Answer: Researchers found that a carbohydrate called heparan sulfate, which is found on cell surfaces, may play a critical role in the novel coronavirus’ ability to infect cells.
The findings suggest that the anti-clotting drug heparin may have potential to help combat coronavirus infections.
SARS-CoV-2 virus particles
Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a cell isolated from a patient that is heavily infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (orange/red). NIAID Integrated Research Facility, Fort Detrick, Maryland
More than one million people have died worldwide from SARS-CoV-2 infection, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Researchers are racing to develop ways to treat and prevent new infections. Many of these treatments focus on blocking the virus’ ability to latch onto and infect cells in the body.
SARS-CoV-2 attaches to cells using its spike protein. This protein binds to the ACE2 receptor, a molecule that sits on the surface of human cells. After binding to ACE2, the virus undergoes a structural change that allows it to fuse with the cell. Once inside, the virus is able to reproduce.
To infect human cells, viruses must pass a dense layer of carbohydrates attached to the cell surface. This layer often includes the carbohydrate heparan sulfate. Several viruses, including herpes and other coronaviruses, are known to bind to heparan sulfate during infection. A team studying heparan sulfate, led by Drs. Thomas Clausen and Jeffrey Esko at UC San Diego, investigated whether the carbohydrate might also play a role in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The study was funded in part by NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). Results were published in Cell on September 14, 2020.
The researchers found that both heparan sulfate and ACE2 are necessary for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using molecular modeling, they identified where heparan sulfate binds the virus. They found that it interacts with a key part of the spike protein called the receptor binding domain (RBD).
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