1
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Uzuner U, Akkus E, Kocak A, Çelik Uzuner S. Exploring epigenetic drugs as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease: a docking and MD simulation study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:6892-6903. [PMID: 37458994 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2236714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc around the globe since 2019 and is considered the largest global epidemic of the twentieth century. Although the first antiviral drug, Remdesivir, was initially introduced against COVID‑19, virtually no tangible therapeutic drugs exist to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. FDA-approved Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir supplemented by Ritonavir) was recently announced as a promising drug against the SARS-CoV-2 major protease (Mpro). Here we report for the first time the remarkable inhibitory potentials of lead epigenetic-targeting drugs (epi-drugs) against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Epi-drugs are promising compounds to be used in combination with cancer chemotherapeutics to regulate gene expression. The search for all known epi-drugs for the specific inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro was performed for the first time by consensus (three high-order program) molecular docking studies and end-state free energy calculations. Several epi-drugs were identified with highly comparable binding affinity to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro compared to Nirmatrelvir. In particular, potent histone methyltransferase inhibitor EPZ005687 and DNA methyltransferase inhibitor Guadecitabine were prominent as the most promising epi-drug inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Long Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (200 ns each) and corresponding MM-GBSA calculations confirmed the stability of the EPZ005687-Mpro complex with MM-GBSA binding free energy (ΔGbind) -48.2 kcal/mol (EPZ005687) compared to Nirmatrelvir (-44.7 kcal/mol). Taken together, the antiviral activities of the highlighted epi-drugs are reported beyond widespread use in combination with anti-cancer agents. The current findings therefore highlight as yet unexplored antiviral potential of epi-drugs suitable for use in patients struggling with chronic immunosuppressive disorders.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugur Uzuner
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Innovation Hub, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Ebru Akkus
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Science, Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Abdulkadir Kocak
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Selcen Çelik Uzuner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
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2
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Fomina AD, Uvarova VI, Kozlovskaya LI, Palyulin VA, Osolodkin DI, Ishmukhametov AA. Ensemble docking based virtual screening of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. Mol Inform 2024; 43:e202300279. [PMID: 38973780 DOI: 10.1002/minf.202300279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
During the first years of COVID-19 pandemic, X-ray structures of the coronavirus drug targets were acquired at an unprecedented rate, giving hundreds of PDB depositions in less than a year. The main protease (Mpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the primary validated target of direct-acting antivirals. The selection of the optimal ensemble of structures of Mpro for the docking-driven virtual screening campaign was thus non-trivial and required a systematic and automated approach. Here we report a semi-automated active site RMSD based procedure of ensemble selection from the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro crystallographic data and virtual screening of its inhibitors. The procedure was compared with other approaches to ensemble selection and validated with the help of hand-picked and peer-reviewed activity-annotated libraries. Prospective virtual screening of non-covalent Mpro inhibitors resulted in a new chemotype of thienopyrimidinone derivatives with experimentally confirmed enzyme inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia D Fomina
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victoria I Uvarova
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819, Moscow, Russia
| | - Liubov I Kozlovskaya
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Palyulin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry I Osolodkin
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aydar A Ishmukhametov
- FSASI "Chumakov FSC R&D IBP RAS" (Institute of Poliomyelitis), 108819, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
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3
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Saeed AA, Klureza MA, Hekstra DR. Mapping protein conformational landscapes from crystallographic drug fragment screens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.29.605395. [PMID: 39131376 PMCID: PMC11312500 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.29.605395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Proteins are dynamic macromolecules. Knowledge of a protein's thermally accessible conformations is critical to determining important transitions and designing therapeutics. Accessible conformations are highly constrained by a protein's structure such that concerted structural changes due to external perturbations likely track intrinsic conformational transitions. These transitions can be thought of as paths through a conformational landscape. Crystallographic drug fragment screens are high-throughput perturbation experiments, in which thousands of crystals of a drug target are soaked with small-molecule drug precursors (fragments) and examined for fragment binding, mapping potential drug binding sites on the target protein. Here, we describe an open-source Python package, COLAV (COnformational LAndscape Visualization), to infer conformational landscapes from such large-scale crystallographic perturbation studies. We apply COLAV to drug fragment screens of two medically important systems: protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B), which regulates insulin signaling, and the SARS CoV-2 Main Protease (MPro). With enough fragment-bound structures, we find that such drug screens also enable detailed mapping of proteins' conformational landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammaar A. Saeed
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Margaret A. Klureza
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Doeke R. Hekstra
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
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4
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Xiao YQ, Long J, Zhang SS, Zhu YY, Gu SX. Non-peptidic inhibitors targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease: A review. Bioorg Chem 2024; 147:107380. [PMID: 38636432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a threat to global health, and sounds the alarm for research & development of effective anti-coronavirus drugs, which are crucial for the patients and urgently needed for the current epidemic and future crisis. The main protease (Mpro) stands as an essential enzyme in the maturation process of SARS-CoV-2, playing an irreplaceable role in regulating viral RNA replication and transcription. It has emerged as an ideal target for developing antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 due to its high conservation and the absence of homologous proteases in the human body. Among the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors, non-peptidic compounds hold promising prospects owing to their excellent antiviral activity and improved metabolic stability. In this review, we offer an overview of research progress concerning non-peptidic SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors since 2020. The efforts delved into molecular structures, structure-activity relationships (SARs), biological activity, and binding modes of these inhibitors with Mpro. This review aims to provide valuable clues and insights for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents as well as broad-spectrum coronavirus Mpro inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Qi Xiao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
| | - Jiao Long
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
| | - Shuang-Shuang Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China.
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China.
| | - Shuang-Xi Gu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China.
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5
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Liu X, Sun S, Liu J, Dang Q, Gao Y, Fang L, Min W. Isolation, Virtual Screening, and Evaluation of Hazelnut-Derived Immunoactive Peptides for the Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:11561-11576. [PMID: 38739709 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to validate the activity of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.)-derived immunoactive peptides inhibiting the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 and further unveil their interaction mechanism using in vitro assays, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and binding free energy calculations. In general, the enzymatic hydrolysis components, especially molecular weight < 3 kDa, possess good immune activity as measured by the proliferation ability of mouse splenic lymphocytes and phagocytic activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages. Over 866 unique peptide sequences were isolated, purified, and then identified by nanohigh-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (NANO-HPLC-MS/MS) from hazelnut protein hydrolysates, but Trp-Trp-Asn-Leu-Asn (WWNLN) and Trp-Ala-Val-Leu-Lys (WAVLK) in particular are found to increase the cell viability and phagocytic capacity of RAW264.7 macrophages as well as promote the secretion of the cytokines nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay elucidated that WWNLN and WAVLK exhibit excellent inhibitory potency against Mpro, with IC50 values of 6.695 and 16.750 μM, respectively. Classical all-atom MD simulations show that hydrogen bonds play a pivotal role in stabilizing the complex conformation and protein-peptide interaction. Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area (MM/GBSA) calculation indicates that WWNLN has a lower binding free energy with Mpro than WAVLK. Furthermore, adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions illustrate favorable drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic properties of WWNLN compared to WAVLK. This study provides a new understanding of the immunomodulatory activity of hazelnut hydrolysates and sheds light on peptide inhibitors targeting Mpro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Shuo Sun
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Jiale Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Qiao Dang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Yawen Gao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Li Fang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Weihong Min
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
- College of Food and Health, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, P. R. China
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6
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Li J, Guan X, Zhang O, Sun K, Wang Y, Bagni D, Head-Gordon T. Leak Proof PDBBind: A Reorganized Dataset of Protein-Ligand Complexes for More Generalizable Binding Affinity Prediction. ARXIV 2024:arXiv:2308.09639v2. [PMID: 37645037 PMCID: PMC10462179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Many physics-based and machine-learned scoring functions (SFs) used to predict protein-ligand binding free energies have been trained on the PDBBind dataset. However, it is controversial as to whether new SFs are actually improving since the general, refined, and core datasets of PDBBind are cross-contaminated with proteins and ligands with high similarity, and hence they may not perform comparably well in binding prediction of new protein-ligand complexes. In this work we have carefully prepared a cleaned PDBBind data set of non-covalent binders that are split into training, validation, and test datasets to control for data leakage, defined as proteins and ligands with high sequence and structural similarity. The resulting leak-proof (LP)-PDBBind data is used to retrain four popular SFs: AutoDock Vina, Random Forest (RF)-Score, InteractionGraphNet (IGN), and DeepDTA, to better test their capabilities when applied to new protein-ligand complexes. In particular we have formulated a new independent data set, BDB2020+, by matching high quality binding free energies from BindingDB with co-crystalized ligand-protein complexes from the PDB that have been deposited since 2020. Based on all the benchmark results, the retrained models using LP-PDBBind consistently perform better, with IGN especially being recommended for scoring and ranking applications for new protein-ligand systems.
