Searching across hundreds of databases

Our searching services are busy right now. Your search will reload in five seconds.

X
Forgot Password

If you have forgotten your password you can enter your email here and get a temporary password sent to your email.

X
Forgot Password

If you have forgotten your password you can enter your email here and get a temporary password sent to your email.

The function of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is impaired by disulfide-bond disruption with mutation at cysteine-488 and by thiol-reactive N-acetyl-cysteine and glutathione.

Biochemical and biophysical research communications | 2022

Viral spike proteins play important roles in the viral entry process, facilitating attachment to cellular receptors and fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein binds to the cellular receptor angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) via its receptor-binding domain (RBD). The cysteine residue at position 488, consisting of a disulfide bridge with cysteine 480 is located in an important structural loop at ACE2-binding surface of RBD, and is highly conserved among SARS-related coronaviruses. We showed that the substitution of Cys-488 with alanine impaired pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 infection, syncytium formation, and cell-cell fusion triggered by SARS-CoV-2 spike expression. Consistently, in vitro binding of RBD and ACE2, spike-mediated cell-cell fusion, and pseudotyped viral infection of VeroE6/TMPRSS2 cells were inhibited by the thiol-reactive compounds N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and a reduced form of glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the activity of variant spikes from the SARS-CoV-2 alpha and delta strains were also suppressed by NAC and GSH. Taken together, these data indicate that Cys-488 in spike RBD is required for SARS-CoV-2 spike functions and infectivity, and could be a target of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics.

Pubmed ID: 35123263 RIS Download

Associated grants

None

Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.

This is a list of tools and resources that we have found mentioned in this publication.


GenScript (tool)

RRID:SCR_002891

Commercial organization which provides life science services and products to researchers. They specialize in gene synthesis, peptide, protein, antibody and preclinical drug development service.

View all literature mentions

Bio-Rad Laboratories (tool)

RRID:SCR_008426

Commercial instrument and chemical vendor. Developer and manufacturer of specialized technological products for life science research and clinical diagnostics markets.

View all literature mentions

HEK293T (tool)

RRID:CVCL_0063

Cell line HEK293T is a Transformed cell line with a species of origin Homo sapiens (Human)

View all literature mentions

Vero (tool)

RRID:CVCL_0059

Cell line Vero is a Spontaneously immortalized cell line with a species of origin Chlorocebus sabaeus

View all literature mentions

HEK293T (tool)

RRID:CVCL_0063

Cell line HEK293T is a Transformed cell line with a species of origin Homo sapiens (Human)

View all literature mentions

VeroE6/TMPRSS2 (tool)

RRID:CVCL_YQ49

Cell line VeroE6/TMPRSS2 is a Spontaneously immortalized cell line with a species of origin Chlorocebus sabaeus (Green monkey)

View all literature mentions

Vero (tool)

RRID:CVCL_0059

Cell line Vero is a Spontaneously immortalized cell line with a species of origin Chlorocebus sabaeus

View all literature mentions

HEK293T (tool)

RRID:CVCL_0063

Cell line HEK293T is a Transformed cell line with a species of origin Homo sapiens (Human)

View all literature mentions

VeroE6/TMPRSS2 (tool)

RRID:CVCL_YQ49

Cell line VeroE6/TMPRSS2 is a Spontaneously immortalized cell line with a species of origin Chlorocebus sabaeus (Green monkey)

View all literature mentions

HEK293T (tool)

RRID:CVCL_0063

Cell line HEK293T is a Transformed cell line with a species of origin Homo sapiens (Human)

View all literature mentions