Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Spike Glycoprotein Receptor Binding Domain (SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD)

The receptor binding domain (RBD) is a critical region within the spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The spike protein is a large, trimeric, type I membrane protein that decorates the surface of the virion and mediates viral entry into host cells. The RBD specifically enables attachment to the host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), initiating infection. Most current vaccines encode stabilized forms of prefusion spike proteins containing intact or modified versions of this domain because blocking its interaction with ACE2 effectively prevents infection initiation. Many therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are also designed to target conserved regions within this domain for broad neutralization potential against variants.

Other names

SARS-CoV-2 RBDSpike RBDRBD

Neutralization of viral entry by blocking ACE2 binding; induction of neutralizing antibodies via vaccination.