Scripps Research chemist Matthew Disney, PhD, and colleagues have created drug-like compounds that, in human cell studies, bind and destroy the pandemic coronavirus’ so-called “frameshifting element” to stop the virus from replicating. The frameshifter is a clutch-like device the virus needs to generate new copies of itself after infecting cells.
“Our concept was to develop lead medicines capable of breaking COVID-19’s clutch,” Disney says. “It doesn’t allow the shifting of gears.”
Viruses spread by entering cells and then using the cells’ protein-building machinery to churn out new infectious copies. Their genetic material must be compact and efficient to make it into the cells.
