Zn2+ Inhibits Coronavirus and Arterivirus RNA Polymerase Activity In Vitro and Zinc Ionophores Block the Replication of These Viruses in Cell Culture
Figure 5
The activity of the RdRps of EAV and SARS-CoV is reversibly inhibited by Zn2+.
RdRp activity of purified EAV nsp9 (A) and SARS-CoV nsp12 (B) in the presence of various Zn2+ concentrations, as indicated above the lanes. (C) Schematic representation of the experiment to test whether Zn2+-mediated inhibition of RdRp activity could be reversed with MgEDTA. RdRp reactions, either untreated controls (sample 1 and 2) or reactions containing 6 mM Zn2+ (samples 3 and 4) were incubated for 30 min. Both Zn2+-containing and control samples were split into two aliquots and 6 mM MgEDTA was added to sample 2 and 4. All reactions were incubated for an additional 30 min and then terminated. Reaction products of the RdRp assays with EAV nsp9 and SARS-CoV nsp12 are shown in (D) and (E), respectively. Numbers above the lanes refer to the sample numbers described under (C).