S1 attaches the virion to the cell mbrane by interacting with sialic acid-containing cell receptors, initiating the infection.S2 is a class I viral fusion protein. Under the current model, the protein has at least 3 conformational states: pre-fusion native state, pre-hairpin intermediate state, and post-fusion hairpin state. During viral and target cell mbrane fusion, the coiled coil regions (heptad repeats) assume a trimer-of-hairpins structure, positioning the fusion peptide in close proximity to the C-terminal region of the ectodomain. The formation of this structure appears to drive apposition and subsequent fusion of viral and target cell mbranes.
Complete genomic sequence of human coronavirus OC43 molecular clock analysis suggests a relatively recent zoonotic coronavirus transmission event.Vijgen L., Keyaerts E., Moes E., Thoelen I., Wollants E., Lemey P., Vandamme A.M., Van Ranst M.J. Virol. 79:1595-1604(2005)
Research Topic:Others
