Transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2 implicated in SARS-CoV-2 infection is autoactivated intracellularly and requires N-glycosylation for regulation.

ABSTRACT: Transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) is a membrane-bound protease expressed in many human epithelial tissues, including the airway and lung. TMPRSS2-mediated cleavage of viral spike protein is a key mechanism in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 activation and host cell entry. To date, the cellular mechanisms that regulate TMPRSS2 activity and cell surface expression are not fully characterized. In this study, we examined two major post-translational events, zymogen activation and N-glycosylation, in human TMPRSS2. In experiments with human embryonic kidney 293, bronchial epithelial 16HBE, and lung alveolar epithelial A549 cells, we found that TMPRSS2 was activated via intracellular autocatalysis and that this process was blocked in the presence of hepatocyte growth fact

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9598255 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature