Background:
The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), also known as coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) acute respiratory syndrome has recently emerged and continued to spread rapidly with high level of mortality and morbidity rates.
Currently, no efficacious therapy is available to relieve coronavirus infections. As new drug design and development takes
much time, there is a possibility to find an effective treatment from existing antiviral agents.
Objective:
In this case, there is a need to find out the relationship between possible drug targets and mechanism of action of
antiviral drugs. This review discusses about the efforts to develop drug from known or new molecules.
Methods:
Viruses usually have two structural integrities, proteins and nucleic acids, both of which can be possible drug targets. Herein, we systemically discuss the structural-functional relationships of the spike, 3-chymotrypsin-like protease
(3CLpro), papain like protease (PLpro) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), as these are prominent structural features of corona virus. Certain antiviral drugs such as Remdesivir are RNA dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor. It has the
ability to terminate RNA replication by inhibiting ATP.
Results:
It is reported that ATP is involved in synthesis of coronavirus non-structural proteins from 3CLpro and PLpro.
Similarly, mechanisms of action of many other antiviral agents has been discussed in this review. It will provide new insights into the mechanism of inhibition, and let us develop new therapeutic antiviral approaches against novel SARS-CoV-2
coronavirus.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this review summarizes recent progress in developing protease inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2.