Spike glycoprotein

UniProtKB accession:  Q6Q1S2

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UniProtKB description:  S1 region attaches the virion to the cell membrane by interacting with host ACE2, initiating the infection (PubMed:15897467, PubMed:19901337, PubMed:29142129). Binding to the receptor probably induces conformational changes in the S glycoprotein unmasking the fusion peptide and activating membranes fusion. S2 region belongs to the class I viral fusion protein. Under the current model, the protein has at least 3 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) regions 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.