Functional Peptides from SARS-CoV-2 Binding with Cell Membrane: From Molecular Dynamics Simulations to Cell Demonstration

Cells. 2022 May 25;11(11):1738. doi: 10.3390/cells11111738.

Abstract

Herein, we have verified the interaction between the functional peptides from the SARS-CoV-2 and cell membrane, and we further proved that peptides exhibit little membrane disruption. The specific amino acids (Lys, Ile, Glu, Asn, Gln, etc.) with charge or hydrophobic residues play a significant role during the functional-peptide binding to membrane. The findings could provide the hints related to viral infection and also might pave the way for development of new materials based on peptides with membrane-binding activity, which would enable functional peptides further as peptide adjuvants, in order to help deliver the cancer drug into tumor cells for the efficient tumor therapy.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; functional peptides; interaction; lipid membrane; new materials based on peptides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • COVID-19*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Trypsin / metabolism

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Trypsin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by national natural science foundation (22072060 and 21573097).