S protein
noun
variants
or S-protein
ˈes-ˈprō-ˌtēn 
also -ˈprō-tē-ən
plural S proteins or S-proteins
: spike protein
In coronaviruses, the S protein functions in cell entry; it is responsible for receptor attachment and membrane fusion.—
Hiu-Wen Chang et al.
compare protein s
Hiu-Wen Chang et al.Examples of S protein in a Sentence
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The mRNA vaccine gives cells instructions on how to make the S protein found on the surface of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
—Ashley MacKin-Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024
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Ashley MacKin-Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“S protein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/S%20protein. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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