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Updated: Oct 24, 2025
High-throughput Confocal Imaging of Quantum Dot-Conjugated SARS-CoV-2 Spike Trimers to Track Binding and Endocytosis in HEK293T Cells
Published on: April 21, 2022
SARS-CoV spike proteins can compete for electrolytes in physiological fluids according to structure-based
Enrico Margiotta1,2,3, Célia Fonseca Guerra1,4
1Department of Theoretical Chemistry and Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling, AIMMS, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
The trimeric spike (S) glycoprotein is the trojan horse and the stronghold of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses. Although several structures of the S-protein have been solved, a complete understanding of all its functions is still lacking. Our multi-approach study, based on the combination of structural experimental data and quantum-chemical DFT calculations, led to identify a sequestration site for sodium, potassium and chloride ions within the central cavity of both the SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. The same region was found as strictly conserved, even among the sequences of the bat-respective coronaviruses. Due to the prominent role of the main three electrolytes at many levels, and their possible implication in the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 disease, our study can take the lead in important discoveries related to the SARS-CoV-2 biology, as well as in the design of novel effective therapeutic strategies.
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