Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is highly contagious and caused a catastrophic pandemic. It has infected billions of people worldwide with >6 million deaths. With expedited development of effective vaccines and antiviral drugs, there have been significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 infections and associated mortalities and morbidities. The virus is closely related to SARS-CoV, which emerged in 2003 and infected several thousand people with a higher mortality rate of ∼10%. Because of continued viral evolution and drug-induced resistance, as well as the possibility of a new coronavirus in the future, studies for new therapies are needed. The viral methyltransferases play critical roles in SARS coronavirus replication and are therefore promising drug targets. This review summarizes the function, structure and inhibition of methyltransferases of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV. Challenges and perspectives of targeting the viral methyltransferases to treat viral infections are discussed.

中文翻译：

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靶向 SARS 冠状病毒甲基转移酶的药物发现前景：功能、结构和抑制


严重急性呼吸系统综合症相关冠状病毒 2 （SARS-CoV-2） 是 2019 冠状病毒病 （COVID-19） 的病原体，具有高度传染性，并造成了灾难性的大流行。它已感染全球数十亿人，导致 3E60 万人死亡。随着有效疫苗和抗病毒药物的加速开发，SARS-CoV-2 感染以及相关的死亡率和发病率已显著减少。该病毒与 SARS-CoV 密切相关，SARS-CoV 于 2003 年出现，感染了数千人，死亡率高达 10%。由于病毒的持续进化和药物诱导的耐药性，以及未来可能出现新的冠状病毒，因此需要研究新疗法。病毒甲基转移酶在 SARS 冠状病毒复制中起关键作用，因此是有前途的药物靶点。本文总结了 SARS-CoV-2 和 SARS-CoV 甲基转移酶的功能、结构和抑制作用。讨论了靶向病毒甲基转移酶治疗病毒感染的挑战和前景。