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7
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Papini C, Ullah I, Ranjan AP, Zhang S, Wu Q, Spasov KA, Zhang C, Mothes W, Crawford JM, Lindenbach BD, Uchil PD, Kumar P, Jorgensen WL, Anderson KS. Proof-of-concept studies with a computationally designed M pro inhibitor as a synergistic combination regimen alternative to Paxlovid. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320713121. [PMID: 38621119 PMCID: PMC11046628 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320713121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to spread and mutate, it remains important to focus not only on preventing spread through vaccination but also on treating infection with direct-acting antivirals (DAA). The approval of Paxlovid, a SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) DAA, has been significant for treatment of patients. A limitation of this DAA, however, is that the antiviral component, nirmatrelvir, is rapidly metabolized and requires inclusion of a CYP450 3A4 metabolic inhibitor, ritonavir, to boost levels of the active drug. Serious drug-drug interactions can occur with Paxlovid for patients who are also taking other medications metabolized by CYP4503A4, particularly transplant or otherwise immunocompromised patients who are most at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe symptoms. Developing an alternative antiviral with improved pharmacological properties is critical for treatment of these patients. By using a computational and structure-guided approach, we were able to optimize a 100 to 250 μM screening hit to a potent nanomolar inhibitor and lead compound, Mpro61. In this study, we further evaluate Mpro61 as a lead compound, starting with examination of its mode of binding to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. In vitro pharmacological profiling established a lack of off-target effects, particularly CYP450 3A4 inhibition, as well as potential for synergy with the currently approved alternate antiviral, molnupiravir. Development and subsequent testing of a capsule formulation for oral dosing of Mpro61 in B6-K18-hACE2 mice demonstrated favorable pharmacological properties, efficacy, and synergy with molnupiravir, and complete recovery from subsequent challenge by SARS-CoV-2, establishing Mpro61 as a promising potential preclinical candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Papini
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
| | - Irfan Ullah
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
| | - Amalendu P. Ranjan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX76107
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
| | - Qihao Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT06520-8107
| | - Krasimir A. Spasov
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
| | - Chunhui Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT06520-8107
| | - Walther Mothes
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
| | | | - Brett D. Lindenbach
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
| | - Pradeep D. Uchil
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
| | - Priti Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
| | | | - Karen S. Anderson
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520-8066
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8
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Yan Y, Liu H, Wu D, Gu Z, Guo W, Yao H, Lin K, Li X. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 3C-like protease inhibitors as lead compounds against SARS-CoV-2. Future Med Chem 2024; 16:887-903. [PMID: 38618977 PMCID: PMC11249163 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2024-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 swept the world in 2019. The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 plays a key role in viral replication, and its inhibition could inhibit viral replication. Materials & methods: The virtual screen based on receptor-ligand pharmacophore models and molecular docking were conducted to obtain the novel scaffolds of the 3CLpro. The molecular dynamics simulation was also carried out. All compounds were synthesized and evaluated in biochemical assays. Results: The compound C2 could inhibit 3CLpro with a 72% inhibitory rate at 10 μM. The covalent docking showed that C2 could form a covalent bond with the Cys145 in 3CLpro. Conclusion: C2 could be a potent lead compound of 3CLpro inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Yan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hanwen Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zhihao Gu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Wenhao Guo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hequan Yao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Kejiang Lin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xuanyi Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
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9
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Fan Z, Pavlova A, Jenkins MC, Bassit L, Salman M, Lynch DL, Patel D, Korablyov M, Finn MG, Schinazi RF, Gumbart JC. Biophysics-Guided Lead Discovery of HBV Capsid Assembly Modifiers. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1162-1173. [PMID: 38564659 PMCID: PMC11019538 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of chronic liver pathologies worldwide. HBV nucleocapsid, a key structural component, is formed through the self-assembly of the capsid protein units. Therefore, interfering with the self-assembly process is a promising approach for the development of novel antiviral agents. Applied to HBV, this approach has led to several classes of capsid assembly modulators (CAMs). Here, we report structurally novel CAMs with moderate activity and low toxicity, discovered through a biophysics-guided approach combining docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and a series of assays with a particular emphasis on biophysical experiments. Several of the identified compounds induce the formation of aberrant capsids and inhibit HBV DNA replication in vitro, suggesting that they possess modest capsid assembly modulation effects. The synergistic computational and experimental approaches provided key insights that facilitated the identification of compounds with promising activities. The discovery of preclinical CAMs presents opportunities for subsequent optimization efforts, thereby opening new avenues for HBV inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixing Fan
- Interdisciplinary
Bioengineering Graduate Program, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Anna Pavlova
- School
of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Matthew C. Jenkins
- School
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Leda Bassit
- Center
for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology,
Department of Pediatrics, Emory University
School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Mohammad Salman
- Center
for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology,
Department of Pediatrics, Emory University
School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Diane L. Lynch
- School
of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Dharmeshkumar Patel
- Center
for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology,
Department of Pediatrics, Emory University
School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Maksym Korablyov
- MIT
Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - M. G. Finn
- School
of Chemistry & Biochemistry and School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Raymond F. Schinazi
- Center
for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology,
Department of Pediatrics, Emory University
School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - James C. Gumbart
- School
of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- School
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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10
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Nguyen TH, Thai QM, Pham MQ, Minh PTH, Phung HTT. Machine learning combines atomistic simulations to predict SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors from natural compounds. Mol Divers 2024; 28:553-561. [PMID: 36823394 PMCID: PMC9950021 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-023-10601-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has still been infectious around the world, continuously causing social and economic damage on a global scale. One of the most important therapeutic targets for the treatment of COVID-19 is the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we combined machine-learning (ML) model with atomistic simulations to computationally search for highly promising SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors from the representative natural compounds of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Database. First, the trained ML model was used to scan the library quickly and reliably for possible Mpro inhibitors. The ML output was then confirmed using atomistic simulations integrating molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations with the linear interaction energy scheme. The results turned out to show that there was evidently good agreement between ML and atomistic simulations. Ten substances were proposed to be able to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Seven of them have high-nanomolar affinity and are very potential inhibitors. The strategy has been proven to be reliable and appropriate for fast prediction of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors, benefiting for new emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in the future accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trung Hai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics, Advanced Institute of Materials Science, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Quynh Mai Thai
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Minh Quan Pham
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Pham Thi Hong Minh
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Huong Thi Thu Phung
- NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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11
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Huang L, Xu T, Yu Y, Zhao P, Chen X, Han J, Xie Z, Li H, Zhong W, Wong KC, Zhang H. A dual diffusion model enables 3D molecule generation and lead optimization based on target pockets. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2657. [PMID: 38531837 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46569-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Structure-based generative chemistry is essential in computer-aided drug discovery by exploring a vast chemical space to design ligands with high binding affinity for targets. However, traditional in silico methods are limited by computational inefficiency, while machine learning approaches face bottlenecks due to auto-regressive sampling. To address these concerns, we have developed a conditional deep generative model, PMDM, for 3D molecule generation fitting specified targets. PMDM consists of a conditional equivariant diffusion model with both local and global molecular dynamics, enabling PMDM to consider the conditioned protein information to generate molecules efficiently. The comprehensive experiments indicate that PMDM outperforms baseline models across multiple evaluation metrics. To evaluate the applications of PMDM under real drug design scenarios, we conduct lead compound optimization for SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) and Cyclin-dependent Kinase 2 (CDK2), respectively. The selected lead optimization molecules are synthesized and evaluated for their in-vitro activities against CDK2, displaying improved CDK2 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Huang
- City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
- Tencent AI Lab, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Yang Yu
- Tencent AI Lab, Shenzhen, China
| | | | | | - Jing Han
- Regor Therapeutics Group, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi Xie
- Regor Therapeutics Group, Shanghai, China
| | - Hailong Li
- Regor Therapeutics Group, Shanghai, China.
| | | | - Ka-Chun Wong
- City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
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12
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Wang M, Wu Z, Wang J, Weng G, Kang Y, Pan P, Li D, Deng Y, Yao X, Bing Z, Hsieh CY, Hou T. Genetic Algorithm-Based Receptor Ligand: A Genetic Algorithm-Guided Generative Model to Boost the Novelty and Drug-Likeness of Molecules in a Sampling Chemical Space. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:1213-1228. [PMID: 38302422 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Deep learning-based de novo molecular design has recently gained significant attention. While numerous DL-based generative models have been successfully developed for designing novel compounds, the majority of the generated molecules lack sufficiently novel scaffolds or high drug-like profiles. The aforementioned issues may not be fully captured by commonly used metrics for the assessment of molecular generative models, such as novelty, diversity, and quantitative estimation of the drug-likeness score. To address these limitations, we proposed a genetic algorithm-guided generative model called GARel (genetic algorithm-based receptor-ligand interaction generator), a novel framework for training a DL-based generative model to produce drug-like molecules with novel scaffolds. To efficiently train the GARel model, we utilized dense net to update the parameters based on molecules with novel scaffolds and drug-like features. To demonstrate the capability of the GARel model, we used it to design inhibitors for three targets: AA2AR, EGFR, and SARS-Cov2. The results indicate that GARel-generated molecules feature more diverse and novel scaffolds and possess more desirable physicochemical properties and favorable docking scores. Compared with other generative models, GARel makes significant progress in balancing novelty and drug-likeness, providing a promising direction for the further development of DL-based de novo design methodology with potential impacts on drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Zhengjian Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
- School of Computer Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, Hubei ,China
| | - Jike Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Gaoqi Weng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Yu Kang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Peichen Pan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Dan Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Yafeng Deng
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Xiaojun Yao
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Zhitong Bing
- Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Chang-Yu Hsieh
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
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13
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Khuttan S, Gallicchio E. What to Make of Zero: Resolving the Statistical Noise from Conformational Reorganization in Alchemical Binding Free Energy Estimates with Metadynamics Sampling. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:1489-1501. [PMID: 38252868 PMCID: PMC10867849 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c01250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
We introduce the self-relative binding free energy (self-RBFE) approach to evaluate the intrinsic statistical variance of dual-topology alchemical binding free energy estimators. The self-RBFE is the relative binding free energy between a ligand and a copy of the same ligand, and its true value is zero. Nevertheless, because the two copies of the ligand move independently, the self-RBFE value produced by a finite-length simulation fluctuates and can be used to measure the variance of the model. The results of this validation provide evidence that a significant fraction of the errors observed in benchmark studies reflect the statistical fluctuations of unconverged estimates rather than the models' accuracy. Furthermore, we find that ligand reorganization is a significant contributing factor to the statistical variance of binding free energy estimates and that metadynamics-accelerated conformational sampling of the torsional degrees of freedom of the ligand can drastically reduce the time to convergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheenam Khuttan
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brooklyn
College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 11210, United States
- Ph.D.
Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center
of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Emilio Gallicchio
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brooklyn
College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 11210, United States
- Ph.D.
Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center
of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Ph.D.
Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center
of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
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14
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Wang Q, Fu X, Yan Y, Liu T, Xie Y, Song X, Zhou Y, Xu M, Wang P, Fu P, Huang J, Huang N. Structure-Based Identification of Organoruthenium Compounds as Nanomolar Antagonists of Cannabinoid Receptors. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:761-774. [PMID: 38215394 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Metal complexes exhibit a diverse range of coordination geometries, representing novel privileged scaffolds with convenient click types of preparation inaccessible for typical carbon-centered organic compounds. Herein, we explored the opportunity to identify biologically active organometallic complexes by reverse docking of a rigid, minimum-size octahedral organoruthenium scaffold against thousands of protein-binding pockets. Interestingly, cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) was identified based on the docking scores and the degree of overlap between the docked organoruthenium scaffold and the hydrophobic scaffold of the cocrystallized ligand. Further structure-based optimization led to the discovery of organoruthenium complexes with nanomolar binding affinities and high selectivity toward CB2. Our work indicates that octahedral organoruthenium scaffolds may be advantageous for targeting the large and hydrophobic binding pockets and that the reverse docking approach may facilitate the discovery of novel privileged scaffolds, such as organometallic complexes, for exploring chemical space in lead discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xuegang Fu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yuting Yan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Tao Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yuting Xie
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiaoqing Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Min Xu
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Ping Wang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Peng Fu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jianhui Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Niu Huang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, No. 7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing 102206, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102206, China
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15
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Flury P, Breidenbach J, Krüger N, Voget R, Schäkel L, Si Y, Krasniqi V, Calistri S, Olfert M, Sylvester K, Rocha C, Ditzinger R, Rasch A, Pöhlmann S, Kronenberger T, Poso A, Rox K, Laufer SA, Müller CE, Gütschow M, Pillaiyar T. Cathepsin-Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Activity. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:493-514. [PMID: 38357286 PMCID: PMC10863444 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Cathepsins (Cats) are proteases that mediate the successful entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells. We designed and synthesized a tailored series of 21 peptidomimetics and evaluated their inhibitory activity against human cathepsins L, B, and S. Structural diversity was realized by combinations of different C-terminal warhead functions and N-terminal capping groups, while a central Leu-Phe fragment was maintained. Several compounds were identified as promising cathepsin L and S inhibitors with Ki values in the low nanomolar to subnanomolar range, for example, the peptide aldehydes 9a and 9b (9a, 2.67 nM, CatL; 0.455 nM, CatS; 9b, 1.76 nM, CatL; 0.512 nM, CatS). The compounds' inhibitory activity against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro) was additionally investigated. Based on the results at CatL, CatS, and Mpro, selected inhibitors were subjected to investigations of their antiviral activity in cell-based assays. In particular, the peptide nitrile 11e exhibited promising antiviral activity with an EC50 value of 38.4 nM in Calu-3 cells without showing cytotoxicity. High metabolic stability and favorable pharmacokinetic properties make 11e suitable for further preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Flury
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen
Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Julian Breidenbach
- PharmaCenter
Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Nadine Krüger
- Infection
Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz
Institute for Primate Research Göttingen, Kellnerweg 4, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Rabea Voget
- PharmaCenter
Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Laura Schäkel
- PharmaCenter
Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Yaoyao Si
- PharmaCenter
Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Vesa Krasniqi
- PharmaCenter
Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Sara Calistri
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen
Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Matthias Olfert
- Faculty
of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen 37073, Germany
| | - Katharina Sylvester
- PharmaCenter
Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Cheila Rocha
- Infection
Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz
Institute for Primate Research Göttingen, Kellnerweg 4, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Raphael Ditzinger
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen
Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Alexander Rasch
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen
Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection
Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz
Institute for Primate Research Göttingen, Kellnerweg 4, Göttingen 37077, Germany
- Faculty
of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen 37073, Germany
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen
Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- Faculty
of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70211, Finland
- Excellence
Cluster “Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections” (CMFI), Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Antti Poso
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen
Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- Faculty
of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70211, Finland
| | - Katharina Rox
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig 38124, Germany
- Partner
Site Hannover-Braunschweig, German Center
for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig 38124, Germany
| | - Stefan A. Laufer
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen
Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Christa E. Müller
- PharmaCenter
Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Michael Gütschow
- PharmaCenter
Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, Bonn 53121, Germany
| | - Thanigaimalai Pillaiyar
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen
Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
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16
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Sulimov AV, Ilin IS, Tashchilova AS, Kondakova OA, Kutov DC, Sulimov VB. Docking and other computing tools in drug design against SARS-CoV-2. SAR AND QSAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 35:91-136. [PMID: 38353209 DOI: 10.1080/1062936x.2024.2306336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The use of computer simulation methods has become an indispensable component in identifying drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. There is a huge body of literature on application of molecular modelling to predict inhibitors against target proteins of SARS-CoV-2. To keep our review clear and readable, we limited ourselves primarily to works that use computational methods to find inhibitors and test the predicted compounds experimentally either in target protein assays or in cell culture with live SARS-CoV-2. Some works containing results of experimental discovery of corresponding inhibitors without using computer modelling are included as examples of a success. Also, some computational works without experimental confirmations are also included if they attract our attention either by simulation methods or by databases used. This review collects studies that use various molecular modelling methods: docking, molecular dynamics, quantum mechanics, machine learning, and others. Most of these studies are based on docking, and other methods are used mainly for post-processing to select the best compounds among those found through docking. Simulation methods are presented concisely, information is also provided on databases of organic compounds that can be useful for virtual screening, and the review itself is structured in accordance with coronavirus target proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Sulimov
- Dimonta Ltd., Moscow, Russia
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - I S Ilin
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - A S Tashchilova
- Dimonta Ltd., Moscow, Russia
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - O A Kondakova
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - D C Kutov
- Dimonta Ltd., Moscow, Russia
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - V B Sulimov
- Dimonta Ltd., Moscow, Russia
- Research Computing Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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17
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Janin YL. On the origins of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:81-118. [PMID: 38283212 PMCID: PMC10809347 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00493g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
In order to address the world-wide health challenge caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 3CL protease/SARS-CoV-2 main protease (SARS-CoV-2-Mpro) coded by its nsp5 gene became one of the biochemical targets for the design of antiviral drugs. In less than 3 years of research, 4 inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2-Mpro have actually been authorized for COVID-19 treatment (nirmatrelvir, ensitrelvir, leritrelvir and simnotrelvir) and more such as EDP-235, FB-2001 and STI-1558/Olgotrelvir or five undisclosed compounds (CDI-988, ASC11, ALG-097558, QLS1128 and H-10517) are undergoing clinical trials. This review is an attempt to picture this quite unprecedented medicinal chemistry feat and provide insights on how these cysteine protease inhibitors were discovered. Since many series of covalent SARS-CoV-2-Mpro inhibitors owe some of their origins to previous work on other proteases, we first provided a description of various inhibitors of cysteine-bearing human caspase-1 or cathepsin K, as well as inhibitors of serine proteases such as human dipeptidyl peptidase-4 or the hepatitis C protein complex NS3/4A. This is then followed by a description of the results of the approaches adopted (repurposing, structure-based and high throughput screening) to discover coronavirus main protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves L Janin
- Structure et Instabilité des Génomes (StrInG), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, INSERM, CNRS, Alliance Sorbonne Université 75005 Paris France
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18
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Tian L, Qiang T, Yang X, Gao Y, Zhai X, Kang K, Du C, Lu Q, Gao H, Zhang D, Xie X, Liang C. Development of de-novo coronavirus 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL pro) inhibitors since COVID-19 outbreak: A strategy to tackle challenges of persistent virus infection. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:115979. [PMID: 38048696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Although no longer a public health emergency of international concern, COVID-19 remains a persistent and critical health concern. The development of effective antiviral drugs could serve as the ultimate piece of the puzzle to curbing this global crisis. 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), with its substrate specificity mirroring that of the main picornavirus 3C protease and conserved across various coronaviruses, emerges as an ideal candidate for broad-spectrum antiviral drug development. Moreover, it holds the potential as a reliable contingency option to combat emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. In this light, the approved drugs, promising candidates, and de-novo small molecule therapeutics targeting 3CLpro since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 are discussed. Emphasizing the significance of diverse structural characteristics in inhibitors, be they peptidomimetic or nonpeptidic, with a shared mission to minimize the risk of cross-resistance. Moreover, the authors propose an innovative optimization strategy for 3CLpro reversible covalent PROTACs, optimizing pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to better prepare for potential future viral outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tian
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Taotao Qiang
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China.
| | - Xiuding Yang
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Yue Gao
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511436, PR China
| | - Xiaopei Zhai
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
| | - Kairui Kang
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Cong Du
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Qi Lu
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Hong Gao
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; Shaanxi Pioneer Biotech Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Dezhu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710025, PR China
| | - Xiaolin Xie
- Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710025, PR China
| | - Chengyuan Liang
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China.
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19
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Chen L, Wu Y, Wu C, Silveira A, Sherman W, Xu H, Gallicchio E. Performance and Analysis of the Alchemical Transfer Method for Binding-Free-Energy Predictions of Diverse Ligands. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:250-264. [PMID: 38147877 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The Alchemical Transfer Method (ATM) is herein validated against the relative binding-free energies (RBFEs) of a diverse set of protein-ligand complexes. We employed a streamlined setup workflow, a bespoke force field, and AToM-OpenMM software to compute the RBFEs of the benchmark set prepared by Schindler and collaborators at Merck KGaA. This benchmark set includes examples of standard small R-group ligand modifications as well as more challenging scenarios, such as large R-group changes, scaffold hopping, formal charge changes, and charge-shifting transformations. The novel coordinate perturbation scheme and a dual-topology approach of ATM address some of the challenges of single-topology alchemical RBFE methods. Specifically, ATM eliminates the need for splitting electrostatic and Lennard-Jones interactions, atom mapping, defining ligand regions, and postcorrections for charge-changing perturbations. Thus, ATM is simpler and more broadly applicable than conventional alchemical methods, especially for scaffold-hopping and charge-changing transformations. Here, we performed well over 500 RBFE calculations for eight protein targets and found that ATM achieves accuracy comparable to that of existing state-of-the-art methods, albeit with larger statistical fluctuations. We discuss insights into the specific strengths and weaknesses of the ATM method that will inform future deployments. This study confirms that ATM can be applied as a production tool for RBFE predictions across a wide range of perturbation types within a unified, open-source framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieyang Chen
- Roivant Sciences, 151 W 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10036, United States
| | - Yujie Wu
