Spike Antibody [DyLight 488]

The Coronavirus Spike protein (S Protein) is one of four major structural proteins (S, M, E, N) present in each viral particle. Spike proteins are abundantly expressed on the surface forming its characteristic crown-like halo structure. The Spike protein is a highly glycosylated, type I transmembrane protein that plays a critical role in receptor recognition and host cell entry. There are two subunits, S1 and S2, that divide the protein roughly in half. Within the N-terminal S1 subunit is the N-terminal domain and receptor binding domain (Spike RBD protein). The Spike RBD binds to the host cell and undergoes several conformational changes and proteolysis leading to fusion of the virus particle to the host cell membrane allowing transfer of the nucleocapsid into the host cell cytoplasm. For SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spike RBD tightly associates with human ACE-2. Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins and antibodies that recognize these proteins are essential for studying the molecular mechanisms of the coronavirus life cycle.