A Piecewise Design Approach to Engineering a Miniature ACE2 Mimic to Bind SARS-CoV-2.

ABSTRACT: As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues its global spread, the exploration of novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies is still needed. The virus enters host cells by binding the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor through the spike protein. Here, we develop an engineered, small, stable, and catalytically inactive version of ACE2, termed miniature ACE2 (mACE2), designed to bind the spike protein with high affinity. Employing a magnetic nanoparticle-based assay, we harnessed the strong binding affinity of mACE2 to develop a sensitive and specific platform for the detection or neutralization of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings highlight the potential of engineered mACE2 as a valuable tool in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. The success of developing

SUBMITTER: Vishweshwaraiah YL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11586090 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature