2. Academic Validation
  3. RNA G-quadruplex in TMPRSS2 reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection

RNA G-quadruplex in TMPRSS2 reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection

  • Nat Commun. 2022 Mar 17;13(1):1444. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-29135-5.
Geng Liu  # 1,  Wenya Du  # 1,  Xiongbo Sang 1,  Qiyu Tong 1,  Ye Wang 2,  Guoqing Chen 3,  Yi Yuan 4,  Lili Jiang 5,  Wei Cheng 3,  Dan Liu 2,  Yan Tian 1,  Xianghui Fu 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
  • 2 Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
  • 3 Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
  • 4 Natural Products Research Center, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
  • 5 Lab of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
  • 6 Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China. xfu@scu.edu.cn.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 35301316 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29135-5
Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection continues to have devastating consequences worldwide. Recently, great efforts have been made to identify SARS-CoV-2 host factors, but the regulatory mechanisms of these host molecules, as well as the virus per se, remain elusive. Here we report a role of RNA G-quadruplex (RG4) in SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Combining bioinformatics, biochemical and biophysical assays, we demonstrate the presence of RG4s in both SARS-CoV-2 genome and host factors. The biological and pathological importance of these RG4s is then exemplified by a canonical 3-quartet RG4 within Tmprss2, which can inhibit Tmprss2 translation and prevent SARS-CoV-2 entry. Intriguingly, G-quadruplex (G4)-specific stabilizers attenuate SARS-CoV-2 Infection in pseudovirus cell systems and mouse models. Consistently, the protein level of TMPRSS2 is increased in lungs of COVID-19 patients. Our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism underlying SARS-CoV-2 Infection and suggest RG4 as a potential target for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.

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