The biomaterial polyphosphate blocks stoichiometric binding of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein to the cellular ACE2 receptor

Biomater Sci. 2020 Dec 7;8(23):6603-6610. doi: 10.1039/d0bm01244k. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Abstract

The effect of the polyanionic polymer of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) involved in innate immunity on the binding of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the cellular ACE2 receptor was studied. The RBD surface comprises a basic amino acid stretch of four arginine residues which interact with the physiological polyP (polyP40) and polyP3. Subsequently, the interaction of RBD with ACE2 is sensitively inhibited. After the chemical modification of arginine, an increased inhibition by polyP, at a 1 : 1 molar ratio (polyP : RBP), is measured already at 0.1 μg mL-1. Heparin was ineffective. The results suggest a potential therapeutic benefit of polyP against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / chemistry
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / metabolism*
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Binding Sites
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polymers / pharmacology*
  • Polyphosphates / chemistry
  • Polyphosphates / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / chemistry
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Polymers
  • Polyphosphates
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • polyanions
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2