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. 2020 Dec 24;2(1):33–42. doi: 10.1016/j.xfss.2020.12.005

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Role of ACE2 and CD147 receptors and TMPRSS2 and CTSL proteases in SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells. The primary pathway of SARS-CoV-2 to enter host cells is by S protein binding to the ACE2 receptors, which leads to either cell membrane fusion and release of the viral genome if activated by TMPRSS2 or endocytic uptake of the virus. CD147 is another host cell receptor that can be recognized by the SARS-S protein, which facilitates viral entry through endocytosis. After viral entry into the host cells via an endosome, viral RNA is released into the cytoplasm because of pH-dependent cleavage by CTSL and start encoding viral protein. Figure adapted from Heurich et al (2014) and Aguiar et al (2020). ACE2 = angiotensin 1-converting enzyme 2; CTSL = cathepsin L; S = spike; SARS-CoV-2 = severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; TMPRSS2 = transmembrane serine protease 2.