Modifications in an Emergency: The Role of N1-Methylpseudouridine in COVID-19 Vaccines
Open accessAbstract
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, has inspired one of the most efficient vaccine development campaigns in human history. A key aspect of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines is the use of the modified nucleobase N1-methylpseudouridine (m1Ψ) to increase their effectiveness. In this Outlook, we summarize the development and function of m1Ψ in synthetic mRNAs. By demystifying how a novel element within these medicines works, we aim to foster understanding and highlight future opportunities for chemical innovation.
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The 5′ UTR is mainly involved in translation of its downstream ORF sequence, and the Kozak sequence is generally added after the 5′ UTR sequence to improve translation efficiency.
“The 5′ UTR is mainly involved in translation of its downstream ORF sequence.132,133 The Kozak sequence is generally added after the 5′ UTR sequence to improve translation efficiency.134”
From Advances in COVID-19 mRNA vaccine development (2022) · cites this paper as [134]
Currently, nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines employ 100% chemically modified nucleosides replacing natural nucleosides, and m1ψ is often used to replace uridine during IVT to improve the safety and stability of mRNA vaccines.
“Currently, nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines employ 100% chemically modified nucleosides replacing natural nucleosides, and m1ψ is often used to replace uridine during IVT to improve the safety and stability of mRNA vaccines.52,134,172”
From Advances in COVID-19 mRNA vaccine development (2022) · cites this paper as [134]
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Advances in COVID-19 mRNA vaccine development
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- Authors
- Nance, K. D., & Meier, J. L.
- Affiliations
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- Corresponding author
- Meier, Jordan L.
- Venue
- ACS Central Science
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2021-04-06
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 748-756
- ISSN
- 2374-7943 (ISSN-L)
- 2374-7951
- PMC
- PMC8043204
- OpenAlex
- W3140429722
- Cited by
- 466
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 79 · 2025: 92 · 2024: 106 · 2023: 99 · 2022: 69 · 2021: 21
- FWCI
- 7.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- ACS Central Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (ZIA BC011488)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA modifications and cancer
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Keywords
- N1-methylpseudouridine, mRNA vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, SARS-CoV-2, mRNA modification, nucleoside analogues, vaccine adjuvants, chemical innovation
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