Tertiary structure prediction of SARS coronavirus helicase

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 May 19;343(4):1101-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.03.069. Epub 2006 Mar 23.

Abstract

SARS coronavirus, SCV, has been recently responsible of a sudden and widespread infection which caused almost 800 victims. The limited amount of SCV protein structural information is partially responsible of the lack of specific drugs against the virus. Coronavirus helicases are very conserved and peculiar proteins which have been proposed as suitable targets for antiviral drugs, such as bananins, which have been recently shown to inhibit the SCV helicase in vitro. Here, the quaternary structure of SCV helicase has been predicted, which will provide a solid foundation for the rational design of other antiviral helicase inhibitors.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Computer Simulation
  • DNA Helicases / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / enzymology*
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry*

Substances

  • Viral Proteins
  • DNA Helicases

Associated data

  • PDB/2G1F