时　间：2020年9月15日上午08:00

地　点：高等研究院530会议室

报告人：尚剑，美国明尼苏达大学，博士后

报告题目：Receptor recognition and cell entry of SARS-CoV-2

报告简介：

A novel severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) recently emerged and is rapidly spreading in humans, causing COVID-19. A key to tackle this pandemic is to understand the receptor recognition and cell entry mechanism of the virus. Based on the crystal structure of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in complex with ACE2 and biochemical assays, we identified key receptor recognition and cell entry mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 that potentially contribute to the immune evasion, cell infectivity, and wide spread of the virus. First, SARS-CoV-2 RBD has higher hACE2 binding affinity than SARS-CoV RBD, supporting efficient cell entry. Second, paradoxically, the hACE2 binding affinity of the entire SARS-CoV-2 spike is comparable to or lower than that of SARS-CoV spike, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 RBD, albeit more potent, is less exposed than SARS-CoV RBD. Third, unlike SARS-CoV, cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 is preactivated by proprotein convertase furin, reducing its dependence on target cell proteases for entry. These features may contribute to the wide spread of the virus.