Open AccessModifications in an Emergency: The Role of N1-Methylpseudouridine in COVID-19 Vaccines
Author(s) -
Kellie D. Nance,
Jordan L. Meier
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs central science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.893
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 2374-7951
pISSN - 2374-7943
DOI - 10.1021/acscentsci.1c00197
Subject(s) - covid-19 , pandemic , coronavirus , function (biology) , virology , computational biology , key (lock) , biology , computer science , data science , medicine , outbreak , computer security , evolutionary biology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , pathology
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, has inspired one of the most efficient vaccine development campaigns in human history. A key aspect of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines is the use of the modified nucleobase N1-methylpseudouridine (m1Ψ) to increase their effectiveness. In this Outlook, we summarize the development and function of m1Ψ in synthetic mRNAs. By demystifying how a novel element within these medicines works, we aim to foster understanding and highlight future opportunities for chemical innovation.