Amyloidogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 May 25;144(20):8945-8950. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c03925. Epub 2022 May 17.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with a surprising number of morbidities. Uncanny similarities with amyloid-disease associated blood coagulation and fibrinolytic disturbances together with neurologic and cardiac problems led us to investigate the amyloidogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-protein). Amyloid fibril assays of peptide library mixtures and theoretical predictions identified seven amyloidogenic sequences within the S-protein. All seven peptides in isolation formed aggregates during incubation at 37 °C. Three 20-amino acid long synthetic spike peptides (sequence 192-211, 601-620, 1166-1185) fulfilled three amyloid fibril criteria: nucleation dependent polymerization kinetics by ThT, Congo red positivity, and ultrastructural fibrillar morphology. Full-length folded S-protein did not form amyloid fibrils, but amyloid-like fibrils with evident branching were formed during 24 h of S-protein coincubation with the protease neutrophil elastase (NE) in vitro. NE efficiently cleaved S-protein, rendering exposure of amyloidogenic segments and accumulation of the amyloidogenic peptide 194-203, part of the most amyloidogenic synthetic spike peptide. NE is overexpressed at inflamed sites of viral infection. Our data propose a molecular mechanism for potential amyloidogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 S-protein in humans facilitated by endoproteolysis. The prospective of S-protein amyloidogenesis in COVID-19 disease associated pathogenesis can be important in understanding the disease and long COVID-19.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amyloid* / chemistry
  • Amyloidogenic Proteins / chemistry
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Elastase
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
  • Prospective Studies
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus* / chemistry

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloidogenic Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • Leukocyte Elastase