Quinoxaline derivatives disrupt the base stacking of hepatitis C virus-internal ribosome entry site RNA: reduce translation and replication

Abstract

RNA-biased small molecules with a monoquinoxaline core target the L-shaped structure of subdomain IIa of Hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA in proximity to the Mg²⁺ binding site. The binding event leads to the destacking of RNA bases, resulting in the inhibition of IRES-mediated translation and HCV RNA replication.