- Roivant Sciences, 151 W 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10036, United States
- Atommap Corporation, New York, New York 10017, United States
| | - Chuanjie Wu
- Roivant Sciences, 151 W 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10036, United States
| | - Ana Silveira
- Psivant Therapeutics, 451 D Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, United States
| | - Woody Sherman
- Psivant Therapeutics, 451 D Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, United States
| | - Huafeng Xu
- Roivant Sciences, 151 W 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10036, United States
- Atommap Corporation, New York, New York 10017, United States
| | - Emilio Gallicchio
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 11210, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Ph.D. Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
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20
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Song L, Gao S, Ye B, Yang M, Cheng Y, Kang D, Yi F, Sun JP, Menéndez-Arias L, Neyts J, Liu X, Zhan P. Medicinal chemistry strategies towards the development of non-covalent SARS-CoV-2 M pro inhibitors. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:87-109. [PMID: 38239241 PMCID: PMC10792984 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is an attractive target in anti-COVID-19 therapy for its high conservation and major role in the virus life cycle. The covalent Mpro inhibitor nirmatrelvir (in combination with ritonavir, a pharmacokinetic enhancer) and the non-covalent inhibitor ensitrelvir have shown efficacy in clinical trials and have been approved for therapeutic use. Effective antiviral drugs are needed to fight the pandemic, while non-covalent Mpro inhibitors could be promising alternatives due to their high selectivity and favorable druggability. Numerous non-covalent Mpro inhibitors with desirable properties have been developed based on available crystal structures of Mpro. In this article, we describe medicinal chemistry strategies applied for the discovery and optimization of non-covalent Mpro inhibitors, followed by a general overview and critical analysis of the available information. Prospective viewpoints and insights into current strategies for the development of non-covalent Mpro inhibitors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letian Song
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Shenghua Gao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Bing Ye
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Mianling Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yusen Cheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Dongwei Kang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Fan Yi
- The Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jin-Peng Sun
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Luis Menéndez-Arias
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Autonomous University of Madrid), Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
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21
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Ferraro S, Convertino I, Cappello E, Valdiserra G, Bonaso M, Tuccori M. Lessons learnt from the preclinical discovery and development of ensitrelvir as a COVID-19 therapeutic option. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:9-20. [PMID: 37830361 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2267001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic stimulated the development of several therapeutic tools with several degrees of success. Ensitrelvir, a protease inhibitor that blocks the replication of SARS-CoV-2, can reduce the viral load and the severity of symptoms in infected patients and become available for emergency use in Japan. Clinical trials showed a good tolerability profile although the potential for interactions with substrates, inhibitors, and inducers of CYP3A must be considered. The occurrence of resistance is also a matter of investigation. AREAS COVERED In this article, the authors describe the development of ensitrelvir starting from the identification of the molecule to the pre-clinical and clinical trials up to the post-authorization phase. EXPERT OPINION Ensitrelvir was developed in a late phase of the pandemic when the availability of patients that can be candidate to enter the clinical trial was limited with consequences for the possibility of assessing certain outcomes and for the robustness of results. Although the evidence about the benefits of ensitrelvir in COVID-19 is not questionable, the problems of interactions with other drugs, emerging resistant variants, the availability of alternative therapeutic options, costs, and accessibility will concur to its probable limited clinical use in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ferraro
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa Italy
| | - Irma Convertino
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa Italy
| | - Emiliano Cappello
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa Italy
| | - Giulia Valdiserra
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa Italy
| | - Marco Bonaso
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa Italy
| | - Marco Tuccori
- Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa Italy
- Unit of Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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22
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Gao S, Song L, Sylvester K, Mercorelli B, Loregian A, Toth K, Weiße RH, Useini A, Sträter N, Yang M, Ye B, Tollefson AE, Müller CE, Liu X, Zhan P. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Trisubstituted Piperazine Derivatives as Noncovalent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Main Protease Inhibitors with Improved Antiviral Activity and Favorable Druggability. J Med Chem 2023; 66:16426-16440. [PMID: 37992202 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates the development of additional potent antiviral agents capable of combating the current highly infectious variants and future coronaviruses. Here, we present the discovery of potent nonpeptide main protease (Mpro) inhibitors with prominent antiviral activity and improved pharmacokinetic properties. Three series of 1,2,4-trisubstituted piperazine derivatives were designed and synthesized, and the optimal GC-78-HCl demonstrated high enzyme-inhibitory potency (IC50 = 0.19 μM) and exhibited excellent antiviral activity (EC50 = 0.40 μM), reaching the same level as Nirmatrelvir (EC50 = 0.38 μM). Additionally, GC-78-HCl displayed potent antiviral activities against various SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E, indicating its potential broad-spectrum anticoronaviral activity. Notably, the pharmacokinetic properties of GC-78-HCl were somewhat enhanced compared to those of the lead compound. Furthermore, the cocrystal and molecular docking elucidated the mechanism of action. In conclusion, we discovered a novel nonpeptidic Mpro inhibitor with promising antiviral activity and a favorable pharmacokinetic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghua Gao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Shandong University, A301 Virtual University Park in South District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, PR China
| | - Letian Song
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China
| | - Katharina Sylvester
- PharmaCenter Bonn & Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Beatrice Mercorelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via Gabelli 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via Gabelli 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Karoly Toth
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, United States
| | - Renato H Weiße
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Abibe Useini
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Norbert Sträter
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Mianling Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China
| | - Bing Ye
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China
| | - Ann E Tollefson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, United States
| | - Christa E Müller
- PharmaCenter Bonn & Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan 250012, China
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23
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Saar A, Ghahremanpour MM, Tirado-Rives J, Jorgensen WL. Assessing Metadynamics and Docking for Absolute Binding Free Energy Calculations Using Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Main Protease Inhibitors. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7210-7218. [PMID: 37934762 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Absolute binding free energy (ABFE) calculations can be an important part of the drug discovery process by identifying molecules that have the potential to be strong binders for a biomolecular target. Recent work has used free energy perturbation (FEP) theory for these calculations, focusing on a set of 16 inhibitors of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 main protease (Mpro). Herein, the same data set is evaluated by metadynamics (MetaD), four different docking programs, and molecular mechanics with generalized Born and surface area solvation. MetaD yields a Kendall τ distance of 0.28 and Pearson r2 of 0.49, which reflect somewhat less accuracy than that from the ABFE FEP results. Notably, it is demonstrated that an ensemble docking protocol by which each ligand is docked into the 13 crystal structures in this data set provides improved performance, particularly when docking is carried out with Glide XP (Kendall τ distance = 0.20, Pearson r2 = 0.71), Glide SP (Kendall τ distance = 0.19, Pearson r2 = 0.66), or AutoDock 4 (Kendall τ distance = 0.21, Pearson r2 = 0.55). The best results are obtained with "superconsensus" docking by averaging the 52 results for each compound using the 4 docking protocols and all 13 crystal structures (Kendall τ distance = 0.18, Pearson r2 = 0.73).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Saar
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
| | | | - Julian Tirado-Rives
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
| | - William L Jorgensen
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
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24
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Havranek B, Demissie R, Lee H, Lan S, Zhang H, Sarafianos SG, Jean-Luc Ayitou A, Islam SM. Discovery of Nirmatrelvir Resistance Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro: A Computational-Experimental Approach. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7180-7188. [PMID: 37947496 PMCID: PMC10976418 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the urgency for effective antiviral therapies against SARS-CoV-2. Targeting the main protease (3CLpro) of the virus has emerged as a promising approach, and nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332), the active component of Pfizer's oral drug Paxlovid, has demonstrated remarkable clinical efficacy. However, the emergence of resistance mutations poses a challenge to its continued success. In this study, we employed alchemical free energy perturbation (FEP) alanine scanning to identify nirmatrelvir-resistance mutations within SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. FEP identified several mutations, which were validated through in vitro IC50 experiments and found to result in 8- and 72-fold increases in nirmatrelvir IC50 values. Additionally, we constructed SARS-CoV-2 omicron replicons containing these mutations, and one of the mutants (S144A/E166A) displayed a 20-fold increase in EC50, confirming the role of FEP in identifying drug-resistance mutations. Our findings suggest that FEP can be a valuable tool in proactively monitoring the emergence of resistant strains and guiding the design of future inhibitors with reduced susceptibility to drug resistance. As nirmatrelvir is currently widely used for treating COVID-19, this research has important implications for surveillance efforts and antiviral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Havranek
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
- ComputePharma, LLC., Chicago, IL, USA, 60607
| | - Robel Demissie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Biophysics Core at Research Resource Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Hyun Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Biophysics Core at Research Resource Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Shuiyun Lan
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Huanchun Zhang
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Stefan G. Sarafianos
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | - Shahidul M. Islam
- ComputePharma, LLC., Chicago, IL, USA, 60607
- Department of Chemistry, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, 19901, USA
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25
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Fisher CR, Mba Medie F, Luu RJ, Gaibler RB, Mulhern TJ, Miller CR, Zhang CJ, Rubio LD, Marr EE, Vijayakumar V, Gabriel EP, Lopez Quezada L, Zhang CH, Anderson KS, Jorgensen WL, Alladina JW, Medoff BD, Borenstein JT, Gard AL. A High-Throughput, High-Containment Human Primary Epithelial Airway Organ-on-Chip Platform for SARS-CoV-2 Therapeutic Screening. Cells 2023; 12:2639. [PMID: 37998374 PMCID: PMC10669988 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 emerged as a worldwide pandemic in early 2020, and while the rapid development of safe and efficacious vaccines stands as an extraordinary achievement, the identification of effective therapeutics has been less successful. This process has been limited in part by a lack of human-relevant preclinical models compatible with therapeutic screening on the native virus, which requires a high-containment environment. Here, we report SARS-CoV-2 infection and robust viral replication in PREDICT96-ALI, a high-throughput, human primary cell-based organ-on-chip platform. We evaluate unique infection kinetic profiles across lung tissue from three human donors by immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, and plaque assays over a 6-day infection period. Enabled by the 96 devices/plate throughput of PREDICT96-ALI, we also investigate the efficacy of Remdesivir and MPro61 in a proof-of-concept antiviral study. Both compounds exhibit an antiviral effect against SARS-CoV-2 in the platform. This demonstration of SARS-CoV-2 infection and antiviral dosing in a high-throughput organ-on-chip platform presents a critical capability for disease modeling and therapeutic screening applications in a human physiology-relevant in vitro system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine R. Fisher
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Felix Mba Medie
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Rebeccah J. Luu
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Robert B. Gaibler
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Thomas J. Mulhern
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Caitlin R. Miller
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Chelsea J. Zhang
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Logan D. Rubio
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Elizabeth E. Marr
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Vidhya Vijayakumar
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Elizabeth P. Gabriel
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Landys Lopez Quezada
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Chun-Hui Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA (W.L.J.)
| | - Karen S. Anderson
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | | | - Jehan W. Alladina
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (J.W.A.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Benjamin D. Medoff
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (J.W.A.); (B.D.M.)
| | - Jeffrey T. Borenstein
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
| | - Ashley L. Gard
- Bioengineering Division, Draper, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; (C.R.F.); (F.M.M.); (R.J.L.); (R.B.G.); (T.J.M.); (V.V.); (E.P.G.); (L.L.Q.); (J.T.B.)
