Research Articles (Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology)

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Browsing Research Articles (Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology) by Author "Gcilitshana, Onele M. N."

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    Cryptococcal protease(s) and the activation of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein
    (MDPI, 2022) Mjokane, Nozethu; Maliehe, Maphori; Folorunso, Olufemi S.; Ogundeji, Adepemi O.; Gcilitshana, Onele M. N.; Albertyn, Jacobus; Pohl, Carolina H.; Sebolai, Olihile M.
    In this contribution, we report on the possibility that cryptococcal protease(s) could activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. The S protein is documented to have a unique four-amino-acid sequence (underlined, SPRRAR|S) at the interface between the S1 and S2 sites, that serves as a cleavage site for the human protease, furin. We compared the biochemical efficiency of cryptococcal protease(s) and furin to mediate the proteolytic cleavage of the S1/S2 site in a fluorogenic peptide. We show that cryptococcal protease(s) processes this site in a manner comparable to the efficiency of furin (p > 0.581). We conclude the paper by discussing the impact of these findings in the context of a SARS-CoV-2 disease manifesting while there is an underlying cryptococcal infection.