Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein is crucial for virus invasion in COVID-19. Here, we showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can trigger S protein aggregation at high doses of LPS and S protein. We demonstrated the formation of S protein aggregates by microscopy analyses, aggregation and gel shift assays. LPS at high levels boosts the formation of S protein aggregates as detected by amytracker and thioflavin T dyes that specifically bind to aggregating proteins. We validated the role of LPS by blocking the formation of aggregates by the endotoxin-scavenging thrombin-derived peptide TCP-25. Aggregation-prone sequences in S protein are predicted to be nearby LPS binding sites, while molecular simulations showed stable formation of S protein-LPS higher-order oligomers. Collectively, our results provide evidence of LPS-induced S protein aggregation.
Keywords: COVID-19; endotoxins; inflammation; lipopolysaccharide; protein-aggregation; spike protein.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Inflammation, spike protein., lipopolysaccharide, protein-aggregation, endotoxins, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, High dose, S protein, peptide, Proteins, virus, Spike protein, Protein, Microscopy, boost, binding, LPS, Evidence, Molecular simulation, Invasion, sequence, aggregation, aggregate, oligomers, predicted, assays, demonstrated, analyses, gel, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, aggregation, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, triggered,