Structure of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from COVID-19 virus

Abstract

The COVID-19 RNA-synthesizing machine Many in the scientific community have mobilized to understand the virus that is causing the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Gao et al. focused on a complex that plays a key role in the replication and transcription cycle of the virus. They used cryo–electron microscopy to determine a 2.9-angstrom-resolution structure of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase nsp12, which catalyzes the synthesis of viral RNA, in complex with two cofactors, nsp7 and nsp8. nsp12 is a target for nucleotide analog antiviral inhibitors such as remdesivir, and the structure may provide a basis for designing new antiviral therapeutics. Science , this issue p. 779

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Affiliated Institutions

• Tsinghua University CN
• State Key Laboratory For Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources
• The University of Queensland AU
• Institute of Biophysics CN
• ShanghaiTech University CN
• State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology
• Nankai University CN
• Guangxi University CN
• Tianjin University CN

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