Scientists say they found a āgame changerā in fight against COVID-19
A new study suggests thereās a pocket in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that could be drugged to end the virusā spread.
Herb Scribner
Sept. 24, 2020 (Deseret News)Ā āĀ A new study from theĀ University of BristolĀ suggests thereās aĀ druggable pocketĀ in theĀ SARS-Cov-2 spike proteinĀ that could help stop the coronavirus.
- The researchers published their findings in the journal Science.
- Scientists said the discovery is a āgame changerā in defeating the coronavirus pandemic.
What the study said:
SARS-CoV-2Ā has multiple copies of glycoprotein ā or theĀ āspike proteinā ā that attaches to our cells and infects us.
- The research team used an imaging technique,Ā electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM)Ā to look into the spike at the atomic level.
With the help of Oracle, the team built a 3D structure of theĀ SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, allowing them to research the ins and outs if the protein.
- The researchers found āa small molecule, linoleic acid (LA), buried in a tailor-made pocket within the spike protein,ā according to a release sent to the Deseret News.
- LA canāt be developed by humans. But it plays āa vital role in inflammation and immune modulation, which are both key elements of COVID-19 disease progression. LA is also needed to maintain cell membranes in the lungs so that we can breathe properly,ā the release said.
- The researchers said those with COVID-19 had low levels of LA, which is why they had trouble breathing and why they suffered from inflammation.
Why it matters:
Now, the researchers said seeing the pocket allows them to see whether they can turn the virus against it self.
- āOur discovery of a druggable pocket within the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein could lead to new anti-viral drugs to shut down and eliminate the virus before it entered human cells, stopping it firmly in its tracks,ā said professorĀ Christiane Schaffitzel