Cryptococcal Protease(s) and the Activation of SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) Protein.
Cells
; 11(3)2022 01 27.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1662647
ABSTRACT
In this contribution, we report on the possibility that cryptococcal protease(s) could activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. The S protein is documented to have a unique four-amino-acid sequence (underlined, SPRRAR↓S) at the interface between the S1 and S2 sites, that serves as a cleavage site for the human protease, furin. We compared the biochemical efficiency of cryptococcal protease(s) and furin to mediate the proteolytic cleavage of the S1/S2 site in a fluorogenic peptide. We show that cryptococcal protease(s) processes this site in a manner comparable to the efficiency of furin (p > 0.581). We conclude the paper by discussing the impact of these findings in the context of a SARS-CoV-2 disease manifesting while there is an underlying cryptococcal infection.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Bacterial Proteins
/
Cryptococcus neoformans
/
Aspartic Acid Proteases
/
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
/
SARS-CoV-2
Type of study:
Observational study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Cells11030437
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