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Coronavirus main proteinase (Mpro)

Target: Mpro
Molecular classification: Enzyme, Protease, Cysteine hydrolase

Overview

Coronavirus main proteinase (Mpro/3CLpro) is an essential cysteine protease responsible for processing viral polyproteins during infection. Its unique structure-function relationship makes it central both to coronavirus biology and as a prime therapeutic target against diseases like COVID-19 due to lack of analogous human enzymes with similar specificity—enabling selective inhibition strategies with reduced risk of off-target effects.

Other names: Main protease3-chymotrypsin-like protease3CLpro3C-like cysteine protease

Mechanism of action

Inhibition of Mpro blocks viral polyprotein processing, halting viral replication.

Biological functions

Viral replicationPolyprotein processing

Disease associations

Infection

Safety considerations

Broad-spectrum inhibitor design remains challenging due to sequence diversity across coronavirus genera.Potential for off-target effects (though minimized by lack of human homologs with similar specificity).

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