Mechanical activation of spike fosters SARS-CoV-2 viral infection

• Published in: Cell research Vol. 31; no. 10; pp. 1047 - 1060
• Main Authors: Hu, Wei, Zhang, Yong, Fei, Panyu, Zhang, Tongtong, Yao, Danmei, Gao, Yufei, Liu, Jia, Chen, Hui, Lu, Qiao, Mudianto, Tenny, Zhang, Xinrui, Xiao, Chuxuan, Ye, Yang, Sun, Qiming, Zhang, Jing, Xie, Qi, Wang, Pei-Hui, Wang, Jun, Li, Zhenhai, Lou, Jizhong, Chen, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.10.2021; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/337; 631/535; ACE2; Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 - chemistry; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 - metabolism; Antibodies; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Binding; Binding Sites; Biomechanics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Blocking antibodies; Cell Biology; Cell membranes; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - therapy; COVID-19 - virology; COVID-19 Serotherapy; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Immunization, Passive; Life Sciences; Locking; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Pandemics; Protein Binding; Protein Domains - immunology; Protein Subunits - chemistry; Protein Subunits - immunology; Protein Subunits - metabolism; Receptors; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; SARS-CoV-2 - metabolism; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - chemistry; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - immunology; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - metabolism; Spike protein; Tensile Strength; Viral diseases; Viral infections; Virus Internalization

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (SARS2) has caused a global COVID-19 pandemic. The spike protein of SARS2 (SARS2-S) recognizes host receptors, including ACE2, to initiate viral entry in a complex biomechanical environment. Here, we reveal that tensile force, generated by bending of the host cell membrane...