2. Academic Validation
  3. Potential drug targets of SARS-CoV-2: From genomics to therapeutics

Potential drug targets of SARS-CoV-2: From genomics to therapeutics

  • Int J Biol Macromol. 2021 Apr 30:177:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.071.
Anas Shamsi 1,  Taj Mohammad 2,  Saleha Anwar 2,  Samreen Amani 3,  Mohd Shahnawaz Khan 4,  Fohad Mabood Husain 5,  Md Tabish Rehman 6,  Asimul Islam 2,  Md Imtaiyaz Hassan 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India. Electronic address: mshamsi1@jmi.ac.in.
  • 2 Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India.
  • 3 Department of Biochemistry, F/O Life Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
  • 4 Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
  • 5 Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
  • 6 Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
PMID: 33577820 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.071
Abstract

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) from China has become a global threat due to the continuous rise in cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The problem with COVID-19 therapeutics is due to complexity of the mechanism of the pathogenesis of this virus. In this review, an extensive analysis of genome architecture and mode of pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 with an emphasis on therapeutic approaches is performed. SARS-CoV-2 genome consists of a single, ~29.9 kb long RNA having significant sequence similarity to BAT-CoV, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV genome. Two-third part of SARS-Cov-2 genome comprises of ORF (ORF1ab) resulting in the formation of 2 polyproteins, pp1a and pp1ab, later processed into 16 smaller non-structural proteins (NSPs). The four major structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are the spike surface glycoprotein (S), a small envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. S protein helps in receptor binding and membrane fusion and hence plays the most important role in the transmission of CoVs. Priming of S protein is done by serine 2 transmembrane protease and thus plays a key role in virus and host cell fusion. This review highlights the possible mechanism of action of SARS-CoV-2 to search for possible therapeutic options.

Keywords

Coronavirus disease 19; Drug targets; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.

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