Recently, the outbreak of a pandemic due to a new virus strain designated as SARS-CoV-2 has created a menace in the entire world with an alarming rate of deaths. Coronaviruses that belong to the family Coronaviridae significantly deteriorate human health. The virus shows an aggressive and rapid airborne transmission from an infected individual typically through coughing, sneezing, or talking. The spike glycoprotein (S protein) consists of a receptor-binding domain (RBD) that assists in host entry where it binds with the cellular receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). ACE2 protein is distributed in the human body and is mainly present in the epithelial cells of the lung, enterocytes of the small intestine, and endothelial cells of the heart. Curcumin a polyphenol- extracted from the spice turmeric has ant-viral, anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin binds the interface of ‘RBD/ACE2-complex’ and intervenes in causing fluctuation of the alpha-helices and beta-strands of the protein complex.We recognized the potential of curcumin and its synthetically modified derivatives for showing inhibition by interfering with the binding of the RBD and ACE2.
Work in our groups has focused on the synthesis of stable and highly soluble glycosylated curcumin derivatives and using them to study their effect on the strength of the binding interactions between the membrane proteins linked COVID-19 and the interaction of membrane proteins with the LPS linked with inflammatory conditions such as sepsis. This poster will center on measuring the change in the binding forces of ACE2 and S-protein in the presence of varying concentrations of curcumin derivatives.

Glycosylated derivatives of curcumin

Eike Bauer

Appearances