A fluorescence-based, gain-of-signal, live cell system to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibition.

ABSTRACT: The likelihood of continued circulation of COVID-19 and its variants, and novel coronaviruses due to future zoonotic transmissions, combined with the current paucity of coronavirus antivirals, emphasize the need for improved screening in developing effective antivirals for the treatment of infection by SARS-CoV-2 (CoV2) and other coronaviruses. Here we report the development of a live-cell based assay for evaluating the intracellular function of the critical, highly-conserved CoV2 target, the Main 3C-like protease (Mpro). This assay is based on expression of native wild-type mature CoV2 Mpro, the function of which is quantitatively evaluated in living cells through cleavage of a biosensor leading to loss of fluorescence. Evaluation does not require cell harvesting, allowing for multiple me

SUBMITTER: Dey-Rao R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8495046 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature