SARS-CoV-2 spike protein removes lipids from model membranes and interferes with the capacity of high density lipoprotein to exchange lipids

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.06.056
• Publication Date: 2021-06-12T04:38:22Z
• Authors: Yubexi Correa; Sarah Waldie; Michel Thépaut; Samantha Micciulla; Martine Moulin; Franck Fieschi; Harald Pichler; V. Trevor Forsyth; Michael Haertlein; Marité Cárdenas
• Keywords: Membrane Lipids; High-density lipoprotein

Cholesterol has been shown to affect the extent of coronavirus binding and fusion cellular membranes. The severity Covid-19 infection is also known be correlated with lipid disorders. Furthermore, levels both serum cholesterol high-density lipoprotein (HDL) decrease severity, normal resuming once passed. Here we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein interferes function lipoproteins, this dependent on cholesterol. In particular, ability HDL exchange lipids from model membranes altered when co-incubated protein. Additionally, S removes We propose affects by removing it remodelling its composition/structure.