The biomaterial polyphosphate blocks stoichiometric binding of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein to the cellular ACE2 receptor

Abstract

The effect of the polyanionic polymer of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) involved in innate immunity on the binding of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the cellular ACE2 receptor was studied. The RBD surface comprises a basic amino acid stretch of four arginine residues which interact with the physiological polyP (polyP₄₀) and polyP₃. Subsequently, the interaction of RBD with ACE2 is sensitively inhibited. After the chemical modification of arginine, an increased inhibition by polyP, at a 1 : 1 molar ratio (polyP : RBP), is measured already at 0.1 μg mL⁻¹. Heparin was ineffective. The results suggest a potential therapeutic benefit of polyP against SARS-CoV-2 infection.