Mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 polymerase stalling by remdesivir

2021 | journal article; research paper. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.

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​Mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 polymerase stalling by remdesivir​
Kokic, G. ; Hillen, H. S. ; Tegunov, D. ; Dienemann, C. ; Seitz, F.; Schmitzova, J. & Farnung, L. et al.​ (2021) 
Nature Communications12(1) art. 279​.​ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20542-0 

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Authors
Kokic, Goran ; Hillen, Hauke S. ; Tegunov, Dimitry ; Dienemann, Christian ; Seitz, Florian; Schmitzova, Jana; Farnung, Lucas; Siewert, Aaron; Höbartner, Claudia ; Cramer, Patrick 
Abstract
Abstract Remdesivir is the only FDA-approved drug for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The active form of remdesivir acts as a nucleoside analog and inhibits the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2. Remdesivir is incorporated by the RdRp into the growing RNA product and allows for addition of three more nucleotides before RNA synthesis stalls. Here we use synthetic RNA chemistry, biochemistry and cryo-electron microscopy to establish the molecular mechanism of remdesivir-induced RdRp stalling. We show that addition of the fourth nucleotide following remdesivir incorporation into the RNA product is impaired by a barrier to further RNA translocation. This translocation barrier causes retention of the RNA 3ʹ-nucleotide in the substrate-binding site of the RdRp and interferes with entry of the next nucleoside triphosphate, thereby stalling RdRp. In the structure of the remdesivir-stalled state, the 3ʹ-nucleotide of the RNA product is matched and located with the template base in the active center, and this may impair proofreading by the viral 3ʹ-exonuclease. These mechanistic insights should facilitate the quest for improved antivirals that target coronavirus replication.
Issue Date
2021
Journal
Nature Communications 
Project
EXC 2067: Multiscale Bioimaging 
FOR 2848: Architektur und Heterogenität der inneren mitochondrialen Membran auf der Nanoskala 
FOR 2848 | St01: Structure and distribution of ribosomes at the inner mitochondrial membrane 
Working Group
RG Cramer 
RG Hillen (Structure and Function of Molecular Machines) 
eISSN
2041-1723
Language
English

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