High resolution structures of the SARS-CoV-2 N7-methyltransferase inform therapeutic development

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has led to millions of deaths globally. We present three high-resolution crystal structures of the SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 N7-methyltransferase core bound to S-adenosylmethionine (SAM; 1.62Å), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH; 1.55Å) and Sinefungin (SFG; 1.41Å). We identify features of the methyltransferase core that are crucial for the development of antivirals and show SAH as the best scaffold for the design of antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogenic coronaviruses.