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26
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Li X, Song Y. Structure and function of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 main proteases and their inhibition: A comprehensive review. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 260:115772. [PMID: 37659195 PMCID: PMC10529944 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) identified in 2003 infected ∼8000 people in 26 countries with 800 deaths, which was soon contained and eradicated by syndromic surveillance and enhanced quarantine. A closely related coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 identified in 2019, has been dramatically more contagious and catastrophic. It has infected and caused various flu-like symptoms of billions of people in >200 countries, including >6 million people died of or with the virus. Despite the availability of several vaccines and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2, finding new therapeutics is needed because of viral evolution and a possible emerging coronavirus in the future. The main protease (Mpro) of these coronaviruses plays important roles in their life cycle and is essential for the viral replication. This article represents a comprehensive review of the function, structure and inhibition of SARS-CoV and -CoV-2 Mpro, including structure-activity relationships, protein-inhibitor interactions and clinical trial status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Yongcheng Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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27
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Papadourakis M, Sinenka H, Matricon P, Hénin J, Brannigan G, Pérez-Benito L, Pande V, van Vlijmen H, de Graaf C, Deflorian F, Tresadern G, Cecchini M, Cournia Z. Alchemical Free Energy Calculations on Membrane-Associated Proteins. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:7437-7458. [PMID: 37902715 PMCID: PMC11017255 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Membrane proteins have diverse functions within cells and are well-established drug targets. The advances in membrane protein structural biology have revealed drug and lipid binding sites on membrane proteins, while computational methods such as molecular simulations can resolve the thermodynamic basis of these interactions. Particularly, alchemical free energy calculations have shown promise in the calculation of reliable and reproducible binding free energies of protein-ligand and protein-lipid complexes in membrane-associated systems. In this review, we present an overview of representative alchemical free energy studies on G-protein-coupled receptors, ion channels, transporters as well as protein-lipid interactions, with emphasis on best practices and critical aspects of running these simulations. Additionally, we analyze challenges and successes when running alchemical free energy calculations on membrane-associated proteins. Finally, we highlight the value of alchemical free energy calculations calculations in drug discovery and their applicability in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail Papadourakis
- Biomedical
Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Hryhory Sinenka
- Institut
de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Pierre Matricon
- Sosei
Heptares, Steinmetz Building,
Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6DG, United
Kingdom
| | - Jérôme Hénin
- Laboratoire
de Biochimie Théorique UPR 9080, CNRS and Université Paris Cité, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Grace Brannigan
- Center
for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University−Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08103, United States of America
- Department
of Physics, Rutgers University−Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08102, United States
of America
| | - Laura Pérez-Benito
- CADD,
In Silico Discovery, Janssen Research &
Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Vineet Pande
- CADD,
In Silico Discovery, Janssen Research &
Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Herman van Vlijmen
- CADD,
In Silico Discovery, Janssen Research &
Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Chris de Graaf
- Sosei
Heptares, Steinmetz Building,
Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6DG, United
Kingdom
| | - Francesca Deflorian
- Sosei
Heptares, Steinmetz Building,
Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6DG, United
Kingdom
| | - Gary Tresadern
- CADD,
In Silico Discovery, Janssen Research &
Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Marco Cecchini
- Institut
de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, F-67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Zoe Cournia
- Biomedical
Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou, 11527 Athens, Greece
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28
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Tam NM, Nguyen TH, Pham MQ, Hong ND, Tung NT, Vu VV, Quang DT, Ngo ST. Upgrading nirmatrelvir to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Mpro via DeepFrag and free energy calculations. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 124:108535. [PMID: 37295158 PMCID: PMC10233213 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The first oral drug for the treatment of COVID-19, Paxlovid, has been authorized; however, nirmatrelvir, a major component of the drug, is reported to be associated with some side effects. Moreover, the appearance of many novel variants raises concerns about drug resistance, and designing new potent inhibitors to prevent viral replication is thus urgent. In this context, using a hybrid approach combining machine learning (ML) and free energy simulations, 6 compounds obtained by modifying nirmatrelvir were proposed to bind strongly to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. The structural modification of nirmatrelvir significantly enhances the electrostatic interaction free energy between the protein and ligand and slightly decreases the vdW term. However, the vdW term is the most important factor in controlling the ligand-binding affinity. In addition, the modified nirmatrelvir might be less toxic to the human body than the original inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Minh Tam
- Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Phan Thiet, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan, Viet Nam
| | - Trung Hai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute for Advanced Study in Technology, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Minh Quan Pham
- Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nam Dao Hong
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Nguyen Thanh Tung
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
| | - Van V Vu
- NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Duong Tuan Quang
- Department of Chemistry, Hue University, Thua Thien Hue Province, Hue City, Viet Nam.
| | - Son Tung Ngo
- Laboratory of Biophysics, Institute for Advanced Study in Technology, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
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29
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Jacobs L, van der Westhuyzen A, Pribut N, Dentmon ZW, Cui D, D’Erasmo MP, Bartsch PW, Liu K, Cox RM, Greenlund SF, Plemper RK, Mitchell D, Marlow J, Andrews MK, Krueger RE, Sticher ZM, Kolykhalov AA, Natchus MG, Zhou B, Pelly SC, Liotta DC. Design and Optimization of Novel Competitive, Non-peptidic, SARS-CoV-2 M pro Inhibitors. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1434-1440. [PMID: 37849558 PMCID: PMC10577883 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) has been proven to be a highly effective target for therapeutic intervention, yet only one drug currently holds FDA approval status for this target. We were inspired by a series of publications emanating from the Jorgensen and Anderson groups describing the design of potent, non-peptidic, competitive SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors, and we saw an opportunity to make several design modifications to improve the overall pharmacokinetic profile of these compounds without losing potency. To this end, we created a focused virtual library using reaction-based enumeration tools in the Schrödinger suite. These compounds were docked into the Mpro active site and subsequently prioritized for synthesis based upon relative binding affinity values calculated by FEP+. Fourteen compounds were selected, synthesized, and evaluated both biochemically and in cell culture. Several of the synthesized compounds proved to be potent, competitive Mpro inhibitors with improved metabolic stability profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Jacobs
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | | | - Nicole Pribut
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Zackery W. Dentmon
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Dan Cui
- COVID-19
Emergency Response, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
| | - Michael P. D’Erasmo
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Perry W. Bartsch
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Ken Liu
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Robert M. Cox
- Center for
Translational Antiviral Research, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Sujay F. Greenlund
- Center for
Translational Antiviral Research, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Richard K. Plemper
- Center for
Translational Antiviral Research, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Deborah Mitchell
- Emory
Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Joshua Marlow
- Emory
Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Meghan K. Andrews
- Emory
Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Rebecca E. Krueger
- Emory
Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Zachary M. Sticher
- Emory
Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Alexander A. Kolykhalov
- Emory
Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Michael G. Natchus
- Emory
Institute for Drug Development, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Bin Zhou
- COVID-19
Emergency Response, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, United States
| | - Stephen C. Pelly
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Dennis C. Liotta
- Department
of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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30
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Ren P, Li H, Nie T, Jian X, Yu C, Li J, Su H, Zhang X, Li S, Yang X, Peng C, Yin Y, Zhang L, Xu Y, Liu H, Bai F. Discovery and Mechanism Study of SARS-CoV-2 3C-like Protease Inhibitors with a New Reactive Group. J Med Chem 2023; 66:12266-12283. [PMID: 37594952 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
3CLpro is an attractive target for the treatment of COVID-19. Using the scaffold hopping strategy, we identified a potent inhibitor of 3CLpro (3a) that contains a thiocyanate moiety as a novel warhead that can form a covalent bond with Cys145 of the protein. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and X-ray crystallography confirmed the mechanism of covalent formation between 3a and the protein in its catalytic pocket. Moreover, several analogues of compound 3a were designed and synthesized. Among them, compound 3h shows the best inhibition of 3CLpro with an IC50 of 0.322 μM and a kinact/Ki value of 1669.34 M-1 s-1, and it exhibits good target selectivity for 3CLpro against host proteases. Compound 3c inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells (EC50 = 2.499 μM) with low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 200 μM). These studies provide ideas and insights to explore and develop new 3CLpro inhibitors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxuan Ren
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Tianqing Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaoqin Jian
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Changyue Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Haixia Su
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xianglei Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shiwei Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xin Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Chao Peng
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yue Yin
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Leike Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yechun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Hong Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Fang Bai
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai 201210, China
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31
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Yang L, Wang Z. Bench-to-bedside: Innovation of small molecule anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs in China. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 257:115503. [PMID: 37229831 PMCID: PMC10193775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths globally, highlighting the need to develop potent prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against SARS-CoV-2. Small molecule inhibitors (remdesivir, Paxlovid, and molnupiravir) are essential complements to vaccines and play important roles in clinical treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Many advances have been made in development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors in China, but progress in discovery and characterization of pharmacological activity, antiviral mechanisms, and clinical efficacy are limited. We review development of small molecule anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs (azvudine [approved by the NMPA of China on July 25, 2022], VV116 [approved by the NMPA of China on January 29, 2023], FB2001, WPV01, pentarlandir, and cepharanthine) in China and summarize their pharmacological activity, potential mechanisms of action, clinical trials and use, and important milestones in their discovery. The role of structural biology in drug development is also reviewed. Future studies should focus on development of diverse second-generation inhibitors with excellent oral bioavailability, superior plasma half-life, increased antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, high target specificity, minimal side effects, reduced drug-drug interactions, and improved lung histopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Yang
- School of Physics and Physical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, PR China; Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Zhonglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, 273165, PR China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus, Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
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32
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Ghahremanpour MM, Saar A, Tirado-Rives J, Jorgensen WL. Computation of Absolute Binding Free Energies for Noncovalent Inhibitors with SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:5309-5318. [PMID: 37561001 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Accurate, routine calculation of absolute binding free energies (ABFEs) for protein-ligand complexes remains a key goal of computer-aided drug design since it can enable screening and optimization of drug candidates. For development and testing of related methods, it is important to have high-quality datasets. To this end, from our own experimental studies, we have selected a set of 16 inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) with structural diversity and well-distributed BFEs covering a 5 kcal/mol range. There is also minimal structural uncertainty since X-ray crystal structures have been deposited for 12 of the compounds. For methods testing, we report ABFE results from 2 μs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using free energy perturbation (FEP) theory. The correlation of experimental and computed results is encouraging, with a Pearson's r2 of 0.58 and a Kendall τ of 0.24. The results indicate that current FEP-based ABFE calculations can be used for identification of active compounds (hits). While their accuracy for lead optimization is not yet sufficient, this activity remains addressable in separate lead series by relative BFE calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anastasia Saar
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
| | - Julian Tirado-Rives
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
| | - William L Jorgensen
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, United States
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33
