title: Implication of proprotein convertases in the processing and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the etiological agent of SARS. Analysis of SARS-CoV spike glycoprotein (S) using recombinant plasmid and virus infections demonstrated that the S-precursor (proS) exists as a approximately 190 kDa endoplasmic reticulum form and a approximately 210 kDa Golgi-modified form. ProS is subsequently processed into two C-terminal proteins of approximately 110 and approximately 80 kDa. The membrane-bound proprotein convertases (PCs) furin, PC7 or PC5B enhanced the production of the approximately 80 kDa protein. In agreement, proS processing, cytopathic effects, and viral titers were enhanced in recombinant Vero E6 cells overexpressing furin, PC7 or PC5B. The convertase inhibitor dec-RVKR-cmk significantly reduced proS cleavage and viral titers of SARS-CoV infected cells. In addition, inhibition of processing by dec-RVKR-cmk completely abrogated the virus-induced cellular cytopathicity. A fluorogenically quenched synthetic peptide encompassing Arg(761) of the spike glycoprotein was efficiently cleaved by furin and the cleavage was inhibited by EDTA and dec-RVKR-cmk. Taken together, our data indicate that furin or PC-mediated processing plays a critical role in SARS-CoV spread and cytopathicity, and inhibitors of the PCs represent potential therapeutic anti-SARS-CoV agents.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada H2W 1R7.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wickham
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamelin
authors.forename: Ajoy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basak
authors.forename: Stuart T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Nichol
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chrétien
authors.forename: Nabil G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Seidah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D045683:Furin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D045702:Proprotein Convertase 5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043484:Proprotein Convertases / Q000378:metabolism*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000635:transmission; D013381:Subtilisins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D045702:Proprotein Convertase 5; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D013381:Subtilisins; C107583:proprotein convertase PC7; D045683:Furin