Molecular Aspects of Spike–ACE2 Interaction

Encyclopedia

Luigi De Masi¹  Angelo Facchiano²  Maria Antonia Argenio²  Deborah Giordano² 

[1] National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), Via Università 133, 80055 Portici, Italy;National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Food Sciences (ISA), Via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy;

关键词: COVID-19;    SARS;    coronavirus;    CoV-1;    CoV-2;    viral spike protein;   

DOI  :  10.3390/encyclopedia2010007

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

A new betacoronavirus (CoV-2) is responsible for the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that began in China at the end of 2019, today known as COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Subsequent studies confirmed the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) as the main cell receptor of spike trimeric glycoprotein, located on the viral envelope, mediating the CoV-2 invasion into the host cells through the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike. Computational analysis of the known experimental 3D structures of spike–ACE2 complexes evidenced distinguishing features in the molecular interactions at the RBD-cell receptor binding interface between CoV-2 and previous CoV-1. The spike represents a key target for drug design as well as an optimal antigen for RNA/viral vector vaccines and monoclonal antibodies in order to maximize prevention and therapy of COVID-19.

【 授权许可】

Unknown