title: Antiviral therapy targeting viral polymerase.
abstract: Viral DNA and RNA polymerases are enzymes, which are responsible for copying the genetic materials of viruses and are therefore central components in the life cycles of viruses. The polymerases are essentially required for the replication of viruses. The reverse transcriptase (RT) of the retroviruses and the hepadnaviruses is the sole viral enzyme required for the synthesis of DNA from viral RNA. Viral polymerases are therefore an extremely favorable target for the development of antiviral therapy. The success of anti-HIV-1 therapy using inhibitors specifically targeting HIV RT suggests that other viral polymerases can be the valid molecular targets for the design of antiviral drugs. Intensive structural and functional studies of viral polymerases have been conducted and have opened new avenues for the development of more effective antiviral therapy. This review summarizes the insights gained from recent structural and functional studies of antiviral agents, which target viral polymerases. The primary focus will be on hepatitis C virus (HCV), herpesviruses, HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and influenza virus.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Hsiu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Pei-Yu
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stollar
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015195:Drug Design; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases