RNA with Azvudine incorporated one nucleotide upstream of 3’-end resists cleavage by SARS-CoV-2 proofreading exonuclease
Researchers have discovered that incorporating the drug Azvudine at the penultimate position of SARS-CoV-2 RNA prevents the virus's proofreading exonuclease from cleaving it. This finding provides a new mechanistic understanding for developing antiviral nucleotide analogs.
Why it matters
Understanding how to bypass viral proofreading mechanisms is critical for designing more effective treatments against coronaviruses.
Scientific Reports ( 2026 ) Cite this article
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