HSV1 glycoprotein D utilizes an LY6-like binding domain to inhibit alpha7 nicotinic receptors

Abstract Herpes virus1(HSV1) is a neurotropic virus that has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. An In-silico structural homology search using α -Bgtx, identified structural homology between HSV1 gD and the nicotinic receptor neurotoxin α-Bgtx. SPR binding studies using acetylcholine binding protein...

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Main Authors: Sabina Yeasmin, Kavita Sharma, Christopher Nicolet, Laura DeCristofano, Yeganeh Ataian, Arina Ranjit, Ali Aghazadeh-Habashi, Dong Xu, Marvin Schulte
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:npj Viruses
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00109-w
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author Sabina Yeasmin
Kavita Sharma
Christopher Nicolet
Laura DeCristofano
Yeganeh Ataian
Arina Ranjit
Ali Aghazadeh-Habashi
Dong Xu
Marvin Schulte
author_facet Sabina Yeasmin
Kavita Sharma
Christopher Nicolet
Laura DeCristofano
Yeganeh Ataian
Arina Ranjit
Ali Aghazadeh-Habashi
Dong Xu
Marvin Schulte
author_sort Sabina Yeasmin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Herpes virus1(HSV1) is a neurotropic virus that has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. An In-silico structural homology search using α -Bgtx, identified structural homology between HSV1 gD and the nicotinic receptor neurotoxin α-Bgtx. SPR binding studies using acetylcholine binding protein from Lymnaea stagnalis, and functional two electrode voltage clamp studies of α7 nAChRs demonstrate the ability of HSV1 to interact directly with nAChRs. Molecular docking studies support the binding of a neurotoxin-like binding loop in HSV1 to a binding site similar to the neurotoxin binding domain. Interaction of HSV1 with nAChRs provides novel insights into a potential mechanism of action of HSV and its potential role in Alzheimer’s disease.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2948-1767
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Viruses
spelling doaj-art-33191f5d72ad4401b5aaf8a95045fa8f2025-08-20T03:24:22ZengNature Portfolionpj Viruses2948-17672025-06-013111310.1038/s44298-025-00109-wHSV1 glycoprotein D utilizes an LY6-like binding domain to inhibit alpha7 nicotinic receptorsSabina Yeasmin0Kavita Sharma1Christopher Nicolet2Laura DeCristofano3Yeganeh Ataian4Arina Ranjit5Ali Aghazadeh-Habashi6Dong Xu7Marvin Schulte8Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Idaho State UniversityDepartment of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Idaho State UniversityDepartment of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Idaho State UniversityDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saint Joseph’s UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska FairbanksDepartment of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Idaho State UniversityDepartment of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Idaho State UniversityDepartment of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Idaho State UniversityDepartment of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Idaho State UniversityAbstract Herpes virus1(HSV1) is a neurotropic virus that has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. An In-silico structural homology search using α -Bgtx, identified structural homology between HSV1 gD and the nicotinic receptor neurotoxin α-Bgtx. SPR binding studies using acetylcholine binding protein from Lymnaea stagnalis, and functional two electrode voltage clamp studies of α7 nAChRs demonstrate the ability of HSV1 to interact directly with nAChRs. Molecular docking studies support the binding of a neurotoxin-like binding loop in HSV1 to a binding site similar to the neurotoxin binding domain. Interaction of HSV1 with nAChRs provides novel insights into a potential mechanism of action of HSV and its potential role in Alzheimer’s disease.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00109-w
spellingShingle Sabina Yeasmin
Kavita Sharma
Christopher Nicolet
Laura DeCristofano
Yeganeh Ataian
Arina Ranjit
Ali Aghazadeh-Habashi
Dong Xu
Marvin Schulte
HSV1 glycoprotein D utilizes an LY6-like binding domain to inhibit alpha7 nicotinic receptors
npj Viruses
title HSV1 glycoprotein D utilizes an LY6-like binding domain to inhibit alpha7 nicotinic receptors
title_full HSV1 glycoprotein D utilizes an LY6-like binding domain to inhibit alpha7 nicotinic receptors
title_fullStr HSV1 glycoprotein D utilizes an LY6-like binding domain to inhibit alpha7 nicotinic receptors
title_full_unstemmed HSV1 glycoprotein D utilizes an LY6-like binding domain to inhibit alpha7 nicotinic receptors
title_short HSV1 glycoprotein D utilizes an LY6-like binding domain to inhibit alpha7 nicotinic receptors
title_sort hsv1 glycoprotein d utilizes an ly6 like binding domain to inhibit alpha7 nicotinic receptors
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44298-025-00109-w
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