biostudies-literatureRaghuvamsi PVNational University of SingaporeA*STAR Bioinformatics InstituteMinistry of Education - SingaporeNational Medical Research Councile63646https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7932696biostudies-literatureUnknown10The spike (S) protein is the main handle for SARS-CoV-2 to enter host cells via surface angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. How ACE2 binding activates proteolysis of S protein is unknown. Here, using amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulations, we have mapped the S:ACE2 interaction interface and uncovered long-range allosteric propagation of ACE2 binding to sites necessary for host-mediated proteolysis of S protein, critical for viral host entry. Unexpectedly, ACE2 binding enhances dynamics at a distal S1/S2 cleavage site and flanking protease docking site ~27 Å away while dampening dynamics of the stalk hinge (central helix and heptad repeat [HR]) regions ~130 Å away. This highlights that the stalk and proteolysis sites of the S protein are dynamic hotspots in the prefusion state. Our findings provide a dynamics map of the S:ACE2 interface in solution and also offer mechanistic insights into how ACE2 binding is allosterically coupled to distal proteolytic processing sites and viral-host membrane fusion. Thus, protease docking sites flanking the S1/S2 cleavage site represent alternate allosteric hotspot targets for potential therapeutic development.eLifeSARS-CoV-2 S protein:ACE2 interaction reveals novel allosteric targets.PMC7932696WBS#R-571-000-081-213 Establishment of assays for drug screening and virus characterization of the newly emerged novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) which is also known as the Wuhan coronavirusMOE2017-T2-A40-112Qian XKozma MMMacAry PAHwa WYBond PJRaghuvamsi PVPurushotorman KLescar JAnand GSSamsudin FYue GTulsian NKfalseSARS-CoV-2 S protein:ACE2 interaction reveals novel allosteric targets.The spike (S) protein is the main handle for SARS-CoV-2 to enter host cells via surface angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. How ACE2 binding activates proteolysis of S protein is unknown. Here, using amide hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulations, we have mapped the S:ACE2 interaction interface and uncovered long-range allosteric propagation of ACE2 binding to sites necessary for host-mediated proteolysis of S protein, critical for viral host entry. Unexpectedly, ACE2 binding enhances dynamics at a distal S1/S2 cleavage site and flanking protease docking site ~27 Å away while dampening dynamics of the stalk hinge (central helix and heptad repeat [HR]) regions ~130 Å away. This highlights that the stalk and proteolysis sites of the S protein are dynamic hotspots in the prefusion state. Our findings provide a dynamics map of the S:ACE2 interface in solution and also offer mechanistic insights into how ACE2 binding is allosterically coupled to distal proteolytic processing sites and viral-host membrane fusion. Thus, protease docking sites flanking the S1/S2 cleavage site represent alternate allosteric hotspot targets for potential therapeutic development.2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Feb2024-10-14T19:27:45.652Z2021-03-12T08:17:45ZS-EPMC79326963355485610.7554/eLife.63646