A glycosaminoglycan microarray identifies the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to chondroitin sulfate E

Heparan sulfate (HS), a sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG), was reported to be a necessary host attachment factor that promotes SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we developed GAG microarrays based on fluorescence detection for high-sensitivity screening of the GAG-binding specificity of proteins and applied it for the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. Among the 20 distinct GAGs, the S protein bound not only to heparin (HEP)/HS but also to chondroitin sulfate E (CSE) in a concentration-dependent manner. We then analyzed the specificity of each subunit of the S protein. While the S1 subunit showed exclusive binding to HEP, the S2 subunit also bound to CSE and HEP/HS. CSE might act as an alternative attachment factor for HS in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Automated summary

This study revealed that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds to both heparin/HS and chondroitin sulfate E, and analyzed the specificity of each subunit of the S protein. Moreover, chondroitin sulfate E may serve as an alternative attachment factor for HS in SARS-CoV-2 infection.