Thiruvananthapuram: A study of RNA genome structure of SARS-CoV-2 by the researchers, including those from India, at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw could help in identifying potential targets for application of drugs against the virus.
Researchers from the University of Groningen and Leiden University are also collaborated in the study. The findings of the research team were published as a breakthrough paper in the latest issue of Nucleic Acids research journal.
Nithin Chandran, who is a post-doctoral researcher, working at the laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering at International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, posted the details of the study on his blog. Nithin, who hails from Punalur, is an alumnus of Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram.
“SARS-CoV-2 has one of the longest RNA genomes with 30,000 nulceotides. Our study models the structured regions in the viral genome and identifies the pockets within these RNA structures, which can be targeted by small molecules. We have established a foundation for development of drugs that will target the genomic RNA molecules and is an important milestone in the fight against the pandemic,” said Chandran and Pritha Ghosh, who are part of the research team.
According to researchers, only a handful of functionally relevant coronavirus structural RNA elements have been studied to date and they performed an extensive characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome structure using various advanced techniques. The study identified pockets in some RNA structures that could be targeted by small molecules to hamper the function of the viral RNA.
“Furthermore, a number of the structures are conserved between different coronaviruses, meaning that a successful drug targeting SARS-CoV-2 could also be effective against future new virus strains,” the researchers said in a press note.
The collaborative research is expected to establish a firm foundation for the future work aimed at developing potential small-molecule drugs for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections and possibly also infections by other coronaviruses, the researchers said.