Thomas K. Anderson

The nucleoside analog CMX521 inhibits coronavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase via a two-pronged mechanism

This study identifies a two-pronged mechanism by which CMX521 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase through biochemical assays and single-molecule techniques.

RNA virus polymerase-helicase coupling enables rapid elongation throughduplex RNA

This study shows that the coronavirus helicase enhances RNA synthesis through duplex RNA by tenfold by forming a directional complex with the polymerase, revealing an active coupling mechanism that modulates replication dynamics.

Template switching by coronavirus polymerase requires helicase activity and is stimulated by remdesivir and molnupiravir

This study shows that coronavirus polymerase template switching is driven by nsp13-helicase and is enhanced by remdesivir and molnupiravir, leading to defective RNA production.

The 2'-endo conformation of arabinose-CTP and arabinose-UTP inhibit viral polymerases by inducing long pauses.

This study shows that arabinose nucleotides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and poliovirus polymerases by causing long pauses due to the 2'-endo conformation of the incorporated nucleotides.

A post-assembly conformational change makes the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase elongation-competent

The paper shows that the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase core RTC undergoes a conformational change after RNA binding to become elongation-competent, which is essential for viral RNA synthesis.

A genus-specific nsp12 region impacts polymerase assembly in Alpha- and Gammacoronaviruses

The paper compares structural differences in the nsp12 region across Coronavirinae genera, revealing genus-specific impacts on polymerase assembly in Alpha- and Gammacoronaviruses.