Scientists at NYU Grossman School of Medicine developed and tested a novel molecule that could destroy the SARS-CoV-2 virus by exploiting how it multiplies inside our body. Previous research showed that SARS-CoV-2 requires some modifications on its RNA by human protein METTL3 to multiply. This created a doubt among the scientific community whether human RNA modification enzymes could have any impact on viral multiplication.
‘The human proteins METTL3, YTHDF1, and YTHDF3 are crucial for the replication of coronavirus inside our body. A synthetic molecular inhibitor of METTL3 called STM2457, at its highest dosage, suppressed the multiplication of SARS-CoV-2 by more than 90%’
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Digging deeper into this helped experts convert the strength of SARS-CoV-2 into its weakness. The team found that two additional proteins, YTHDF1 and YTHDF3 , were also crucial in the viral replication inside our body. They then partnered with the UK-based Storm therapeutics and experimented with finding the best-matching compound that blocks and inactivates METTL3.
On comparing the effect of STM2457, a METTL3 inhibitor with an inactive control compound called STM2120 against the cells infected by HCoV-OC43 (an animal flu virus) and SARS-CoV-2, they found that,
• STM2457, at its highest dose, reduced the number of HCoV-OC43-infected cells by 80%
• STM2457 in the exact dosage suppressed the multiplication of SARS-CoV-2 by more than 90%
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