Abstract 1016 Host Factors Controlling Coronavirus Assembly and Egress

Distinct signaling cues on host cell cargo proteins determine their intracellular trafficking routes. One such signaling cue is the dibasic motif (consensus KxKxx) that binds host coatomer (COPI) complexes. COPI complexes facilitate retrograde cargo trafficking from Golgi to ER. Variants of this consensus KxKxx Coatomer-Binding Motif (CBM) are present on the cytoplasmic tails of all coronavirus (CoV) spike glycoproteins. CoVs assemble at the ER-Golgi intermediate compartments (ERGIC), following which the virions bud into compartment lumen, with the virion-containing vesicles then egressing to plasma membranes.