Enzyme Inhibition:
Antiviral Drugs
This week, we will be covering how Enzyme inhibition is readily used in modern medicine to support our health. Prominently in the advent of Antiviral Drugs.
Antiviral Drugs: What are they? How do they work?
These drugs are designed for the sole purpose of inhibiting the replication of viruses that invade our cells. Through targeting precisely specific stages of their life cycles.
This process is completed by interfering with viral enzymes and mechanisms, effectively playing a key role as an enzyme inhibitor.
A common occurrence, nucleoside analogues are able to mimic natural nucleotides, being infused into viral DNA and RNA during the replication stages. Through the infusing of these nucleosides, they are able to premature chain termination, thus halting the synthesis of viral genetic material.
For instance, Acyclovir is an Antiviral Drug readily used to combat against herpes simplex virus.
Furthermore, drugs such as remdesivir have the same functions as nucleotide analogues. Remdesivir functions by inhibiting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This can disrupt the replication of RNA viruses by inhibiting RNA polymerase which is a crucial enzyme for viral RNA synthesis.
This can prevent viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, and Hepatitis B/C.
Mechanisms of Different Antiviral Drugs
Nucleoside and Nucleotide Analogues, can mimic natural nucleotides. By mimicking natural nucleotides, they are able to integrate into viral DNA or RNA. This causes premature chain termination, which puts a halt on viral replication.
Protease inhibitors, function by blocking viral proteases which are crucial in cleaving precursor polyproteins into functional enzymes.
Polymerase inhibitors, target specifically RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), which plays a key role in RNA viruses.
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors function. by blocking reverse transcriptase. Reverse transcriptase is commonly found in viruses that convert RNA to DNA. This can decrease the spread of the viruses altogether.
Entry/Fusion Inhibitors as the name suggests, prevent viruses from even entering host cells. This is done through blocking attachment to receptors and active sites of enzymes.
Integrase inhibitors specifically target intergrase which fuses viral DNA into the host.
Neuraminidase inhibitors specifically target neuraminidase which is linked to influenza that releases new viral particles.
In short summary, most of these inhibitors function as it suggests, by blocking or preventing certain enzymes linked to viruses and diseases from functioning.
A Bright Future?
Many advances covered previously in our weekly topics, Gene editing, and Nanotechnology are rapid advances in healthcare technology that can help ease our future. Along with other directions, broad-spectrum antivirals which is extensive research dedicated to focusing on shared pathways between mechanisms. Notably, immunomodulators are enhancement drugs that can help provide immunity during therapy. Although we still believe CRISPY gene editing and nanoparticle delivery systems are far more accurate. The future and building on the foundation of Antiviral Drugs is a constant battle that scientists are fighting.
