Objective: To discuss the possible significances of N-Linked and O-Linked glycosylation on the RBD of COVID-19
Methods: Amino acid sequences multiple alignments of RBD used Clustal Omega (v.1.2.4) using default parameters. Prediction of potential N-linked glycosylation sites by NetNGlyc 1.0 server. Prediction of potential O-linked glycosylation sites by NetOGlyc 4.0 Server.
Result: COVID-19 Spike glycoprotein has 22 potential N-linked glycosylation sites and 3 O-linked glycosylation sites. 2 of 22 N-linked glycosylation sites distributed in RBD. None of the 3 O-linked glycosylation sites distributed in RBD, which is markedly different from SARS and other bat coronavirus using ACE2 as a receptor. Comparing with its close coronavirus, but which can’t use ACE2 as a receptor, the COVID-19 has little N- and O-linked glycosylation sites.
Conclusion: we show the obvious differences in glycosylation sites in RBD between COVID-19 and other coronaviruses. We speculate that altered N-/O-glycosylation sites on RBD in COVID-19 are related to its infection and pathogenesis.