SARS-CoV-2 virion components and host cell surface receptors

The SARS-CoV-2 virion components and host cell surface biomolecules represent a complex interface of viral and human proteins essential for the initiation of COVID-19. The primary viral component is the Spike (S) protein, a trimeric glycoprotein that mediates host cell recognition and membrane fusion [1]. This process is initiated by the binding of the Spike protein's receptor-binding domain (RBD) to the human Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor [2]. Following attachment, host cell surface proteases, most notably Transmembrane Protease Serine 2 (TMPRSS2), prime the Spike protein to facilitate viral-host membrane fusion [1]. Other virion components, such as the Envelope (E), Membrane (M), and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins, play critical roles in viral assembly, budding, and genomic packaging [3]. Therapeutic interventions targeting this interface include monoclonal antibodies designed to neutralize the Spike protein and small molecule inhibitors targeting host proteases or the ACE2 interaction [4]. This aggregate target is central to vaccine development and the prevention of viral entry into respiratory epithelial cells [5]. Citations: [1] Hoffmann M, et al. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Cell. [2] Lan J, et al. (2020). Structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain bound to the ACE2 receptor. Nature. [3] Hu B, et al. (2021). Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Nature Reviews Microbiology. [4] NIH (2023). COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines: Therapeutic Management of Nonhospitalized Adults With COVID-19. [5] V'kovski P, et al. (2021). Coronavirus biology and replication: implications for SARS-CoV-2. Nature Reviews Microbiology.

Other names

SARS-CoV-2 structural proteinsCOVID-19 viral-host interfaceSARS-CoV-2 entry factorsSARS-CoV-2 virion-host interactome

Viral entry inhibition, viral neutralization, protease inhibition, and competitive binding to host receptors.