The sequence and structural integrity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein transmembrane domain is crucial for viral entry

The Spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is a type I membrane protein that mediates target cell recognition and membrane fusion. While its transmembrane domain (TMD) is traditionally viewed as a passive anchor to the viral envelope, emerging evidence suggests that TMDs often play active roles in the biogenesis and function of membrane proteins. Here, we investigated the functional role of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein TMD during viral entry. To this end, we introduce a series of amino acid substitutions and insertions within the hydrophobic core of the TMD and assess their impact on S protein activity. Our findings reveal that the SARS-CoV-2 S protein is susceptible to alterations in its TMD. Functional determinants, including sequence features and structural parameters critical for viral entry, are distributed throughout the TMD, with a more pronounced contribution from its N-terminal region. We also demonstrate that the relative orientation of the regions flanking the TMD influences viral entry. Finally, our data suggest that the TMD mediates homo-oligomerization through a motif enriched in small residues, underscoring its functional importance beyond membrane anchoring.