Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Pathogens
Department
Biological Sciences
ISSN
20760817
Volume
10
Issue
12
DOI
10.3390/pathogens10121599
First Page
1
Last Page
27
Publication Date
12-9-2021
Abstract
Fusion of lipid-enveloped viruses with the cellular plasma membrane or the endosome membrane is mediated by viral envelope proteins that undergo large conformational changes following binding to receptors. The HIV-1 fusion protein gp41 undergoes a transition into a “six-helix bundle” after binding of the surface protein gp120 to the CD4 receptor and a co-receptor. Synthetic peptides that mimic part of this structure interfere with the formation of the helix structure and inhibit membrane fusion. This approach also works with the S spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Here we review the peptide inhibitors of membrane fusion involved in infection by influenza virus, HIV-1, MERS and SARS coronaviruses, hepatitis viruses, paramyxoviruses, flaviviruses, herpesviruses and filoviruses. We also describe recent computational methods used for the identification of peptide sequences that can interact strongly with protein interfaces, with special emphasis on SARS-CoV-2, using the PePI-Covid19 database.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Düzgüneş, Nejat; Fernandez-Fuentes, Narcis; and Konopka, Krystyna, "Inhibition of viral membrane fusion by peptides and approaches to peptide design" (2021). Pacific Faculty Work. 266.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/all-faculty/266