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Geng ZZ, Atla S, Shaabani N, Vulupala V, Yang KS, Alugubelli YR, Khatua K, Chen PH, Xiao J, Blankenship LR, Ma XR, Vatansever EC, Cho CCD, Ma Y, Allen R, Ji H, Xu S, Liu WR. A Systematic Survey of Reversibly Covalent Dipeptidyl Inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. J Med Chem 2023; 66:11040-11055. [PMID: 37561993 PMCID: PMC10861299 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 pathogen, relies on its main protease (MPro) for replication and pathogenesis. MPro is a demonstrated target for the development of antivirals for SARS-CoV-2. Past studies have systematically explored tripeptidyl inhibitors such as nirmatrelvir as MPro inhibitors. However, dipeptidyl inhibitors especially those with a spiro residue at their P2 position have not been systematically investigated. In this work, we synthesized about 30 dipeptidyl MPro inhibitors and characterized them on enzymatic inhibition potency, structures of their complexes with MPro, cellular MPro inhibition potency, antiviral potency, cytotoxicity, and in vitro metabolic stability. Our results indicated that MPro has a flexible S2 pocket to accommodate inhibitors with a large P2 residue and revealed that dipeptidyl inhibitors with a large P2 spiro residue such as (S)-2-azaspiro [4,4]nonane-3-carboxylate and (S)-2-azaspiro[4,5]decane-3-carboxylate have favorable characteristics. One compound, MPI60, containing a P2 (S)-2-azaspiro[4,4]nonane-3-carboxylate displayed high antiviral potency, low cellular cytotoxicity, and high in vitro metabolic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zachary Geng
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Sandeep Atla
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Namir Shaabani
- Sorrento
Therapeutics, Inc. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Veerabhadra Vulupala
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kai S. Yang
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Yugendar R. Alugubelli
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kaustav Khatua
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Peng-Hsun Chen
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Jing Xiao
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Lauren R. Blankenship
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Xinyu R. Ma
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Erol C. Vatansever
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Chia-Chuan D. Cho
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Yuying Ma
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Robert Allen
- Sorrento
Therapeutics, Inc. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Henry Ji
- Sorrento
Therapeutics, Inc. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Shiqing Xu
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Wenshe Ray Liu
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Institute
of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Translational Medical
Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M
University, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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34
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Jimmidi R, Chamakuri S, Lu S, Ucisik MN, Chen PJ, Bohren KM, Moghadasi SA, Versteeg L, Nnabuife C, Li JY, Qin X, Chen YC, Faver JC, Nyshadham P, Sharma KL, Sankaran B, Judge A, Yu Z, Li F, Pollet J, Harris RS, Matzuk MM, Palzkill T, Young DW. DNA-encoded chemical libraries yield non-covalent and non-peptidic SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. Commun Chem 2023; 6:164. [PMID: 37542196 PMCID: PMC10403511 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00961-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitors for the treatment of COVID-19 has mostly benefitted from X-ray structures and preexisting knowledge of inhibitors; however, an efficient method to generate Mpro inhibitors, which circumvents such information would be advantageous. As an alternative approach, we show here that DNA-encoded chemistry technology (DEC-Tec) can be used to discover inhibitors of Mpro. An affinity selection of a 4-billion-membered DNA-encoded chemical library (DECL) using Mpro as bait produces novel non-covalent and non-peptide-based small molecule inhibitors of Mpro with low nanomolar Ki values. Furthermore, these compounds demonstrate efficacy against mutant forms of Mpro that have shown resistance to the standard-of-care drug nirmatrelvir. Overall, this work demonstrates that DEC-Tec can efficiently generate novel and potent inhibitors without preliminary chemical or structural information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravikumar Jimmidi
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Srinivas Chamakuri
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
| | - Shuo Lu
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Melek Nihan Ucisik
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Peng-Jen Chen
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Kurt M Bohren
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Seyed Arad Moghadasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, USA
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Center for Vaccine Development, Texas Children's Hospital, 1102 Bates Street, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Christina Nnabuife
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Jian-Yuan Li
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Xuan Qin
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Ying-Chu Chen
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - John C Faver
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Pranavanand Nyshadham
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Kiran L Sharma
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Banumathi Sankaran
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Berkeley Center for Structural Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA
| | - Allison Judge
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Feng Li
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Center for Vaccine Development, Texas Children's Hospital, 1102 Bates Street, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Reuben S Harris
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Timothy Palzkill
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
| | - Damian W Young
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
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35
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Fink EA, Bardine C, Gahbauer S, Singh I, Detomasi TC, White K, Gu S, Wan X, Chen J, Ary B, Glenn I, O'Connell J, O'Donnell H, Fajtová P, Lyu J, Vigneron S, Young NJ, Kondratov IS, Alisoltani A, Simons LM, Lorenzo‐Redondo R, Ozer EA, Hultquist JF, O'Donoghue AJ, Moroz YS, Taunton J, Renslo AR, Irwin JJ, García‐Sastre A, Shoichet BK, Craik CS. Large library docking for novel SARS-CoV-2 main protease non-covalent and covalent inhibitors. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4712. [PMID: 37354015 PMCID: PMC10364469 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Antiviral therapeutics to treat SARS-CoV-2 are needed to diminish the morbidity of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A well-precedented drug target is the main viral protease (MPro ), which is targeted by an approved drug and by several investigational drugs. Emerging viral resistance has made new inhibitor chemotypes more pressing. Adopting a structure-based approach, we docked 1.2 billion non-covalent lead-like molecules and a new library of 6.5 million electrophiles against the enzyme structure. From these, 29 non-covalent and 11 covalent inhibitors were identified in 37 series, the most potent having an IC50 of 29 and 20 μM, respectively. Several series were optimized, resulting in low micromolar inhibitors. Subsequent crystallography confirmed the docking predicted binding modes and may template further optimization. While the new chemotypes may aid further optimization of MPro inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2, the modest success rate also reveals weaknesses in our approach for challenging targets like MPro versus other targets where it has been more successful, and versus other structure-based techniques against MPro itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa A. Fink
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Graduate Program in BiophysicsUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Conner Bardine
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Graduate Program in Chemistry and Chemical BiologyUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Stefan Gahbauer
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Isha Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Tyler C. Detomasi
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kris White
- Department of MicrobiologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Shuo Gu
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Xiaobo Wan
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Beatrice Ary
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Isabella Glenn
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Joseph O'Connell
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Henry O'Donnell
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of California‐San DiegoSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jiankun Lyu
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Seth Vigneron
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Nicholas J. Young
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ivan S. Kondratov
- Enamine Ltd.KyïvUkraine
- V.P. Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and PetrochemistryNational Academy of Sciences of UkraineKyïvUkraine
| | - Arghavan Alisoltani
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Lacy M. Simons
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Ramon Lorenzo‐Redondo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Egon A. Ozer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Judd F. Hultquist
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Anthony J. O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of California‐San DiegoSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Yurii S. Moroz
- National Taras Shevchenko University of KyïvKyïvUkraine
- Chemspace LLCKyïvUkraine
| | - Jack Taunton
- Department of Cellular and Molecular PharmacologyUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Adam R. Renslo
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - John J. Irwin
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Adolfo García‐Sastre
- Department of MicrobiologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious DiseasesIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell‐Based MedicineIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- QBI COVID‐19 Research Group (QCRG)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Brian K. Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- QBI COVID‐19 Research Group (QCRG)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Charles S. Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryUniversity of California‐San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- QBI COVID‐19 Research Group (QCRG)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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Gao M, Kang D, Liu N, Liu Y. In Silico Discovery of Small-Molecule Inhibitors Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. Molecules 2023; 28:5320. [PMID: 37513194 PMCID: PMC10383128 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe health threat globally, and novel SARS-Cov-2 inhibitors are urgently needed for antiviral treatment. The main protease (Mpro) of the virus is one of the most effective and conserved targets for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development. In this study, we utilized a molecular docking-based virtual screening approach against the conserved catalytic site to identify small-molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Further biological evaluation helped us identify two compounds, AF-399/40713777 and AI-942/42301830, with moderate inhibitory activity. Besides that, the in silico data, including molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, binding free energy calculations, and AMDET profiles, suggested that these two hits could serve as the starting point for the future development of COVID-19 intervention treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghan Gao
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences & Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan 250117, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drugs, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan 250117, China
- Key Lab for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Dongwei Kang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yanna Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences & Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan 250117, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drugs, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan 250117, China
- Key Lab for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan 250117, China
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37
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She Z, Yao Y, Wang C, Li Y, Xiong X, Liu Y. M pro-targeted anti-SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor-based drugs. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:17475198231184799. [PMID: 37455837 PMCID: PMC10333551 DOI: 10.1177/17475198231184799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a global health emergency. The main protease is an important drug target in coronaviruses. It plays an important role in the processing of viral RNA-translated polyproteins and is highly conserved in the amino acid sequence and three-dimensional structure, making it a good drug target for which several small molecule inhibitors are available. This paper describes the various anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 inhibitor drugs targeting Mpro discovered since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreak at the end of 2019, with all these compounds inhibiting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Mpro activity in vitro. This provides a reference for the development of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Mpro-targeted inhibitors and the design of therapeutic approaches to address newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mutant strains with immune evasion capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuxin She
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Yinuo Yao
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Conglong Wang
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Yi Li
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohui Xiong
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering, ChengXian College, Southeast University, Nanjing, P.R. China
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38
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von Delft A, Hall MD, Kwong AD, Purcell LA, Saikatendu KS, Schmitz U, Tallarico JA, Lee AA. Accelerating antiviral drug discovery: lessons from COVID-19. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:585-603. [PMID: 37173515 PMCID: PMC10176316 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00692-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a wave of rapid and collaborative drug discovery efforts took place in academia and industry, culminating in several therapeutics being discovered, approved and deployed in a 2-year time frame. This article summarizes the collective experience of several pharmaceutical companies and academic collaborations that were active in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antiviral discovery. We outline our opinions and experiences on key stages in the small-molecule drug discovery process: target selection, medicinal chemistry, antiviral assays, animal efficacy and attempts to pre-empt resistance. We propose strategies that could accelerate future efforts and argue that a key bottleneck is the lack of quality chemical probes around understudied viral targets, which would serve as a starting point for drug discovery. Considering the small size of the viral proteome, comprehensively building an arsenal of probes for proteins in viruses of pandemic concern is a worthwhile and tractable challenge for the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette von Delft
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alpha A Lee
- PostEra, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Chenthamarakshan V, Hoffman SC, Owen CD, Lukacik P, Strain-Damerell C, Fearon D, Malla TR, Tumber A, Schofield CJ, Duyvesteyn HM, Dejnirattisai W, Carrique L, Walter TS, Screaton GR, Matviiuk T, Mojsilovic A, Crain J, Walsh MA, Stuart DI, Das P. Accelerating drug target inhibitor discovery with a deep generative foundation model. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg7865. [PMID: 37343087 PMCID: PMC10284550 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg7865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Inhibitor discovery for emerging drug-target proteins is challenging, especially when target structure or active molecules are unknown. Here, we experimentally validate the broad utility of a deep generative framework trained at-scale on protein sequences, small molecules, and their mutual interactions-unbiased toward any specific target. We performed a protein sequence-conditioned sampling on the generative foundation model to design small-molecule inhibitors for two dissimilar targets: the spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) and the main protease from SARS-CoV-2. Despite using only the target sequence information during the model inference, micromolar-level inhibition was observed in vitro for two candidates out of four synthesized for each target. The most potent spike RBD inhibitor exhibited activity against several variants in live virus neutralization assays. These results establish that a single, broadly deployable generative foundation model for accelerated inhibitor discovery is effective and efficient, even in the absence of target structure or binder information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel C. Hoffman
