SARS-CoV-2 Plpro

PLpro (papain-like protease) is embedded within SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 and is one of the two viral cysteine proteases. It cleaves the pp1a/pp1ab polyprotein at three sites to release nsp1-nsp3, and it doubles as a deubiquitinase and ISG15 hydrolase, stripping ubiquitin-like modifiers from host proteins to blunt interferon signaling and innate immune detection. The catalytic triad resides in a ubiquitin-like domain fold that makes PLpro attractive for broad-spectrum coronavirus inhibitors, and PLpro blockade both attenuates viral replication and restores antiviral immunity. Recombinant PLpro supports polyprotein-processing studies, DUB activity assays, ISG15 biology research and high-throughput screening of covalent and non-covalent inhibitors.