We exploited a multi-scale microscopy imaging toolbox to address some major issues related to SARS-CoV-2 interactions with host cells. Our approach harnesses both conventional and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and easily matches the spatial scale of single-virus/cell checkpoints. After its validation through the characterization of infected cells and virus morphology, we leveraged this toolbox to reveal subtle issues related to the entry phase of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Vero E6 cells. Our results show that in Vero E6 cells the B.1.1.7 strain (aka Alpha Variant of Concern) is associated with much faster kinetics of endocytic uptake compared to its ancestor B.1.177. Given the cell-entry scenario dominated by the endosomal "late pathway", the faster internalization of B.1.1.7 could be directly related to the N501Y mutation in the S protein, which is known to strengthen the binding of Spike receptor binding domain with ACE2. Remarkably, we also directly observed the central role of clathrin as a mediator of endocytosis in the late pathway of entry. In keeping with the clathrin-mediated endocytosis, we highlighted the non-raft membrane localization of ACE2. Overall, we believe that our fluorescence microscopy-based approach represents a fertile strategy to investigate the molecular features of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with cells. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Research Network of Computational and Structural Biotechnology.

A spatial multi-scale fluorescence microscopy toolbox discloses entry checkpoints of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Vero E6 cells / Storti, Barbara; Quaranta, Paola; Di Primio, Cristina; Clementi, Nicola; Mancini, Nicasio; Criscuolo, Elena; Spezia, Pietro Giorgio; Carnicelli, Vittoria; Lottini, Giulia; Paolini, Emanuele; Freer, Giulia; Lai, Michele; Costa, Mario; Beltram, Fabio; Diaspro, Alberto; Pistello, Mauro; Zucchi, Riccardo; Bianchini, Paolo; Signore, Giovanni; Bizzarri, Ranieri. - In: COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL. - ISSN 2001-0370. - 19:(2021), pp. 6140-6156. [10.1016/j.csbj.2021.10.038]

A spatial multi-scale fluorescence microscopy toolbox discloses entry checkpoints of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Vero E6 cells

Clementi, Nicola;Mancini, Nicasio;Criscuolo, Elena;
2021-01-01

Abstract

We exploited a multi-scale microscopy imaging toolbox to address some major issues related to SARS-CoV-2 interactions with host cells. Our approach harnesses both conventional and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and easily matches the spatial scale of single-virus/cell checkpoints. After its validation through the characterization of infected cells and virus morphology, we leveraged this toolbox to reveal subtle issues related to the entry phase of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Vero E6 cells. Our results show that in Vero E6 cells the B.1.1.7 strain (aka Alpha Variant of Concern) is associated with much faster kinetics of endocytic uptake compared to its ancestor B.1.177. Given the cell-entry scenario dominated by the endosomal "late pathway", the faster internalization of B.1.1.7 could be directly related to the N501Y mutation in the S protein, which is known to strengthen the binding of Spike receptor binding domain with ACE2. Remarkably, we also directly observed the central role of clathrin as a mediator of endocytosis in the late pathway of entry. In keeping with the clathrin-mediated endocytosis, we highlighted the non-raft membrane localization of ACE2. Overall, we believe that our fluorescence microscopy-based approach represents a fertile strategy to investigate the molecular features of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with cells. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Research Network of Computational and Structural Biotechnology.
2021
ACE2, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
B.1.1.7 variant of concern
Clathrin
ISM, Image Scanning Microscopy
Late entry
SARS-CoV-2 spike
SMLM, Single Molecule Localization Microscopy
STED
STED, STimulated Emission Depletion
STORM, STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy
TIRF, Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence
TMPRSS2, TransMembrane PRoteaSe Serine 2
dSTORM
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11768/131792
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