Zinc and SARS-CoV-2: A molecular modeling study of Zn interactions with RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase and 3C-like proteinase enzymes
Pormohammad et al.,
Zinc and SARS-CoV-2: A molecular modeling study of Zn interactions with RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase and..,
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, doi:10.3892/ijmm.2020.4790
In Silico analysis supporting the hypothesis that Zn would bind and regulate the enzymatic activities of 3CLpro and RdRp of SARS-CoV-2 and therefore inhibit viral replication. Since Zn has established immune health benefits, is readily available, inexpensive and safe, the authors propose that Zn could help ameliorate COVID-19.
Pormohammad et al., 18 Nov 2020, peer-reviewed, 3 authors.
In Silico studies are an important part of preclinical research, however results may be very different in vivo.
Abstract: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOlecular medicine 47: 326-334, 2021
326
Zinc and SARS‑CoV‑2: A molecular modeling study of
Zn interactions with RNA‑dependent RNA‑polymerase
and 3C‑like proteinase enzymes
ALI PORMOHAMMAD, NADIA K. MONYCH and RAYMOND J. TURNER
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N4V8, Canada
Received May 27, 2020; Accepted October 13, 2020
DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4790
Abstract. RNA‑dependent RNA‑polymerase (RdRp) and
3C‑like proteinase (3CLpro) are two main enzymes that play
a key role in the replication of SARS‑CoV‑2. Zinc (Zn) has
strong immunogenic properties and is known to bind to a
number of proteins, modulating their activities. Zn also has
a history of use in viral infection control. Thus, the present
study models potential Zn binding to RdRp and the 3CLpro.
Through molecular modeling, the Zn binding sites in the
aforementioned two important enzymes of viral replication
were found to be conserved between severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS)‑coronavirus (CoV) and SARS‑CoV‑2. The
location of these sites may influence the enzymatic activity of
3CLpro and RdRp in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19).
Since Zn has established immune health benefits, is readily
available, non‑expensive and a safe food supplement, with
the comparisons presented here between SARS‑CoV and
COVID‑19, the present study proposes that Zn could help
ameliorate the disease process of COVID‑19 infection.
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