Fig. 6. Proposed model of fusion inhibition by [SARSHRC-PEG4]2-chol.
(A) Model of interaction between SARS-CoV-2 prefusion S on the viral envelope and hACE2 on the host cell membrane. After detachment of S1, S2 unfolds and inserts into the host membrane. Refolding of S2 to a postfusion state leads to membrane fusion. (B) Model of antiviral lipopeptide mechanism with the lipopeptide anchored into the host membrane and binding the HRN region of S2, perturbing the final conformational changes of S2 intermediates and preventing membrane fusion.