The schematic shows how the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is activated. (IMAGE)
Caption
(A) Schematic representation of SARS-CoV-2, the viral spike protein and the cleavage sites for furin (green, S1/S2 position; the cleavage sequence is shown below the protein structure) and TMPRSS2 (orange, S2' position). (B) First, in already infected cells, the enzyme furin cuts the spike protein at the S1/S2 site. The spike protein then mediates viral attachment to a new host cell. In order to efficiently enter the cell, the spike protein still needs to be activated by the enzyme TMPRSS2. Activation by TMPRSS2 is only possible if the spike protein has previously been cleaved by furin.
Credit
Figure: Markus Hoffmann
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