tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Br J Pharmacol
. 2020 Jul 15.
doi: 10.1111/bph.15199. Online ahead of print.
Targeting zinc metalloenzymes in COVID-19
Urszula Doboszewska[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Piotr Wlaź[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Gabriel Nowak[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Katarzyna Młyniec[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Several lines of evidence support a link between the essential element zinc and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). An important fact is that zinc is present in proteins of humans and of viruses. Some zinc sites in viral enzymes may serve as drug targets and may liberate zinc ions, thus leading to changes in intracellular concentration of zinc ions, while increased intracellular zinc may induce biological effects in both the host and the virus. Drugs such as chloroquine may contribute to increased intracellular zinc. Moreover, clinical trials on the use of zinc alone or in addition to other drugs in the prophylaxis/treatment of COVID-19 are ongoing. Thereby, we aim to discuss the rationale for targeting zinc metalloenzymes with regard to COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; metalloenzyme; zinc; zinc ejecting drug; zinc finger.
. 2020 Jul 15.
doi: 10.1111/bph.15199. Online ahead of print.
Targeting zinc metalloenzymes in COVID-19
Urszula Doboszewska[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Piotr Wlaź[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Gabriel Nowak[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Katarzyna Młyniec[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32671829
- DOI: 10.1111/bph.15199
Abstract
Several lines of evidence support a link between the essential element zinc and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). An important fact is that zinc is present in proteins of humans and of viruses. Some zinc sites in viral enzymes may serve as drug targets and may liberate zinc ions, thus leading to changes in intracellular concentration of zinc ions, while increased intracellular zinc may induce biological effects in both the host and the virus. Drugs such as chloroquine may contribute to increased intracellular zinc. Moreover, clinical trials on the use of zinc alone or in addition to other drugs in the prophylaxis/treatment of COVID-19 are ongoing. Thereby, we aim to discuss the rationale for targeting zinc metalloenzymes with regard to COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; metalloenzyme; zinc; zinc ejecting drug; zinc finger.