Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39747000›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Probing SARS-CoV-2 membrane binding peptide via single-molecule AFM-based force spectroscopy.

Qingrong Zhang, Raissa S L Rosa, Ankita Ray, Kimberley Durlet, Gol Mohammad Dorrazehi, Rafael C Bernardi, David Alsteens

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Switching Spike Plasticity Shapes ACE2 Engagement Across SARS-CoV-2 Variants.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Article
  2. Glycans Modulate the Adsorption of RBD Glycoproteins on Polarizable Surfaces.Journal of chemical information and modeling · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. UltrastrongScience advances · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Qingrong ZhangLouvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du sud 4-5, L7.07.07, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Raissa S L RosaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Ankita RayLouvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du sud 4-5, L7.07.07, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-5059-9598
Kimberley DurletLouvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du sud 4-5, L7.07.07, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Gol Mohammad DorrazehiLouvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du sud 4-5, L7.07.07, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-5258-543X
Rafael C BernardiDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. rcbernardi@auburn.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-0758-2026
David AlsteensLouvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du sud 4-5, L7.07.07, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. david.alsteens@uclouvain.be.ORCID 0000-0001-9229-113X

Funding

EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council) 101088316Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS (Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research) CR-2019S-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein's membrane-binding domain bridges the viral and host cell membrane, a critical step in triggering membrane fusion. Here, we investigate how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacts with host cell membranes, focusing on a membrane-binding peptide (MBP) located near the TMPRSS2 cleavage site. Through in vitro and computational studies, we examine both primed (TMPRSS2-cleaved) and unprimed versions of the MBP, as well as the influence of its conserved disulfide bridge on membrane binding. Our results show that the MBP preferentially associates with cholesterol-rich membranes, and we find that cholesterol depletion significantly reduces viral infectivity. Furthermore, we observe that the disulfide bridge stabilizes the MBP's interaction with the membrane, suggesting a structural role in viral entry. Together, these findings highlight the importance of membrane composition and peptide structure in SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and suggest that targeting the disulfide bridge could provide a therapeutic strategy against infection.

Indexed as

Cell MembraneCholesterolMicroscopy, Atomic ForceProtein BindingSARS-CoV-2Spike Glycoprotein, CoronavirusCOVID-19DisulfidesHumansPeptidesSerine EndopeptidasesSingle Molecule ImagingVirus InternalizationCholesterolDisulfidesPeptidesSerine EndopeptidasesSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike protein, SARS-CoV-2TMPRSS2 protein, human

Identifiers

PMID39747000
PMCPMC11696146

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.