Warning: This is a preliminary report that has not been peer-reviewed. It should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or be reported in news media as established information.

Mechanistic insights into the activity of SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase inhibitors using single-molecule FRET (Preliminary Report)

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has resulted in significant global mortality and disruption. Despite extensive research, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 replication remain unclear. To address this, we developed a single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) assay to directly visualize and analyse in vitro RNA synthesis ...
by the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). We purified the minimal replication complex, comprising nsp12, nsp7, and nsp8, and combined it with fluorescently labelled RNA substrates, enabling real-time monitoring of RNA primer elongation at the single-molecule level. This platform allowed us to investigate the mechanisms of action of key inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication. In particular, our data provides evidence for remdesivirs mechanism of action, which involves polymerase stalling and subsequent chain termination dependent on the concentration of competing nucleotide triphosphates. Our study demonstrates the power of smFRET to provide dynamic insights into SARS-CoV-2 replication, offering a valuable tool for antiviral screening and mechanistic studies of viral RdRp activity.
Date: Oct. 16, 2024
Status: Preliminary Report
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