Screening of Small-Molecule Libraries Using SARS-CoV-2-Derived Sequences Identifies Novel Furin Inhibitors.

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2 is the pathogen responsible for the most recent global pandemic, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of victims worldwide. Despite remarkable efforts to develop an effective vaccine, concerns have been raised about the actual protection against novel variants. Thus, researchers are eager to identify alternative strategies to fight against this pathogen. Like other opportunistic entities, a key step in the SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle is the maturation of the envelope glycoprotein at the RARR685↓ motif by the cellular enzyme Furin. Inhibition of this cleavage greatly affects viral propagation, thus representing an ideal drug target to contain infection. Importantly, no Furin-escape variants have ever been detected, suggesting that the pathogen cannot replace this protease by any mean

SUBMITTER: Jorkesh A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11121672 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature