The flavivirus NS2B–NS3 protease–helicase as a target for antiviral drug development

• Structural and functional studies on flavivirus NS2B–NS3 protease–helicase/NTPase/RTPase.
• Recent advances in drug discovery targeting NS2B–NS3.
• NS2B–NS3 and the assembly of the flavivirus replication complex.

The flavivirus NS3 protein is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum membrane via its close interaction with the central hydrophilic region of the NS2B integral membrane protein. The multiple roles played by the NS2B–NS3 protein in the virus life cycle makes it an attractive target for antiviral drug discovery. The N-terminal region of NS3 and its cofactor NS2B constitute the protease that cleaves the viral polyprotein. The NS3 C-terminal domain possesses RNA helicase, nucleoside and RNA triphosphatase activities and is involved both in viral RNA replication and virus particle formation. In addition, NS2B–NS3 serves as a hub for the assembly of the flavivirus replication complex and also modulates viral pathogenesis and the host immune response. Here, we review biochemical and structural advances on the NS2B–NS3 protein, including the network of interactions it forms with NS5 and NS4B and highlight recent drug development efforts targeting this protein. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on flavivirus drug discovery.