Cell invasive amyloid assemblies from SARS-CoV-2 peptides can form multiple polymorphs with varying neurotoxicity.

Cell invasive amyloid assemblies from SARS-CoV-2 peptides can form multiple polymorphs with varying neurotoxicity.

Publication date: Oct 04, 2024

The neurological symptoms of COVID-19, often referred to as neuro-COVID include neurological pain, memory loss, cognitive and sensory disruption. These neurological symptoms can persist for months and are known as Post-Acute Sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC). The molecular origins of neuro-COVID, and how it contributes to PASC are unknown, however a growing body of research highlights that the self-assembly of protein fragments from SARS-CoV-2 into amyloid nanofibrils may play a causative role. Previously, we identified two fragments from the SARS-CoV-2 proteins, Open Reading Frame (ORF) 6 and ORF10, that self-assemble into neurotoxic amyloid assemblies. Here we further our understanding of the self-assembly mechanisms and nano-architectures formed by these fragments and their biological responses. By solubilising the peptides in a fluorinated solvent, we eliminate insoluble aggregates in the starting materials (seeds) that change the polymorphic landscape of the assemblies. The resultant assemblies are dominated by structures with higher free energies (e. g. ribbons and amorphous aggregates) that are less toxic to cultured neurons but do affect their mitochondrial respiration. We also show the first direct evidence of cellular uptake of viral amyloids. This work highlights the importance of understanding the polymorphic behaviour of amyloids and the correlation to neurotoxicity, particularly in the context of neuro-COVID and PASC.

Concepts Keywords
Amyloids Amyloid
Cultured Assemblies
Months Assembly
Nanoscale Cov
Viral Covid
Fragments
Highlights
Neuro
Neurological
Neurotoxicity
Pasc
Peptides
Sars
Self
Symptoms

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease IDO cell
disease MESH COVID-19
disease MESH memory loss
disease IDO protein
disease IDO role

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