qhd43416

Spike protein S1 (residue 14-685): attaches the virion to the cell membrane by interacting with host receptor, initiating the infection. Binding to human ACE2 and CLEC4M/DC-SIGNR receptors and internalization of the virus into the endosomes of the host cell induces conformational changes in the S glycoprotein. Proteolysis by cathepsin CTSL may unmask the fusion peptide of S2 and activate membranes fusion within endosomes. Spike protein S2 (residue 686-1273): mediates fusion of the virion and cellular membranes by acting as a class I viral fusion protein. Under the current model, the protein has at least three conformational states: pre-fusion native state, pre-hairpin intermediate state, and post-fusion hairpin state. During viral and target cell membrane fusion, the coiled coil regions (heptad repeats) assume a trimer-of-hairpins structure, positioning the fusion peptide in close proximity to the C-terminal region of the ectodomain. The formation of this structure appears to drive apposition and subsequent fusion of viral and target cell membranes. Spike protein S2' (residue 816-1273): acts as a viral fusion peptide which is unmasked following S2 cleavage occurring upon virus endocytosis.