Overview:

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains the most rapidly spreading disease since 2020. The spike glycoprotein (S) of coronavirus, a type I transmembrane protein containing two subunits S1 and S2, facilitates viral genome entry into the host cells through the interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) (1). The current UK variant B.1.1.7 contains 9 out of 23 mutations in the Spike protein. Of the mutations found in the Spike protein of the UK variant, Δ69-70 and D614G have been associated with higher viral infectivity. N501Y is known to increase affinity for ACE2 and P681H mutation found adjacent to the furin cleavage site possibly plays a role in spike protein processing (2,3).

Gene Aliases:

2019-nCoV s1, SARS-CoV-2 spike S1, SARS-CoV-2 S1, novel coronavirus spike s1, nCov spike s1, coronavirus spike S1.

Genbank Number:

MN908947

References:

1. Lan J, et al: Crystal structure of the 2019-nCov spike receptor-binding domain bound with the ACE2 receptor. Nature. 2020, 581:215-220.

2. Tada T, et al: Neutralization of viruses with European, South African, and United States SARS-CoV-2 variant spike proteins by convalescent sera and BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine-elicited antibodies. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.05.430003v1.

3. Korber B, et al: Tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2 Spike: Evidence that D614G increases infectivity of the covid-19 virus. Cell. 2020, 182:812-82.