A Functional Interaction Between Y674-R685 Region of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and the Human α7 Nicotinic Receptor.

ABSTRACT: The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is present in neuronal and non-neuronal cells and has anti-inflammatory actions. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that α7 nAChR interacts with a region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S), and a potential contribution of nAChRs to COVID-19 pathophysiology has been proposed. We applied whole-cell and single-channel recordings to determine whether a peptide corresponding to the Y674-R685 region of the S protein can directly affect α7 nAChR function. The S fragment exerts a dual effect on α7. It activates α7 nAChRs in the presence of positive allosteric modulators, in line with our previous molecular dynamics simulations showing favourable binding of this accessible region of the S protein to the nAChR agonist binding site. The S fragmen

SUBMITTER: Chrestia JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9299415 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature