Mutations in the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reduce receptor-binding affinity and induce a flexible link to the fusion peptide
E. Socher, M. Conrad, L. Heger, F. Paulsen, H. Sicht, F. Zunke, P. Arnold
This paper uses molecular dynamics simulations to show that B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 mutations reduce ACE2 binding affinity and increase flexibility near the fusion peptide, potentially contributing to higher infectivity.
bioRxiv · Apr 6, 2021Biophysics