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Scientists have identified a potential target for therapeutics against the SARS-CoV-2 virus The discovery hinges on a small molecule that latches onto and inhibits a structure in the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome, preventing the virus from pumping out the proteins it uses to replicate and infect cells (ACS Cent Sci 2020, DOI: 10 1021/acscentsci 0c00984 ) Matthew D Disney, a chemical biologist at Scripps Research in Florida, and his team screened thousands of molecules and tested how well a handful of these compounds bound to a fold of viral RNA that is unique to SARS-CoV-2 Using cells into which that bit of RNA had been introduced, the researchers found that one molecule, a quinazolinamine, stuck to the structure and gummed up the works, reducing expression of a gene it controls by about 25% “It’s an extremely high-affinity, drug-like small molecule,” Disney says “That was a little surprising to me ” The researchers then attached [ ]
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