Binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to glycans.

ABSTRACT: The pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a high number of deaths in the world. To combat it, it is necessary to develop a better understanding of how the virus infects host cells. Infection normally starts with the attachment of the virus to cell-surface glycans like heparan sulfate (HS) and sialic acid-containing glycolipids/glycoproteins. In this study, we examined and compared the binding of the subunits and spike (S) proteins of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and Middle East respiratory disease (MERS)-CoV to these glycans. Our results revealed that the S proteins and subunits can bind to HS in a sulfation-dependent manner and no binding with sialic acid residues was detected. Overall, this work suggests that HS binding may be a general mechanis

SUBMITTER: Hao W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7816574 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature