Molecular block of the SARS-CoV-2 virus being explored

Tight binding of α-ketoamide molecules (red), in the active
 site (gold) of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease.

Dr Tom Karagiannis and colleagues are examining the binding of small molecules to a particular protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, to block its action.

Dr Karagiannis said, "The main protease is a non-structural protein that the SARS-CoV-2 virus needs to replicate.  Once inside the host cell, the virus makes proteins so it can produce more copies of itself. These proteins need to be processed and proteases such as the main protease are responsible for cleaving the proteins at specific sites.

"By blocking the main protease you could stop the virus from replicating, which is what we're testing with a designer molecule called α-ketoamide."