Mycroft-West, Courtney, Su, Dunhao, Li, Yong 
ORCID: 0000-0002-5594-4434, Guimond, Scott ORCID: 0000-0002-5903-418X, Rudd, Timothy ORCID: 0000-0003-4434-0333, Elli, Stefano ORCID: 0000-0003-0686-2480, Miller, Gavin ORCID: 0000-0001-6533-3306, Nunes, Quentin ORCID: 0000-0002-7513-8595, Procter, Patricia, Bisio, Antonella ORCID: 0000-0002-6686-5504 et al (show 7 more authors)
(2020)
Glycosaminoglycans induce conformational change in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 Receptor Binding Domain
2020.04.29.068767-.
ISSN 2692-8205
Abstract
The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) class of polysaccharides are utilised by a plethora of microbial pathogens as receptors for adherence and invasion. The GAG heparin prevents infection by a range of viruses when added exogenously, including the S-associated coronavirus strain HSR1 and more recently we have demonstrated that heparin can block cellular invasion by SARS-CoV-2. Heparin has found widespread clinical use as anticoagulant drug and this molecule is routinely used as a proxy for the GAG, heparan sulphate (HS), a structural analogue located on the cell surface, which is a known receptor for viral invasion. Previous work has demonstrated that unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparins binds to the Spike (S1) protein receptor binding domain, inducing distinct conformational change and we have further explored the structural features of heparin with regard to these interactions. In this article, previous research is expanded to now include a broader range of GAG family members, including heparan sulphate. This research demonstrates that GAGs, other than those of heparin (or its derivatives), can also interact with the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 receptor binding domain and induce distinct conformational changes within this region. These findings pave the way for future research into next-generation, tailor-made, GAG-based antiviral agents, against SARS-CoV-2 and other members of the Coronaviridae .
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 3207 Medical Microbiology, 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, 31 Biological Sciences, Biodefense, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases, Coronaviruses Therapeutics and Interventions, Coronaviruses, Infection |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Aug 2022 10:30 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Jan 2026 18:01 |
| DOI: | 10.1101/2020.04.29.068767 |
| Open Access URL: | https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.29... |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3160427 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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