A comparative study of human betacoronavirus spike proteins: structure, function and therapeutics.

ABSTRACT: Coronaviruses are the paradigm of emerging 21^st century zoonotic viruses, triggering numerous outbreaks and a severe global health crisis. The current COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has affected more than 51 million people across the globe as of 12 November 2020. The crown-like spikes on the surface of the virion are the unique structural feature of viruses in the family Coronaviridae. The spike (S) protein adopts distinct conformations while mediating entry of the virus into the host. This multifunctional protein mediates the entry process by recognizing its receptor on the host cell, followed by the fusion of the viral membrane with the host cell membrane. This review article focuses on the structural and functional comparison of S proteins of the human betacoronavirus

SUBMITTER: Verma J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7821988 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature