An Update on the Current State of SARS-CoV-2 Mac1 Inhibitors

Non-structural protein 3 (nsp3) from all coronaviruses (CoVs) contains a conserved macrodomain, known as Mac1, that has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target for CoVs due to its critical role in viral pathogenesis. Mac1 is an ADP-ribose binding protein and ADP-ribosylhydrolase that promotes replication and blocks IFN responses, though the precise mechanisms it uses to carry out these functions remain unknown. Over the past 3 years following the onset of COVID-19, several groups have used high-throughput screening with multiple assays and chemical modifications to create unique chemical inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Mac1 protein. Here, we summarize the current efforts to identify selective and potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mac1.