Products/Services Used | Details | Operation |
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Codon Optimization> | DNA encoding codon-optimized MERS-CoV EMC/2012 S (GenBank accession number JX869059) containing a C-terminal C9 tag (pcDNA3.1-MERS S-C9) was purchased from GenScript Inc. (Piscataway, NJ). | Get A Quote |
Coronaviruses (CoVs) can cause life-threatening respiratory diseases. Their infectious entry requires viral spike (S) proteins, which attach to cell receptors, undergo proteolytic cleavage, and then refold in a process that catalyzes virus-cell membrane fusion. Fusion-inhibiting peptides bind to S proteins, interfere with refolding, and prevent infection. Here we conjugated fusion-inhibiting peptides to various lipids, expecting this to secure peptides onto cell membranes and thereby increase antiviral potencies. Cholesterol or palmitate adducts increased antiviral potencies up to 1000-fold. Antiviral effects were evident after S proteolytic cleavage, implying that lipid conjugates affixed the pep... More