Biomimetic SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Nanoparticles.
Biomacromolecules
; 24(5): 2030-2041, 2023 05 08.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2276380
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This virus contains a crucial coat protein that engages with target cells via a receptor binding domain (RBD) on its spike protein. To better study the RBD and its therapeutic opportunities, we genetically engineered a simple fusion with a thermo-responsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP). These fusions express in Escherichia coli at a high yield in the soluble fraction and were easily purified using ELP-mediated phase separation (79 mg/L culture). Interestingly, they assembled peptide-based nanoparticles (Rh = 71.4 nm), which was attributed to oligomerization of RBDs (25.3 kDa) counterbalanced by steric stabilization by a soluble ELP (73.4 kDa). To investigate their biophysical properties, we explored the size, shape, and binding affinity for the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) and cellular uptake. Biomimetic nanoparticles such as these may enable future strategies to target the same cells, tissues, and cell-surface receptors as those harnessed by SARS-CoV-2.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Nanoparticles
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Biomacromolecules
Journal subject:
Molecular Biology
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Acs.biomac.2c01465
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS