Inhibition principles of the SARS-CoV-2 proteases

Proteases are enzymes that process large proteins into smaller ones. They play a critical role in the replication cycle of several viruses. Therapeutics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) inhibit the proteases of these viruses. Coronaviruses also have two such proteases. So fa r, only few substances are known, which can inhibit these proteases. One of them is licensed to treat HCV. A new screening method, which was developed by Emmanuel Heilmann from the research group of Dorothee von Laer at the Medical University of Innsbruck, can measure the earliest activity of the SARS- CoV-2 proteases. With this method, especially effective compounds can be found to stop the replication of Coronaviruses. The method allows to test the inhibition efficiency, the cell permeability and even the toxicity at once. This combined read-out saves valuable time in developing therapeutics.