SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein D614G mutation increases virion spike density and infectivity

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 variants with spike (S)-protein D614G mutations now predominate globally. We therefore compare the properties of the mutated S protein (S^G614) with the original (S^D614). We report here pseudoviruses carrying S^G614 enter ACE2-expressing cells more efficiently than those with S^D614. This increased entry correlates with less S1-domain shedding and higher S-protein incorporation into the virion. Similar results are obtained with virus-like particles produced with SARS-CoV-2 M, N, E, and S proteins. However, D614G does not alter S-protein binding to ACE2 or neutralization sensitivity of pseudoviruses. Thus, D614G may increase infectivity by assembling more functional S protein into the virion.