ArticleCell death discovery2026
Discovery of synthetic G-quadruplex DNA as SARS-CoV-2 helicase inhibitor with antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.
Article in Cell death discovery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Recent advances in functional studies of coronavirus NSP13 helicase and challenges in inhibitor development.Virulence · 2026Review
- SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 helicase resolves G-quadruplexes and is inhibited by G4 ligands or an antiviral regulator: Implications for G4 anti-coronavirus therapies.The Journal of biological chemistry · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
16 authors.
Funding
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 RNA contains guanine-rich sequences that form secondary structures known as G quadruplexes (G4s). The SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein (NSP13) resolves G4s due to its helicase and ATPase activity, a process essential for viral replication. Here, we tested the effects of synthetic G4s on SARS-CoV-2 replication. In agreement, a synthetic G4 DNA 20 mer, consisting exclusively of guanines linked by a phosphorothioate backbone (designated GQ20-PTO), inhibited the replication of various SARS-CoV-2 variants in human lung cell cultures. Mechanistically, GQ20-PTO bound to NSP13 and inhibited its helicase and ATPase activity. Independent of its antiviral effects, GQ20-PTO additionally suppressed IFNβ and IL-6 (but not TNFα) signaling and the formation of reactive oxygen species, processes known to contribute to hyperinflammation in severe COVID-19. Hence, G4 quadruplexes like GQ20-PTO represent a novel class of DNA-based compounds for COVID-19 treatment with the potential to interfere with both SARS-CoV-2 replication and the uncontrolled inflammation associated with life-threatening COVID-19.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.