How does remdesivir work against SARS-CoV-2? (IMAGE)
Caption
(Top) The viral polymerase (blue oval) incorporates remdesivir (red) into the RNA primer strand (green bubbles) opposite uridine in the template (yellow/clear bubbles). A clash between remdesivir and the amino acid S861 blocks the movement of the polymerase, which inhibits its ability to bind the next nucleoside triphosphate (N).
(Bottom) Inhibition is not complete and remdesivir persists in the primer strand that is later used as a template (now green). Here, remdesivir clashes with A558, which reduces binding of uridine triphosphate (U). V557L is a mutation in the polymerase that can in part neutralize this effect and is associated with low-level drug resistance.
Credit
Supplied by Matthias Götte
Usage Restrictions
None
License
Licensed content