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Glycans on SARS-CoV-2 may help the virus infect cells – Chemical & Engineering News
Atomic-resolution simulations combined with experiments show sugars’ role in shielding the virus and helping it to attack cells
Researchers have created the most complete atomic-level simulation to date of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which the virus uses to enter host cells. The model reveals that the glycans dont just camouflage the virus from the host immune system, as sugars on proteins are known to do. The glycans on SARS-CoV-2 also help the spike protein take on the conformation that equips it to infect cells (ACS Cent. Sci. 2020, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c01056).
We have an atomic-level model of a fully glycosyl…
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