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 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. As new variants emerge, it is pivotal to evaluate their transmissibility, virulence and their possible tendency to escape antibody neutralization (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.