C-PHYCOCYANIN OF SPIRULINA PLANTESIS INHIBITS NSP12 REQUIRED FOR REPLICATION OF SARS-COV-2: A NOVEL FINDING IN-SILICO

SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 is one of the deadly pandemics faced by the world population, which has infected 7 million and claimed the lives of 0.4 million people. In spite of a few drugs available to control the pandemics, a formal vaccine is the least that the world expects under the current scenario. However, the release of a vaccine is expected to come at the cost of its own time. SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the host cells with the aids of the molecular machinery of a complex formed by three non-structural proteins (NSPs) viz., nsp12, nsp8, and nsp7. Recent studies reveal that among the three NSPs, nsp12 is vital for viral replication and is the target for drugs. Several studies have linked the viral infection to a weaker immune system, which is quite likely to be targeted by the virus. In search of such a natural compound that might increase the immunity and block the viral replication within the host, we selected C-Phycocyanin of Spirulina plantesis to study its anti-viral property in-silico. Spirulina is a free-floating filamentous microalgae growing in alkaline water bodies. It is a well-known source of valuable food supplements, such as proteins, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, etc. In the present study, we focused on the possibility of C-Phycocyanin to inhibit the active site of nsp12, which is very much needed for viral replication. Auto Dock, Auto Grid, and Discovery Studios tools reveal that C-Phycocyanin inhibits the active site of nsp12 thereby interfering with the replication of the virus itself.