3.3 Inhibition of Replicase Protein Expression
Following the uncoating step, the replicase gene of the viral genome
encodes two large polyproteins (pp1a and pp1ab) (Chan et al., 2020).
Then, viral proteinases perform post-translational modification on the
polyproteins yielding proteins that mediate the formation of viral
replication complexes. The protease activities for all coronaviruses
include both papain-like proteinase (PLP) and cornavirus 3C-like
proteinase activities that are encoded within the replicase polyproteins
and mediate cleavage events. Because of their unique and essential
function in processing the viral polyprotein, these proteases are
appropriate targets for the development of 2019-nCoV drugs.