Structural basis for helicase-polymerase coupling in the SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex.

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Structural Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• Viral replication relies on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) holoenzyme and accessory factors, including the nsp13 helicase.
• Both the RdRp holoenzyme and nsp13 are crucial for viral replication and represent key targets for antiviral drug development.

Conclusions:

• The determined structures provide critical insights into the functional interplay between the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp holoenzyme and the nsp13 helicase.
• The identification of a novel binding pocket on nsp12 offers a promising avenue for the design of new antiviral drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2 replication.