TMPRSS2 is a functional receptor for human coronavirus HKU1.

ABSTRACT: Four endemic seasonal human coronaviruses causing common colds circulate worldwide: HKU1, 229E, NL63 and OC43 (ref. ¹). After binding to cellular receptors, coronavirus spike proteins are primed for fusion by transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) or endosomal cathepsins^2-9. NL63 uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 as a receptor¹⁰, whereas 229E uses human aminopeptidase-N¹¹. HKU1 and OC43 spikes bind cells through 9-O-acetylated sialic acid, but their protein receptors remain unknown¹². Here we show that TMPRSS2 is a functional receptor for HKU1. TMPRSS2 triggers HKU1 spike-mediated cell-cell fusion and pseudovirus infection. Catalytically inactive TMPRSS2 mutants do not cleave HKU1 spike but allow pseudovirus infection. Furthermor

SUBMITTER: Saunders N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11331971 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature