Elsevier

Antiviral Research

Volume 176, April 2020, 104742
Antiviral Research

The spike glycoprotein of the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV contains a furin-like cleavage site absent in CoV of the same clade

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104742Get rights and content

Highlights

  • The genomic sequence of 2019-nCoV indicates that the virus clusters with betacoronaviruses of lineage b.

  • 2019-nCoV S-protein sequence has a specific furin-like cleavage site absent in lineage b CoV including SARS-CoV sequences.

  • The furin-like cleavage site in the S-protein of 2019-nCoV may have implications for the viral life cycle and pathogenicity.

  • Campaigns to develop anti-2019-nCoV therapeutics should include the evaluation of furin inhibitors.

Abstract

In 2019, a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infecting Humans has emerged in Wuhan, China. Its genome has been sequenced and the genomic information promptly released. Despite a high similarity with the genome sequence of SARS-CoV and SARS-like CoVs, we identified a peculiar furin-like cleavage site in the Spike protein of the 2019-nCoV, lacking in the other SARS-like CoVs. In this article, we discuss the possible functional consequences of this cleavage site in the viral cycle, pathogenicity and its potential implication in the development of antivirals.

Keywords

2019-nCoV
SARS-CoV
Spike protein
Maturation protease
Furin
Antivirals

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