An inimitable proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin-9 (PCSK9) cleavage site VFAQ on Spike protein along with furin cleavage site makes SARS-CoV-2 unique

Abstract

A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that affects humans has been discovered in Wuhan, China, in 2019. Its genome has been sequenced, and the genetic data was quickly made public. We discovered a novel proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin-9 (PCSK9) cleavage site in the Spike protein of the 2019-nCoV. The recent research also demonstrates that the previously found proprotein convertase 3 (PC3) or furin cleavage site, which was assumed to be unique, is already present in animal corona viruses. In this article, we suggest that the combination of the both proprotein convertase PC3 cleavage site and the PCSK9 site renders SARS-CoV-2 unique in terms of the pathogenicity, potential functional effects, and implications for the development of antiviral drugs.