Bottom-up Assembled Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 Miniviruses Reveal Lipid Membrane Affinity of Omicron Variant Spike Glycoprotein.

ABSTRACT: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been brought on by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The spike glycoprotein (S), which decorates the viral envelope forming a corona, is responsible for the binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and initiating the infection. In comparison to previous variants, Omicron S presents additional binding sites as well as a more positive surface charge. These changes hint at additional molecular targets for interactions between virus and cell, such as the cell membrane or proteoglycans on the cell surface. Herein, bottom-up assembled synthetic SARS-CoV-2 miniviruses (MiniVs), with a lipid composition similar to that of infectious particles, are implemented to study and compare the binding properties of Omicron a

SUBMITTER: Yague Relimpio A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10722588 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature