Targeted intracellular degradation of SARS-CoV-2 via computationally optimized peptide fusions.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has elicited a global health crisis of catastrophic proportions. With only a few vaccines approved for early or limited use, there is a critical need for effective antiviral strategies. In this study, we report a unique antiviral platform, through computational design of ACE2-derived peptides which both target the viral spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) and recruit E3 ubiquitin ligases for subsequent intracellular degradation of SARS-CoV-2 in the proteasome. Our engineered peptide fusions demonstrate robust RBD degradation capabilities in human cells and are capable of inhibiting infection-competent viral production, thus prompting their further experimental characterization and therapeutic development.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Chatterjee, P; Ponnapati, M; Kramme, C; Plesa, AM; Church, GM; Jacobson, JM

Published Date

  • November 2020

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 3 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 715 -

PubMed ID

  • 33230174

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC7683566

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2399-3642

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 2399-3642

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1038/s42003-020-01470-7

Language

  • eng