), the key difference between SARS-CoV is the viral S-domain (S1). In MERS-CoV, a 1353-amino acid type I membrane glycoprotein assembles into trimers forming the ‘spikes’ which bind and fuse to the DPP4/CD26 receptor.

The MERS-CoV RBD (E367 and Y606) forms a complex with DDP4’s extracellular domain (S39-P766). Thus, the core CoV domains remain very similar, their RBD sequence varies considerably, thus influencing differing receptor affinity.

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SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Similar to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) binds to the ACE2 receptor to gain entry into respiratory and digestive epithelial cells. The S-domain of SARS-CoV-2 contains an RBD which enables it to bind to ACE2 and fuse into the membrane of epithelial cells.

The RBD of SARS-CoV-2’s S1 domain strongly binds to both human and bat ACE2. SARS-CoV-2’s RBD is located between residues 331-524 (or Thr333-Gly526 in a different study) of the S1 domain, which enables it to bind to ACE2 – and more strongly than SARS-CoV (according to some studies) – which may reflect the higher infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 compared to SARS-CoV.

The SARS-CoV-2 RBD has a twisted 5-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet with short connecting helices and loops, with the core being between β4-7 strands, with an additional extended insertion containing short β5-6 strands – wherein lies the RBD, and contains the contacting residues that enable it to bind to ACE2.

The identification of the RBD can help lead to the development of monoclonal (or polyclonal) antibodies (vaccines) in the treatment and prevention of coronaviral infection, as the RBD is the site for many major neutralizing antibodies – preventing the virus binding to the receptor (ACE2/DPP4).

Studies have shown that SARS-CoV RBD-specific polyclonal antibodies can cross-react with SARS-CoV-2 RBD protein to inhibit its entry into ACE2 in vitro (human expressing cells). Furthermore, SARS-CoV RBD-polyclonal antibodies can also cross-neutralize SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviral infection leading to the possibility to be able to create a SARS-CoV-RBD based vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 prevention. Thus, convalescent plasma from recovered SARS and COVID-19 patients could prove to be an effective treatment and prevention for COVID-19.

However, many antibodies raised against SARS-CoV have shown mixed results concerning SARS-CoV-2, with only one (CR3002) which can bind to both that targets a portion of SARS-CoV-2 RBD.

Convalescent plasma from recovered SARS patients which does cross-react with SARS-CoV-2 requires a more in-depth analysis of the sequence of the RBD that is affected in the development of strong and successful preventative vaccinations. Thus, studying the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 is important if therapies and vaccinations are to succeed.

In summary, an RBD is a critical component of the viral spike glycoprotein that is found on coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The binding of the RBD on the spike domain is a critical step that allows coronaviruses to bind to target body receptors (such as ACE2 on respiratory epithelial cells) and enter cells to cause infection.

The RBD is therefore an important target for neutralizing antibodies – either through engineered vaccination or convalescent plasma of recovered patients.

Further Reading

• All Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 Content
• What Mutations of SARS-CoV-2 are Causing Concern?
• What is the Clinical Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Patients?
• Can Pets Get COVID-19?
• An Overview of the SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines

Written by

Osman Shabir

Osman is a Neuroscience PhD Research Student at the University of Sheffield studying the impact of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease on neurovascular coupling using pre-clinical models and neuroimaging techniques.