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6-Thioguanine blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication by inhibition of PLpro protease activities

Caleb D Swaim1, Yi-Chieh Perng2, Xu Zhao1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|July 9, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The drug 6-Thioguanine (6-TG) effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication by targeting the viral papain-like protease (PLpro). This FDA-approved medication shows promise as an accessible therapeutic for COVID-19 treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a global health crisis, necessitating novel therapeutics.
  • The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) is crucial for viral replication and immune modulation, making it a key drug target.

Conclusions:

  • 6-Thioguanine is a potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro enzymatic activity and viral replication.
  • As an FDA-approved, orally available drug, 6-TG represents a promising therapeutic candidate for COVID-19 and future coronavirus outbreaks.

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