Use of 2-deoxy-D-glucose in virology research: A mini review

Abstract

2-deoxy-D-glucose, widely known as 2-DG, is a synthetic analogue of glucose that has biological effect on metabolic pathways – glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway; on signalling pathways - 5′-AMP-activated kinase – AMPK, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 – mTORC1; and on biosynthesis of lipids and protein-N-glycosylation, thereby demonstrating its role as an anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, calorie restriction mimetic, and anti-viral agent. Although the property of 2-DG as an anti-viral agent was widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic, its potential to inhibit influenza virus was evaluated for the first time in the year 1959. Subsequently, experimental studies pertaining to inhibition of viral infection by 2-DG was explored in viruses belonging to the family of Paramyxoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Togaviridae, Herepesviridae, Flaviviridae, Adenoviridae and Retroviridae. The anti-viral potential of 2-DG in viruses experimented since the mid 1900s has been reviewed here in brief.