Homology analysis of ACE2 among different species and its implications for the host range of 2019-nCoV

ABSTRACT

In order to explore the possibility of cross-species transmission of 2019-nCoV between human and animals, the homology of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)receptor among different species were analyzed. The amino acid sequences of ACE2 in different species were downloaded from NCBI and analyzed by BLAST, iTOL and MEGA 7 software. The results showed that the full-length amino acid sequence of ACE2 (1-805) was highly homologous in mammals, especially in non-human primates. Comparing with the full-length amino acid sequence of ACE2, the recognition rate with ACE2-PD of human (peptidase domain 19-615, which binds to the S protein of 2019-nCoV) was further improved in cats and ruminants, while bats was declined. Alignment of 20 key amino acids (interface amino acids) directly interacting with S protein in ACE2 protein showed that the interface amino acid sequence of rhesus monkey was identical to that of human, while that of ruminants (cattle, sheep) and cats was similar to that of human. In conclusion, the primates can be used as good animal infection models, ruminants (cattle, sheep) and cats may also be potentially infected with 2019-nCoV. Therefore. It suggest that the etiological and serological detection of 2019-nCoV among animals should be actively promoted.