Human Structural Homologues of SARS-CoV-2 PL as Anti-Targets: A Strategic Panel Analysis.

COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a highly transmissible and pathogenic RNA betacoronavirus. Developing small-molecule antiviral inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PL ) is advantageous due to the enzyme's role in processing viral polyproteins and disrupting host immune sensing. Given the structural and functional similarities between PL and human deubiquitinases (DUBs), small-molecule inhibitors are frequently counter-screened for off-target activity using a panel of human DUBs.