Publications
Communications biologyApr 2023 |
6
(
1
),
387
DOI:
10.1038/s42003-023-04789-z

Suramin binds and inhibits infection of SARS-CoV-2 through both spike protein-heparan sulfate and ACE2 receptor interactions

Kwon, Paul S; Xu, Shirley; Oh, Hanseul; Kwon, Seok-Joon; Rodrigues, Andre L; Feroz, Maisha; Fraser, Keith; He, Peng; Zhang, Fuming; Hong, Jung Joo; Linhardt, Robert J; Dordick, Jonathan S
Product Used
NGS
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domains (RBDs) interact with both the ACE2 receptor and heparan sulfate on the surface of host cells to enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection. We show that suramin, a polysulfated synthetic drug, binds to the ACE2 receptor and heparan sulfate binding sites on the RBDs of wild-type, Delta, and Omicron variants. Specifically, heparan sulfate and suramin had enhanced preferential binding for Omicron RBD, and suramin is most potent against the live SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) when compared to wild type and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants in vitro. These results suggest that inhibition of live virus infection occurs through dual SARS-CoV-2 targets of S-protein binding and previously reported RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibition and offers the possibility for this and other polysulfated molecules to be used as potential therapeutic and prophylactic options against COVID-19.
Product Used
NGS

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