The role of furin cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-mediated membrane fusion in the presence or absence of trypsin
Shuai Xia, Qiaoshuai Lan, Shan Su, Xinling Wang, Wei Xu, Zezhong Liu, Yun Zhu, Qian Wang, Lu Lu, Shibo Jiang
Abstract
Dear Editor, The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 (also known as 2019-nCoV and HCoV-191), a novel lineage B betacoronavirus (βCoV), has caused a global pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It has been speculated that RRAR, a unique furin-like cleavage site (FCS) in the spike protein (S), which is absent in other lineage B βCoVs, such as SARS-CoV, is responsible for its high infectivity and transmissibility.2
Topics & Concepts
FurinCoronavirusCleavage (geology)VirologyInfectivitySevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)BetacoronavirusBiologyLineage (genetic)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakLipid bilayer fusionCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)VirusMedicineGeneticsBiochemistryEnzymeInfectious disease (medical specialty)GeneDiseaseOutbreakFracture (geology)PaleontologyPathologySARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchAnimal Virus Infections StudiesViral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology