Chinese scientists reveal DNA replication mechanism of monkeypox virus for first time

A research conducted by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed the DNA replication mechanism of the monkeypox virus for the first time, which will provide a key structural basis for the research and development of subsequent antiviral drugs.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic virus disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which has infected more than 92,000 people in the world. The replication of its genome is mainly realized by the self-encoded whole enzyme complex, but the working mechanism of the complex remains unclear. The research team, led by Gao Fu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, carried out a new study on the whole enzyme structure of DNA polymerase of monkeypox virus.

The research team used electron cryo-microscopy made of a graphene grid, and for the first time analyzed the high-resolution three-dimensional structure of the monkeypox virus polymerase whole enzyme complex in the replication conformation, revealing the working mechanism of monkeypox virus DNA replication and its sustainable synthesis ability. 

The team said that the research results have greatly improved the understanding of the genome replication process of monkeypox virus and will provide a key structural basis for the subsequent development of antiviral drugs. Recently, the research results were published in the internationally renowned academic journal Science.