- IBM Research, Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York, NY, USA
| | - C. David Owen
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0FA Didcot, UK
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0FA Didcot, UK
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0FA Didcot, UK
| | - Daren Fearon
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0FA Didcot, UK
| | - Tika R. Malla
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, UK
| | - Anthony Tumber
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, UK
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, UK
| | - Helen M.E. Duyvesteyn
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Wanwisa Dejnirattisai
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Loic Carrique
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas S. Walter
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Gavin R. Screaton
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | | | | | - Jason Crain
- IBM Research Europe, Hartree Centre, Daresbury WA4 4AD, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Martin A. Walsh
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0FA Didcot, UK
| | - David I. Stuart
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Payel Das
- IBM Research, Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York, NY, USA
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40
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Ruatta SM, Prada Gori DN, Fló Díaz M, Lorenzelli F, Perelmuter K, Alberca LN, Bellera CL, Medeiros A, López GV, Ingold M, Porcal W, Dibello E, Ihnatenko I, Kunick C, Incerti M, Luzardo M, Colobbio M, Ramos JC, Manta E, Minini L, Lavaggi ML, Hernández P, Šarlauskas J, Huerta García CS, Castillo R, Hernández-Campos A, Ribaudo G, Zagotto G, Carlucci R, Medrán NS, Labadie GR, Martinez-Amezaga M, Delpiccolo CML, Mata EG, Scarone L, Posada L, Serra G, Calogeropoulou T, Prousis K, Detsi A, Cabrera M, Alvarez G, Aicardo A, Araújo V, Chavarría C, Mašič LP, Gantner ME, Llanos MA, Rodríguez S, Gavernet L, Park S, Heo J, Lee H, Paul Park KH, Bollati-Fogolín M, Pritsch O, Shum D, Talevi A, Comini MA. Garbage in, garbage out: how reliable training data improved a virtual screening approach against SARS-CoV-2 MPro. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1193282. [PMID: 37426813 PMCID: PMC10323144 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1193282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The identification of chemical compounds that interfere with SARS-CoV-2 replication continues to be a priority in several academic and pharmaceutical laboratories. Computational tools and approaches have the power to integrate, process and analyze multiple data in a short time. However, these initiatives may yield unrealistic results if the applied models are not inferred from reliable data and the resulting predictions are not confirmed by experimental evidence. Methods: We undertook a drug discovery campaign against the essential major protease (MPro) from SARS-CoV-2, which relied on an in silico search strategy -performed in a large and diverse chemolibrary- complemented by experimental validation. The computational method comprises a recently reported ligand-based approach developed upon refinement/learning cycles, and structure-based approximations. Search models were applied to both retrospective (in silico) and prospective (experimentally confirmed) screening. Results: The first generation of ligand-based models were fed by data, which to a great extent, had not been published in peer-reviewed articles. The first screening campaign performed with 188 compounds (46 in silico hits and 100 analogues, and 40 unrelated compounds: flavonols and pyrazoles) yielded three hits against MPro (IC50 ≤ 25 μM): two analogues of in silico hits (one glycoside and one benzo-thiazol) and one flavonol. A second generation of ligand-based models was developed based on this negative information and newly published peer-reviewed data for MPro inhibitors. This led to 43 new hit candidates belonging to different chemical families. From 45 compounds (28 in silico hits and 17 related analogues) tested in the second screening campaign, eight inhibited MPro with IC50 = 0.12-20 μM and five of them also impaired the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells (EC50 7-45 μM). Discussion: Our study provides an example of a virtuous loop between computational and experimental approaches applied to target-focused drug discovery against a major and global pathogen, reaffirming the well-known "garbage in, garbage out" machine learning principle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago M. Ruatta
- Laboratory Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Denis N. Prada Gori
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Fló Díaz
- Laboratory of Immunovirology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Franca Lorenzelli
- Laboratory Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Karen Perelmuter
- Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Lucas N. Alberca
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina L. Bellera
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrea Medeiros
- Laboratory Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gloria V. López
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Vascular Biology and Drug Discovery Lab, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mariana Ingold
- Vascular Biology and Drug Discovery Lab, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Williams Porcal
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Vascular Biology and Drug Discovery Lab, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Estefanía Dibello
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Irina Ihnatenko
- PVZ—Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Conrad Kunick
- PVZ—Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Institute of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Marcelo Incerti
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Martín Luzardo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Maximiliano Colobbio
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Química Fina, Facultad de Química, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Juan Carlos Ramos
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Química Fina, Facultad de Química, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Eduardo Manta
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Química Fina, Facultad de Química, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Lucía Minini
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María Laura Lavaggi
- Laboratorio de Química Biológica Ambiental, Sede Rivera, Centro Universitario Regional Noreste, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paola Hernández
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Jonas Šarlauskas
- Life Sciences Centre, Department of Xenobiotic Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Rafael Castillo
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Alicia Hernández-Campos
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Giovanni Ribaudo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Zagotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Renzo Carlucci
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR) UNR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Noelia S. Medrán
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR) UNR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Guillermo R. Labadie
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR) UNR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Maitena Martinez-Amezaga
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR) UNR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Carina M. L. Delpiccolo
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR) UNR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Ernesto G. Mata
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR) UNR, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Laura Scarone
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Laura Posada
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gloria Serra
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Kyriakos Prousis
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Detsi
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Mauricio Cabrera
- Laboratorio de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, Uruguay
| | - Guzmán Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, Uruguay
| | - Adrián Aicardo
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Nutrición Clínica, Escuela de Nutrición, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Verena Araújo
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Alimentos, Escuela de Nutrición, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cecilia Chavarría
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Melisa E. Gantner
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manuel A. Llanos
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciana Gavernet
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Soonju Park
- Screening Discovery Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinyeong Heo
- Screening Discovery Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Honggun Lee
- Screening Discovery Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu-Ho Paul Park
- Screening Discovery Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Otto Pritsch
- Laboratory of Immunovirology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - David Shum
- Screening Discovery Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Alan Talevi
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, National University of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcelo A. Comini
- Laboratory Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
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41
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Maltarollo VG, da Silva EB, Kronenberger T, Sena Andrade MM, de Lima Marques GV, Cândido Oliveira NJ, Santos LH, Oliveira Rezende Júnior CD, Cassiano Martinho AC, Skinner D, Fajtová P, M Fernandes TH, Silveira Dos Santos ED, Rodrigues Gazolla PA, Martins de Souza AP, da Silva ML, Dos Santos FS, Lavorato SN, Oliveira Bretas AC, Carvalho DT, Franco LL, Luedtke S, Giardini MA, Poso A, Dias LC, Podust LM, Alves RJ, McKerrow J, Andrade SF, Teixeira RR, Siqueira-Neto JL, O'Donoghue A, de Oliveira RB, Ferreira RS. Structure-based discovery of thiosemicarbazones as SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:959-985. [PMID: 37435731 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Discovery of novel SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitors using a structure-based drug discovery strategy. Materials & methods: Virtual screening employing covalent and noncovalent docking was performed to discover Mpro inhibitors, which were subsequently evaluated in biochemical and cellular assays. Results: 91 virtual hits were selected for biochemical assays, and four were confirmed as reversible inhibitors of SARS CoV-2 Mpro with IC50 values of 0.4-3 μM. They were also shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-1 Mpro and human cathepsin L. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated the stability of the Mpro inhibitor complexes and the interaction of ligands at the subsites. Conclusion: This approach led to the discovery of novel thiosemicarbazones as potent SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius Gonçalves Maltarollo
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Elany Barbosa da Silva
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided & Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', University of Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, 70211, Finland
| | - Marina Mol Sena Andrade
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Gabriel V de Lima Marques
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Nereu J Cândido Oliveira
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Lucianna H Santos
- Department of Biochemistry & Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Celso de Oliveira Rezende Júnior
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-902, Brazil
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Ana C Cassiano Martinho
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-902, Brazil
| | - Danielle Skinner
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Thaís H M Fernandes
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Departamento de Produção de Matéria-Prima, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
| | - Eduardo da Silveira Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Departamento de Produção de Matéria-Prima, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
| | - Poliana A Rodrigues Gazolla
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Ana P Martins de Souza
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Milene Lopes da Silva
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Fabíola S Dos Santos
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Stefânia N Lavorato
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
- Centro das Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, 47810-047, Brazil
| | - Ana C Oliveira Bretas
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Diogo Teixeira Carvalho
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Lucas Lopardi Franco
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Stephanie Luedtke
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Miriam A Giardini
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Antti Poso
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided & Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', University of Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, 70211, Finland
| | - Luiz C Dias
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Larissa M Podust
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Ricardo J Alves
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - James McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Saulo F Andrade
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Departamento de Produção de Matéria-Prima, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
| | - Róbson R Teixeira
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Jair L Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Anthony O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Renata B de Oliveira
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Rafaela S Ferreira
- Department of Biochemistry & Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
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42
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Mohamed AR, Mostafa A, El Hassab MA, Hedeab GM, Mahmoud SH, George RF, Georgey HH, Abdel Gawad NM, El-Ashrey MK. Insights into targeting SARS-CoV-2: design, synthesis, in silico studies and antiviral evaluation of new dimethylxanthine derivatives. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:899-920. [PMID: 37252103 PMCID: PMC10211320 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00056g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Aiming to achieve efficient activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the expansion of the structure- and ligand-based drug design approaches was adopted, which has been recently reported by our research group. Purine ring is a corner stone in the development of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitors. The privileged purine scaffold was elaborated to achieve additional affinity based on hybridization and fragment-based approaches. Thus, the characteristic pharmacophoric features that are required for the inhibition of Mpro and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of SARS-CoV-2 were utilized along with the crystal structure information of both targets. The designed pathways involved rationalized hybridization with large sulfonamide moieties and a carboxamide fragment for the synthesis of ten new dimethylxanthine derivatives. The synthesis was performed under diverse conditions to afford N-alkylated xanthine derivatives, and cyclization afforded tricyclic compounds. Molecular modeling simulations were used to confirm and gain insights into the binding interactions at both targets' active sites. The merit of designed compounds and the in silico studies resulted in the selection of three compounds that were evaluated in vitro to estimate their antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 (compounds 5, 9a and 19 with IC50 values of 38.39, 8.86 and 16.01 μM, respectively). Furthermore, oral toxicity of the selected antiviral candidates was predicted, in addition to cytotoxicity investigations. Compound 9a showed IC50 values of 8.06 and 3.22 μM against Mpro and RdRp of SARS-CoV-2, respectively, in addition to promising molecular dynamics stability in both target active sites. The current findings encourage further specificity evaluations of the promising compounds for confirming their specific protein targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdalla R Mohamed
