Researchers discover the second possible effective mechanism of remdesivir
The virostatic agent remdesivir was developed to disrupt an important step in the propagation of RNA viruses, to which SARS-CoV-2 also belongs: the reproduction of the virus s own genetic material. This is present as RNA matrices with which the host cell directly produces virus proteins.
To accelerate the production of its own proteins, however, RNA viruses cause the RNA matrices to be copied. To do so, they use a specific protein of their own (an RNA polymerase), which is blocked by remdesivir. Strictly speaking, remdesivir does not do this itself, but rather a substance that is synthesized from remdesivir in five steps when remdesivir penetrates a cell.
Second mechanism of action discovered for COVID-19 drug remdesivir
SHARES
Researchers have found that a metabolite of remdesivir potentially targets a SARS-CoV-2 protein involved in suppressing the host cell’s defence response.
A team from Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany, have uncovered a second potential mechanism of action of remdesivir, the antiviral that has been used to combat SARS-CoV-2. The researchers found that a remdesivir metabolite named GS-441524 targets a SARS-CoV-2 protein called nsP3, whose tasks include suppressing the host cell’s defence response.
According to the scientists, remdesivir was developed to disrupt an important step in the propagation of RNA viruses, to which SARS-CoV-2 also belongs: the reproduction of the virus’s own genetic material. This is present as RNA matrices with which the host cell directly produces virus proteins. To accelerate the production of its own proteins, however, RNA viruses cause the RNA matrices to be copied. To
Date Time
SARS-CoV-2 Research: Second possible effective mechanism of remdesivir discovered
The virostatic agent remdesivir was developed to disrupt an important step in the propagation of RNA viruses, to which SARS-CoV-2 also belongs: the reproduction of the virus’s own genetic material. This is present as RNA matrices with which the host cell directly produces virus proteins. To accelerate the production of its own proteins, however, RNA viruses cause the RNA matrices to be copied. To do so, they use a specific protein of their own (an RNA polymerase), which is blocked by remdesivir. Strictly speaking, remdesivir does not do this itself, but rather a substance that is synthesized from remdesivir in five steps when remdesivir penetrates a cell.