Inhibition of enterovirus VP4 myristoylation is a potential antiviral strategy for hand, foot and mouth disease.

In this study, we have confirmed through the use of small interfering RNAs, human N-myristoyltransferase 1 plays an integral role in human Enterovirus 71 replication. Subsequent studies by inhibition of myristoylation using different myristic acid analogues elicited differential effects on the virus replication in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells. In particular, 2-hydroxymyristic acid specifically inhibited the cleavage between VP4 and VP2, part of the virion maturation process required to ensure infectivity of progeny virions while 4-oxatetradecanoic acid reduced the synthesis of viral RNA. These findings suggest that the requirement of a myristate moiety in viral structural protein precursor cleavage can serve as a viable antiviral target for further research. PMID: 27520386 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Antiviral Research - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Antiviral Res Source Type: research