SARS-CoV-2 spike protein fusion transformation

This page is under construction starting August 3, 2020.

The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 plays a central role in coronavirus attachment to the ACE2 receptor on host cells, and in getting the RNA genome of the virus into the host cell via fusion of the virus and host cell membranes, initiating infection.

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein undergoes a dramatic conformational rearrangement that is believed to play a central role in fusing the coronavirus membrane with the host cell membrane^[1]. Similar conformational transformations have been observed for the spike protein of SARS-CoV and mouse hepatitis virus. These rearrangements also have much in common with the membrane fusion mechansism of influenza hemagglutinin.

ReferencesReferences

↑ Cai Y, Zhang J, Xiao T, Peng H, Sterling SM, Walsh RM Jr, Rawson S, Rits-Volloch S, Chen B. Distinct conformational states of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Science. 2020 Jul 21. pii: science.abd4251. doi: 10.1126/science.abd4251. PMID:32694201 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abd4251

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Eric Martz, Karsten Theis

[cai-zheng-1] Cai Y, Zhang J, Xiao T, Peng H, Sterling SM, Walsh RM Jr, Rawson S, Rits-Volloch S, Chen B. Distinct conformational states of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Science. 2020 Jul 21. pii: science.abd4251. doi: 10.1126/science.abd4251. PMID:32694201 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abd4251

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