How Does Catalysis Aid Antiviral Drug Development?
Catalysis provides unique advantages in drug development by accelerating the identification and optimization of antiviral compounds. Key catalytic strategies include:
1. Enzyme Inhibition: Catalytic inhibitors can bind to viral enzymes, rendering them inactive. For example, HIV protease inhibitors are a class of antiviral drugs that block the protease enzyme, preventing the maturation of viral particles. 2. Allosteric Modulation: Catalytic compounds can bind to sites other than the active site (allosteric sites) on target enzymes, inducing conformational changes that inhibit enzyme activity. 3. Prodrug Activation: Catalysis can be used to design prodrugs that are activated by viral or host enzymes, ensuring targeted delivery and reduced side effects.
