生物技术通报 ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 121-135.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0826

• 综述与专论 • 上一篇    下一篇

宿主蛋白酶与冠状病毒入侵:从S蛋白裂解机制到蛋白酶抑制剂的开发应用

姜逸1(), 高明燕1, 张笛1, 付立霞2, 程旭1, 陈祥3, 龚建森1, 张莹1, 杨亲1, 俞燕1()   

  1. 1.江苏省家禽科学研究所,扬州 225125
    2.扬州大学动物科学与技术学院,扬州 225009
    3.扬州大学江苏省人兽共患病学重点实验室,扬州 225009
  • 收稿日期:2025-07-31 出版日期:2026-02-26 发布日期:2026-03-17
  • 通讯作者: 俞燕,女,博士,研究员,研究方向 :病毒病原学、病毒感染与致病机制、疫苗研制;E-mail: yuyan_1020@126.com
  • 作者简介:姜逸,女,博士,副研究员,研究方向 :冠状病毒病原学、致病机制;E-mail: yijiang620@126.com
  • 基金资助:
    江苏省自然科学基金面上项目(BK20241979);江苏省人兽共患病学重点实验室资助项目(R2306)

Host Proteases and Coronavirus Invasion: From S Protein Cleavage Mechanism to Development and Applications of Protease Inhibitor

JIANG Yi1(), GAO Ming-yan1, ZHANG Di1, FU Li-xia2, CHENG Xu1, CHEN Xiang3, GONG Jian-sen1, ZHANG Ying1, YANG Qin1, YU Yan1()   

  1. 1.Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science, Yangzhou 225125
    2.Yangzhou University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou 225009
    3.Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009
  • Received:2025-07-31 Published:2026-02-26 Online:2026-03-17

摘要:

冠状病毒作为一类RNA病毒,其宿主范围广泛,能够有效感染哺乳动物和禽类。该类病毒对宿主细胞的入侵过程与棘突蛋白(spike, S)密切相关。冠状病毒的S蛋白是位于病毒表面的主要糖蛋白,由S1与S2亚基组成,其中S1亚基识别并结合宿主细胞受体,S2亚基在宿主蛋白酶裂解后发生构象重排,从而驱动病毒与细胞膜融合实现入侵。不同冠状病毒S蛋白上存在多个宿主蛋白酶识别的基序,能够被跨膜丝氨酸蛋白酶(transmembrane serine protease 2, TMPRSS2)、弗林蛋白酶(Furin)、组织蛋白酶L/B(cathepsin L/B, CTSL/B)以及胰蛋白酶等识别并发生裂解作用。这些蛋白酶裂解位点的分子特征与激活机制存在差异,并决定了病毒对宿主细胞的入侵途径与感染效率。而不同组织或细胞中的宿主蛋白酶表达水平与活性差异,影响了病毒的组织嗜性与传播途径。针对这些宿主蛋白酶开发的一些蛋白酶抑制剂,能够有效阻断病毒的入侵与传播作用,是目前抗冠状病毒药物研发的重要方向。本文系统总结了相关冠状病毒S蛋白关键裂解位点的分子特征,并探讨了不同宿主蛋白酶的激活机制,阐述了针对这些蛋白酶抑制剂的开发策略及其在抗病毒治疗中的应用前景。本综述拟通过对这一关键机制的探讨与解析,为深入理解冠状病毒致病机制提供理论支持,并为新型抗病毒药物的设计与研发提供科学依据。

关键词: 冠状病毒, S蛋白, 裂解位点, 宿主蛋白酶, 蛋白酶抑制剂

Abstract:

Coronaviruses, a class of RNA viruses, demonstrate a broad host range, infecting various mammals and birds. The process by which these viruses invade host cells is closely associated with the spike (S) protein. This major glycoprotein, located on the surface of the virus, consists of two subunits: S1 and S2. The S1 subunit is responsible for recognizing and binding to the host cell receptor, while the S2 subunit undergoes conformational rearrangement following cleavage by host protease. This rearrangement facilitates the fusion of the virus with cell membrane, thereby enabling invasion. Different coronaviruses feature distinct motifs on their S proteins that serve as recognition sites for various host proteases such as transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), Furin, cathepsin L/B (CTSL/B), and trypsin. The molecular characteristics and activation mechanisms of these protease cleavage sites vary, influencing the virus’s invasion routes and infection efficiency in the host cells. Variations in expressions and activities of host proteases across different tissues or cell types significantly affect the tissue tropism and transmission routes of the virus. Protease inhibitors targeting these host proteases can effectively impede virus invasion and transmission, representing a crucial focus in current anti-coronavirus drug development. This paper systematically reviews the molecular characteristics of key cleavage sites in the S proteins of various coronaviruses, investigates the activation mechanisms of distinct host proteases, and discusses the development strategies for protease inhibitors aimed at these proteases, along with their potential applications in antiviral therapy. By analyzing this critical mechanism, this review aims to offer theoretical support for a deeper comprehension of coronaviruses’ pathogenic mechanisms and to provide a scientific foundation for designing and developing novel antiviral medications.

Key words: coronavirus, S protein, cleavage site, host protease, protease inhibitor