Novel Insights Into the Sulfated Glucuronic Acid-Based Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Mechanism of Exopolysaccharides From Halophilic Archaeon Haloarcula hispanica

Yueqiang Xu; Yan Li; Xin You; Caixia Pei; Zhuo Wang; Siming Jiao; Xin Zhao; Xuan Lin; Yang Lü; Cheng Jin; George Fu Gao; Jianjun Li; Qi Wang; Yuguang Du

doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.871509

Frontiers in Chemistry (Apr 2022)

Novel Insights Into the Sulfated Glucuronic Acid-Based Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Mechanism of Exopolysaccharides From Halophilic Archaeon Haloarcula hispanica

Yueqiang Xu,
Yan Li,
Xin You,
Caixia Pei,
Zhuo Wang,
Siming Jiao,
Xin Zhao,
Xuan Lin,
Yang Lü,
Cheng Jin,
George Fu Gao,
Jianjun Li,
Qi Wang,
Yuguang Du

Affiliations

Yueqiang Xu: State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Biotechnology (Beijing), Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Production & Formulation Engineering, PLA, Institute of Processing and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Yan Li: CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Xin You: Lung Cancer Translational Medicine Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
Caixia Pei: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Zhuo Wang: State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Biotechnology (Beijing), Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Production & Formulation Engineering, PLA, Institute of Processing and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Siming Jiao: State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Biotechnology (Beijing), Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Production & Formulation Engineering, PLA, Institute of Processing and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Xin Zhao: CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Xuan Lin: State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Biotechnology (Beijing), Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Production & Formulation Engineering, PLA, Institute of Processing and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Yang Lü: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Cheng Jin: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
George Fu Gao: CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Jianjun Li: State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Biotechnology (Beijing), Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Production & Formulation Engineering, PLA, Institute of Processing and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Qi Wang: CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Yuguang Du: State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Biotechnology (Beijing), Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Production & Formulation Engineering, PLA, Institute of Processing and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2022.871509
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10

Abstract

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The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is the most widely spread disease in the 21st century. Due to the continuous emergence of variants across the world, it is necessary to expand our understanding of host–virus interactions and explore new agents against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, it was found exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from halophilic archaeon Haloarcula hispanica ATCC33960 can bind to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 with the binding constant KD of 2.23 nM, block the binding of spike protein to Vero E6 and bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells, and inhibit pseudovirus infection. However, EPSs from the gene deletion mutant △HAH_1206 almost completely lost the antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. A significant reduction of glucuronic acid (GlcA) and the sulfation level in EPSs of △HAH_1206 was clearly observed. Our results indicated that sulfated GlcA in EPSs is possible for a main structural unit in their inhibition of binding of SARS-CoV-2 to host cells, which would provide a novel antiviral mechanism and a guide for designing new agents against SARS-CoV-2.

Published in Frontiers in Chemistry

ISSN: 2296-2646 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/chemistry

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