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Spike protein

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The peplomers (red and orange) of a coronavirus.

A peplomer is a glycoprotein spike on a viral capsid or viral envelope.[1] These protrusions will only bind to certain receptors on the host cell; they are essential for both host specificity and viral infectivity. The term "peplomer" is typically used to refer to a grouping of heterologous proteins on the virus surface that function together. [citation needed]

The tail fibers of some bacteriophages, especially the T4-like phages, are modified peplomers.

Influenza virus has two kinds of peplomers:

  1. triangular, spike-shaped "haemagglutinin"
  2. mushroom-shaped "neuraminidase". [citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary (3rd ed.). Elsevier, Inc. 2007. as cited in "peplomer". The Free Dictionary. Farlex. 2011. Retrieved 30 Mar 2011.


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