PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Karolina Michalska AU - Youngchang Kim AU - Robert Jedrzejczak AU - Natalia I. Maltseva AU - Lucy Stols AU - Michael Endres AU - Andrzej Joachimiak TI - Crystal structures of SARS-CoV-2 ADP-ribose phosphatase (ADRP): from the apo form to ligand complexes AID - 10.1101/2020.05.14.096081 DP - 2020 Jan 01 TA - bioRxiv PG - 2020.05.14.096081 4099 - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/05/21/2020.05.14.096081.short 4100 - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/05/21/2020.05.14.096081.full AB - Among 15 nonstructural proteins (Nsps), the newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 encodes a large, multidomain Nsp3. One of its units is ADP-ribose phosphatase domain (ADRP, also known as macrodomain) which is believed to interfere with the host immune response. Such a function appears to be linked to the protein’s ability to remove ADP-ribose from ADP-ribosylated proteins and RNA, yet the precise role and molecular targets of the enzyme remains unknown. Here, we have determined five, high resolution (1.07 - 2.01 Å) crystal structures corresponding to the apo form of the protein and complexes with 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES), AMP and ADPr. We show that the protein undergoes conformational changes to adapt to the ligand in a manner previously observed before for in close homologs from other viruses. We also identify a conserved water molecule that may participate in hydrolysis. This work builds foundations for future structure-based research of the ADRP, including search for potential antiviral therapeutics.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.