Topic: Biology

Researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) have found a crucial step that enteroviruses use to reproduce inside human cells. This discovery could help create new antiviral drugs.

Enteroviruses are responsible for illnesses like polio and the common cold. Scientists at UMBC have discovered how these viruses take control of cellular machinery to copy themselves. The study was led by Deepak Koirala, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UMBC, along with recent Ph.D. graduate Naba Krishna Das.

The researchers found that enteroviruses carry very small RNA genomes that must perform two jobs at once. The viral RNA has to direct the production of viral proteins while also serving as the template for creating new copies of the virus.

Most of the viral genome contains instructions for structural proteins, but it also encodes several specialized proteins required for replication. One of the most important is a fusion protein called 3CD. The 3C portion cuts long chains of amino acids into separate proteins the virus needs. The 3D portion acts as an RNA polymerase, which copies viral RNA so the virus can reproduce.

The researchers used X-ray crystallography and other techniques to visualize the interactions between the RNA cloverleaf and the 3CD protein. They found that this molecular complex functions like a switch. When 3CD is attached, the virus copies its RNA genome. When the protein detaches, the RNA becomes available for producing viral proteins instead.

The study shows how similar the mechanism appears across all seven enteroviruses examined in the study. The viruses shared nearly identical RNA cloverleaf structures and binding behavior. This raises the possibility of developing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.

Why It Matters

This discovery could lead to the creation of new antiviral drugs that can target multiple viruses at once, which is crucial for public health in India where vaccine hesitancy is a major concern.

Key Facts

• Researchers at UMBC discovered how enteroviruses reproduce inside human cells
• Enteroviruses carry small RNA genomes that perform two jobs: producing viral proteins and creating new virus copies
• The study found that the molecular complex functions like a switch, controlling whether the virus copies its genome or produces proteins
• All seven enteroviruses examined in the study shared similar RNA cloverleaf structures and binding behavior

Key Terms

Enterovirus

A type of virus that causes illnesses like polio and the common cold

Implications

This discovery could lead to the creation of new antiviral drugs that can target multiple viruses at once, which is crucial for public health in India where vaccine hesitancy is a major concern.