@article{0504492b026d4fbc8d51aabe47c4d935,
title = "The Importance of Lipid Conjugation on Anti-Fusion Peptides against Nipah Virus",
abstract = "Nipah virus (NiV) is a recently emerging zoonotic virus that belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and the Henipavirus genus. It causes a range of conditions, from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The high mortality rate of 40 to 90% ranks these viruses among the deadliest viruses known to infect humans. Currently, there is no antiviral drug available for Nipah virus disease and treatment is only supportive. Thus, there is an urgent demand for efficient antiviral therapies. NiV F protein, which catalyzes fusion between the viral and host membranes, is a potential target for antiviral drugs, as it is a key protein in the initial stages of infection. Fusion inhibitor peptides derived from the HRC-domain of the F protein are known to bind to their complementary domain in the protein{\textquoteright}s transient intermediate state, preventing the formation of a six-helix bundle (6HB) thought to be responsible for driving the fusion of the viral and cell membranes. Here, we evaluated the biophysical and structural properties of four different C-terminal lipid-tagged peptides. Different compositions of the lipid tags were tested to search for properties that might promote efficacy and broad-spectrum activity. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study the interaction of the peptides with biomembrane model systems and human blood cells. In order to understand the structural properties of the peptides, circular dichroism measurements and molecular dynamics simulations were performed. Our results indicate a peptide preference for cholesterol-enriched membranes and a lipid conjugation-driven stabilization of the peptide α-helical secondary structure. This work may contribute for the development of highly effective viral fusion against NiV inhibitors.",
keywords = "antivirals, fusion inhibitors, lipid conjugation, Nipah virus, peptides",
author = "Marques, {Marta C.} and Diana Lousa and Silva, {Patr{\'i}cia M.} and Faustino, {Andr{\'e} F.} and Soares, {Cl{\'a}udio M.} and Santos, {Nuno C.}",
note = "Funding Information: Funding: This work was financially supported by Funda{\c c}{\~a}o para a Ci{\^e}ncia e a Tecnologia—Minist{\'e}rio da Ci{\^e}ncia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (FCT-MCTES, Portugal), through projects PTDC/BBB-BQB/3494/2014, PTDC/QUI-BIQ/114774/2009, PTDC/CCI-BIO/28200/2017 and Pest-OE/EQB/ LA0004/2011, and by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), project R01AI114736, lead by Anne Moscona (Columbia University Medical Center, NY, USA). This work was also financially supported by Project LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007660 (Microbi-ologia Molecular, Estrutural e Celular) funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE2020-Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionaliza{\c c}{\~a}o (POCI) and by national funds through FCT-MCTES. MCM, PMS and DL were supported by FCT-MCTES fellowships SFRH/BPD/118731/2016, SFRH/BD/118413/2016 and SFRH/BPD/92537/2013, respectively. Funding Information: This work was financially supported by Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia?Minist?rio da Ci?ncia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (FCT-MCTES, Portugal), through projects PTDC/BBB-BQB/3494/2014, PTDC/QUI-BIQ/114774/2009, PTDC/CCI-BIO/28200/2017 and Pest-OE/EQB/ LA0004/2011, and by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), project R01AI114736, lead by Anne Moscona (Columbia University Medical Center, NY, USA). This work was also financially supported by Project LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007660 (Microbiologia Molecular, Estrutural e Celular) funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE2020-Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionaliza??o (POCI) and by national funds through FCT-MCTES. MCM, PMS and DL were supported by FCT-MCTES fellowships SFRH/BPD/118731/2016, SFRH/BD/118413/2016 and SFRH/BPD/92537/2013, respectively. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",
year = "2022",
month = mar,
doi = "10.3390/biomedicines10030703",
language = "English",
volume = "10",
journal = "Biomedicines",
issn = "2227-9059",
publisher = "MDPI AG",
number = "3",
}