SARS-CoV-2 spike fusion peptide trans interaction with phosphatidylserine lipid triggers membrane fusion for viral entry.

ABSTRACT: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike is the fusion machine for host cell entry. Still, the mechanism by which spike protein interacts with the target lipid membrane to facilitate membrane fusion during entry is not fully understood. Here, using steady-state membrane fusion and single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging of spike trimers on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirion, we directly show that spike protein interacts with phosphatidylserine (PS) lipid in the target membrane for mediating fusion. We observed that the fusion peptide of the spike S2 domain interacts with the PS lipid of the target membrane. Low pH and Ca²⁺ trigger the spike conformational change and bring fusion peptide in close proximity to the PS lipid of th

SUBMITTER: Singh P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11389415 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature