In order to replicate, COVID-19 uses an enzyme called RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which takes the single stranded RNA the virus provides, called the template strand, and adds a complementary strand, called the primer strand. Remdesivir inhibits RNA production by binding to the primer strand in place of an adenosine. It does this by mimicking the structure of adenosine at the points at which it bonds to the backbone and the other bases. However, it also contains a nitrogen sidechain, which is involved in the termination of RNA production. RNA termination can only take place if the introduced molecule is Remdesivir Triphosphate, which is, in its active form, the only molecule out of Remdesivir, Remdesivir Monophosphate and itself that is shown to terminate RNA replication.
Special thanks to user rose for the movie-themed titles idea! Link to their molecule: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/assault-of-the-main-protease-e71f696b843e49fdaf62419e550e768a
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