I(nsp1)ecting SARS-CoV-2–ribosome interactions

Abstract While SARS-CoV-2 is causing modern human history’s most serious health crisis and upending our way of life, clinical basic research on the virus advancing rapidly, leading to fascinating discoveries. Two studies have revealed how viral virulence factor, nonstructural protein 1 (Nsp1), binds ribosomes inhibit host cell translation. Here, we examine main conclusions molecular activity Nsp1 its role in suppressing innate immune responses. We discuss different scenarios potentially explaining RNA can bypass own translation blockage speculate suitability as a therapeutic target.