Host cell proteases: Critical determinants of coronavirus tropism and pathogenesis

• Published in: Virus research Vol. 202; pp. 120 - 134
• Main Authors: Millet, Jean Kaoru, Whittaker, Gary R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 16.04.2015; Elsevier
• Subjects: birds; cathepsins; cell membranes; Cleavage activation; Coronaviridae - pathogenicity; Coronaviridae - physiology; Coronavirus; glycoproteins; host range; Host Specificity; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Life Sciences; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Pathogenesis; pathogenicity; pathogens; Peptide Hydrolases - metabolism; Protease; protein synthesis; Proteolysis; SARS coronavirus; serine; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - metabolism; Spike protein; tissue tropism; Tropism; trypsin; Viral Tropism; Tropism; Coronavirus; Spike protein; Pathogenesis; Protease; Cleavage activation; protease; tropism; pathogenesis; coronavirus; spike protein

•Coronavirus spike proteins can be cleaved by a multitude of host cell proteases.•Proteolytic activation of spike is a crucial step to activate its fusogenicity.•The spike protein can be cleaved at multiple sites.•Modulation of spike cleavage can have profound effects on tropism and pathogenesis. Co...