Overview:

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has caused the MERS outbreak that first originated in Saudi Arabia, but since has spread to other countries around the world (1). The spike glycoprotein (S) of coronavirus belongs to the type I transmembrane protein containing two subunits (2), S1 and S2, which is known to be the key component to bind with host cells through interaction with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) (3). MERS-CoV can recognize DPP4 through its receptor binding domain (RBD) of S1 to initiate viral infection in humans (2).

Gene Aliases:

MERS coronavirus S1, coronavirus S2, coronavirus spike, cov spike, ncov S1, ncov S2, ncov RBD, Spike RBD, RBD

Genbank Number:

KU696644

References:

1. Mohd H, et al: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) origin and animal reservoir. Viral J. 2016, 13: 87.

2. Lu G, et al: Molecular basis of binding between novel human coronavirus MERS-CoV and its receptor CD26. Nature. 2013, 500: 227-231.

3. Al-Tawfiq et al: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infection. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2014, 185-190.