Receptor binding and priming of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 for membrane fusion.

ABSTRACT: Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is initiated by virus binding to the ACE2 cell-surface receptors^1-4, followed by fusion of the virus and cell membranes to release the virus genome into the cell. Both receptor binding and membrane fusion activities are mediated by the virus spike glycoprotein^5-7. As with other class-I membrane-fusion proteins, the spike protein is post-translationally cleaved, in this case by furin, into the S1 and S2 components that remain associated after cleavage^8-10. Fusion activation after receptor binding is proposed to involve the exposure of a second proteolytic site (S2'), cleavage of which is required for the release of the fusion peptide^11,12. Here we analyse the binding of AC

SUBMITTER: Benton DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7116727 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature