Plant Lectins As Versatile Tools to Fight Coronavirus Outbreaks

Overview

Journal Glycoconj J

Publisher Springer

Specialties Biochemistry
Endocrinology

Date 2022 Nov 23

PMID 36418811

Authors

Mathias Simplicien

Pierre Perio

Jan Sudor

Annick Barre

Herve Benoist

Els J M Van Damme

Pierre Rouge

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The S protein forming the homotrimeric spikes of pathogenic beta-coronaviruses, such as MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, is a highly glycosylated protein containing mainly N-glycans of the complex and high-mannose type, as well as O-glycans. Similarly, the host cell receptors DPP4 for MERS-CoV and ACE2 for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, also represent N- and O-glycosylated proteins. All these glycoproteins share common glycosylation patterns, suggesting that plant lectins with different carbohydrate-binding specificities could be used as carbohydrate-binding agents for the spikes and their receptors, to combat COVID19 pandemics. The binding of plant lectins to the spikes and their receptors could mask the non-glycosylated receptor binding domain of the virus and the corresponding region of the receptor, thus preventing a proper interaction of the spike proteins with their receptors. In this review, we analyze (1) the ability of plant lectins to interact with the N- and O-glycans present on the spike proteins and their receptors, (2) the in vitro and in vivo anti-COVID19 activity already reported for plant lectins and, (3) the possible ways for delivery of lectins to block the spikes and/or their receptors.

Citing Articles

Bioinformatic Selection of Mannose-Specific Lectins from as SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors Analysing Protein-Protein Interaction.

Isakovic S, Sencanski M, Perovic V, Stevanovic K, Prodic I Life (Basel). 2025; 15(2).

PMID: 40003571 PMC: 11856470. DOI: 10.3390/life15020162.

References

Thorley J, McKeating J, Rappoport J . Mechanisms of viral entry: sneaking in the front door. Protoplasma. 2010; 244(1-4):15-24. PMC: 3038234. DOI: 10.1007/s00709-010-0152-6. View

Walls A, Park Y, Tortorici M, Wall A, McGuire A, Veesler D . Structure, Function, and Antigenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein. Cell. 2020; 181(2):281-292.e6. PMC: 7102599. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.058. View

Wang N, Shi X, Jiang L, Zhang S, Wang D, Tong P . Structure of MERS-CoV spike receptor-binding domain complexed with human receptor DPP4. Cell Res. 2013; 23(8):986-93. PMC: 3731569. DOI: 10.1038/cr.2013.92. View

Song W, Gui M, Wang X, Xiang Y . Cryo-EM structure of the SARS coronavirus spike glycoprotein in complex with its host cell receptor ACE2. PLoS Pathog. 2018; 14(8):e1007236. PMC: 6107290. DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007236. View

Vogel A, Kanevsky I, Che Y, Swanson K, Muik A, Vormehr M . BNT162b vaccines protect rhesus macaques from SARS-CoV-2. Nature. 2021; 592(7853):283-289. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03275-y. View

Ritchie G, Harvey D, Feldmann F, Stroeher U, Feldmann H, Royle L . Identification of N-linked carbohydrates from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) spike glycoprotein. Virology. 2010; 399(2):257-69. PMC: 3412594. DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.12.020. View

Shajahan A, Supekar N, Gleinich A, Azadi P . Deducing the N- and O-glycosylation profile of the spike protein of novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Glycobiology. 2020; 30(12):981-988. PMC: 7239183. DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwaa042. View

Bagdonaite I, Thompson A, Wang X, Sogaard M, Fougeroux C, Frank M . Site-Specific O-Glycosylation Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Produced in Insect and Human Cells. Viruses. 2021; 13(4). PMC: 8064498. DOI: 10.3390/v13040551. View

10.

Debray H, Decout D, Strecker G, SPIK G, Montreuil J . Specificity of twelve lectins towards oligosaccharides and glycopeptides related to N-glycosylproteins. Eur J Biochem. 1981; 117(1):41-55. DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1981.tb06300.x. View

11.

Peumans W, Van Damme E, Barre A, Rouge P . Classification of plant lectins in families of structurally and evolutionary related proteins. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2003; 491:27-54. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4615-1267-7_3. View

12.

Kawasaki N, Lin C, Inoue R, Khoo K, Kawasaki N, Yong Ma B . Highly fucosylated N-glycan ligands for mannan-binding protein expressed specifically on CD26 (DPPVI) isolated from a human colorectal carcinoma cell line, SW1116. Glycobiology. 2009; 19(4):437-50. DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwn158. View

13.

Shajahan A, Archer-Hartmann S, Supekar N, Gleinich A, Heiss C, Azadi P . Comprehensive characterization of N- and O- glycosylation of SARS-CoV-2 human receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2. Glycobiology. 2020; 31(4):410-424. PMC: 7665489. DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwaa101. View

14.

Allen J, Watanabe Y, Chawla H, Newby M, Crispin M . Subtle Influence of ACE2 Glycan Processing on SARS-CoV-2 Recognition. J Mol Biol. 2020; 433(4):166762. PMC: 7744274. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.166762. View

15.

van der Meer F, de Haan C, Schuurman N, Haijema B, Peumans W, Van Damme E . Antiviral activity of carbohydrate-binding agents against Nidovirales in cell culture. Antiviral Res. 2007; 76(1):21-9. PMC: 7132385. DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2007.04.003. View

16.

Keyaerts E, Vijgen L, Pannecouque C, Van Damme E, Peumans W, Egberink H . Plant lectins are potent inhibitors of coronaviruses by interfering with two targets in the viral replication cycle. Antiviral Res. 2007; 75(3):179-87. PMC: 7114093. DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2007.03.003. View

17.

Liu Y, Shahed-Al-Mahmud M, Chen X, Chen T, Liao K, Lo J . A Carbohydrate-Binding Protein from the Edible Lablab Beans Effectively Blocks the Infections of Influenza Viruses and SARS-CoV-2. Cell Rep. 2020; 32(6):108016. PMC: 7380208. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108016. View

18.

Wang W, Li Q, Wu J, Hu Y, Wu G, Yu C . Lentil lectin derived from exhibit broad antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2021; 10(1):1519-1529. PMC: 8330776. DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1957720. View

19.

Millet J, Seron K, Labitt R, Danneels A, Palmer K, Whittaker G . Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection is inhibited by griffithsin. Antiviral Res. 2016; 133:1-8. PMC: 7113895. DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.07.011. View

20.

OKeefe B, Giomarelli B, Barnard D, Shenoy S, Chan P, McMahon J . Broad-spectrum in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy of the antiviral protein griffithsin against emerging viruses of the family Coronaviridae. J Virol. 2009; 84(5):2511-21. PMC: 2820936. DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02322-09. View

21.

Alsaidi S, Cornejal N, Mahoney O, Melo C, Verma N, Bonnaire T . Griffithsin and Carrageenan Combination Results in Antiviral Synergy against SARS-CoV-1 and 2 in a Pseudoviral Model. Mar Drugs. 2021; 19(8). PMC: 8400000. DOI: 10.3390/md19080418. View