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Egyptian Russian University Badr City Cairo 11829 Egypt
| | - Ahmed Mostafa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre Giza 12622 Egypt
| | - Mahmoud A El Hassab
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Salman International University Ras-Sedr South Sinai Egypt
| | - Gomaa M Hedeab
- Pharmacology Department and Health Research Unit, Medical College, Jouf University Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University Egypt
| | - Sara H Mahmoud
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre Giza 12622 Egypt
| | - Riham F George
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University Cairo 11562 Egypt
| | - Hanan H Georgey
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University Cairo 11562 Egypt
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Drug Technology, Egyptian Chinese University 11786 Cairo Egypt
| | - Nagwa M Abdel Gawad
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University Cairo 11562 Egypt
| | - Mohamed K El-Ashrey
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Salman International University Ras-Sedr South Sinai Egypt
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University Cairo 11562 Egypt
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43
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Zhang K, Wang T, Li M, Liu M, Tang H, Wang L, Ye K, Yang J, Jiang S, Xiao Y, Xie Y, Lu M, Zhang X. Discovery of quinazolin-4-one-based non-covalent inhibitors targeting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 main protease (SARS-CoV-2 M pro). Eur J Med Chem 2023; 257:115487. [PMID: 37257212 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 continues to pose a great threat to public health while various vaccines are available worldwide. Main protease (Mpro) has been validated as an effective anti-COVID-19 drug target. Using medicinal chemistry and rational drug design strategies, we identified a quinazolin-4-one series of nonpeptidic, noncovalent SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors based on baicalein, 5,6,7-trihydroxy-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one. In particular, compound C7 exhibits superior inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro relative to baicalein (IC50 = 0.085 ± 0.006 and 0.966 ± 0.065 μM, respectively), as well as improved physicochemical and drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) properties. In addition, C7 inhibits viral replication in SARS-CoV-2-infected Vero E6 cells more effectively than baicalein (EC50 = 1.10 ± 0.12 and 5.15 ± 1.64 μM, respectively) with low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 50 μM). An X-ray co-crystal structure reveals a non-covalent mechanism of action, and a noncanonical binding mode not observed by baicalein. These results suggest that C7 represents a promising lead for development of more effective SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors and anti-COVID-19 drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuojun Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Tianyu Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Maotian Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Mu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - He Tang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ke Ye
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jiamei Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Sheng Jiang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Youhua Xie
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
| | - Meiling Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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44
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Miura T, Malla TR, Owen CD, Tumber A, Brewitz L, McDonough MA, Salah E, Terasaka N, Katoh T, Lukacik P, Strain-Damerell C, Mikolajek H, Walsh MA, Kawamura A, Schofield CJ, Suga H. In vitro selection of macrocyclic peptide inhibitors containing cyclic γ 2,4-amino acids targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Nat Chem 2023:10.1038/s41557-023-01205-1. [PMID: 37217786 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01205-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
γ-Amino acids can play important roles in the biological activities of natural products; however, the ribosomal incorporation of γ-amino acids into peptides is challenging. Here we report how a selection campaign employing a non-canonical peptide library containing cyclic γ2,4-amino acids resulted in the discovery of very potent inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). Two kinds of cyclic γ2,4-amino acids, cis-3-aminocyclobutane carboxylic acid (γ1) and (1R,3S)-3-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid (γ2), were ribosomally introduced into a library of thioether-macrocyclic peptides. One resultant potent Mpro inhibitor (half-maximal inhibitory concentration = 50 nM), GM4, comprising 13 residues with γ1 at the fourth position, manifests a 5.2 nM dissociation constant. An Mpro:GM4 complex crystal structure reveals the intact inhibitor spans the substrate binding cleft. The γ1 interacts with the S1' catalytic subsite and contributes to a 12-fold increase in proteolytic stability compared to its alanine-substituted variant. Knowledge of interactions between GM4 and Mpro enabled production of a variant with a 5-fold increase in potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Miura
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tika R Malla
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - C David Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Anthony Tumber
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lennart Brewitz
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael A McDonough
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Eidarus Salah
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Naohiro Terasaka
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Katoh
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Halina Mikolajek
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Martin A Walsh
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Akane Kawamura
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Chemistry - School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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45
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Hooper A, Macdonald JD, Reilly B, Maw J, Wirrick AP, Han SH, Lindsey AA, Rico EG, Romigh T, Goins CM, Wang NS, Stauffer S. SARS-CoV-2 3CL-protease inhibitors derived from ML300: investigation of P1 and replacements of the 1,2,3-benzotriazole. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2880312. [PMID: 37214977 PMCID: PMC10197776 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2880312/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Starting from compound 5 (CCF0058981), a structure-based optimization of the P1 subsite was performed against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (3CLpro). Inhibitor 5 and the compounds disclosed bind to 3CLpro using a non-covalent mode of action that utilize a His163 H-bond interaction in the S1 subpocket. In an effort to examine more structurally diverse P1 groups a number of azoles and heterocycles were designed. Several azole ring systems and replacements, including C-linked azoles, with similar or enhanced potency relative to 5 were discovered (28, 29, and 30) with demonstrated IC50 values less than 100 nM. In addition, pyridyl and isoquinoline P1 groups were successful as P1 replacements leading to 3-methyl pyridyl 36 (IC50 = 85 nM) and isoquinoline 27 (IC50 = 26 nM). High resolution X-ray crystal structures of these inhibitors were utilized to confirm binding orientation and guide optimization. These findings have implications towards antiviral development and preparedness to combat SARS-like zoonotic coronavirus outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Joshua Maw
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
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46
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Andrianov AM, Shuldau MA, Furs KV, Yushkevich AM, Tuzikov AV. AI-Driven De Novo Design and Molecular Modeling for Discovery of Small-Molecule Compounds as Potential Drug Candidates Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098083. [PMID: 37175788 PMCID: PMC10178971 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past three years, significant progress has been made in the development of novel promising drug candidates against COVID-19. However, SARS-CoV-2 mutations resulting in the emergence of new viral strains that can be resistant to the drugs used currently in the clinic necessitate the development of novel potent and broad therapeutic agents targeting different vulnerable spots of the viral proteins. In this study, two deep learning generative models were developed and used in combination with molecular modeling tools for de novo design of small molecule compounds that can inhibit the catalytic activity of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), an enzyme critically important for mediating viral replication and transcription. As a result, the seven best scoring compounds that exhibited low values of binding free energy comparable with those calculated for two potent inhibitors of Mpro, via the same computational protocol, were selected as the most probable inhibitors of the enzyme catalytic site. In light of the data obtained, the identified compounds are assumed to present promising scaffolds for the development of new potent and broad-spectrum drugs inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, an attractive therapeutic target for anti-COVID-19 agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Andrianov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220141 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Mikita A Shuldau
- United Institute of Informatics Problems, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220012 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Konstantin V Furs
- United Institute of Informatics Problems, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220012 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Artsemi M Yushkevich
- United Institute of Informatics Problems, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220012 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Alexander V Tuzikov
- United Institute of Informatics Problems, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220012 Minsk, Belarus
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47
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Kronenberger T, Laufer SA, Pillaiyar T. COVID-19 therapeutics: small-molecule drug development targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103579. [PMID: 37028502 PMCID: PMC10074736 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative factor behind the 2019 global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). The main protease, known as Mpro, is encoded by the viral genome and is essential for viral replication. It has also been an effective target for drug development. In this review, we discuss the rationale for inhibitors that specifically target SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Small molecules and peptidomimetic inhibitors are two types of inhibitor with various modes of action and we focus here on novel inhibitors that were only discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting their binding modes and structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thales Kronenberger
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tuebingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan A Laufer
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tuebingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thanigaimalai Pillaiyar
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tuebingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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48
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Moghadasi SA, Heilmann E, Khalil AM, Nnabuife C, Kearns FL, Ye C, Moraes SN, Costacurta F, Esler MA, Aihara H, von Laer D, Martinez-Sobrido L, Palzkill T, Amaro RE, Harris RS. Transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants with resistance to clinical protease inhibitors. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade8778. [PMID: 36989354 PMCID: PMC10058310 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade8778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines and drugs have helped reduce disease severity and blunt the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, ongoing virus transmission, continuous evolution, and increasing selective pressures have the potential to yield viral variants capable of resisting these interventions. Here, we investigate the susceptibility of natural variants of the main protease [Mpro; 3C-like protease (3CLpro)] of SARS-CoV-2 to protease inhibitors. Multiple single amino acid changes in Mpro confer resistance to nirmatrelvir (the active component of Paxlovid). An additional clinical-stage inhibitor, ensitrelvir (Xocova), shows a different resistance mutation profile. Importantly, phylogenetic analyses indicate that several of these resistant variants have pre-existed the introduction of these drugs into the human population and are capable of spreading. These results encourage the monitoring of resistance variants and the development of additional protease inhibitors and other antiviral drugs with different mechanisms of action and resistance profiles for combinatorial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Arad Moghadasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Emmanuel Heilmann
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ahmed Magdy Khalil
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| | - Christina Nnabuife
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Fiona L. Kearns
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chengjin Ye
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
| | - Sofia N. Moraes
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | - Morgan A. Esler
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Hideki Aihara
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Dorothee von Laer
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Timothy Palzkill
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rommie E. Amaro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Reuben S. Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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49
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Zhou Y, Wang W, Zeng P, Feng J, Li D, Jing Y, Zhang J, Yin X, Li J, Ye H, Wang Q. Structural basis of main proteases of HCoV-229E bound to inhibitor PF-07304814 and PF-07321332. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 657:16-23. [PMID: 36965419 PMCID: PMC10020134 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
PF-07321332 and PF-07304814, inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 developed by Pfizer, exhibit broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against the main protease (Mpro) from various coronaviruses. Structures of PF-07321332 or PF-07304814 in complex with Mpros of various coronaviruses reveal their inhibitory mechanisms against different Mpros. However, the structural information on the lower pathogenic coronavirus Mpro with PF-07321332 or PF-07304814 is currently scarce, which hinders our comprehensive understanding of the inhibitory mechanisms of these two inhibitors. Meanwhile, given that some immunocompromised individuals are still affected by low pathogenic coronaviruses, we determined the structures of lower pathogenic coronavirus HCoV-229E Mpro with PF-07321332 and PF-07304814, respectively, and analyzed and defined in detail the structural basis for the inhibition of HCoV-229E Mpro by both inhibitors. Further, we compared the crystal structures of multiple coronavirus Mpro complexes with PF-07321332 or PF-07304814 to illustrate the differences in the interaction of Mpros, and found that the inhibition mechanism of lower pathogenic coronavirus Mpro was more similar to that of moderately pathogenic coronaviruses. Our structural studies provide new insights into drug development for low pathogenic coronavirus Mpro, and provide theoretical basis for further optimization of both inhibitors to contain potential future coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanru Zhou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201204, China
| | - Pei Zeng
- Shenzhen Crystalo Biopharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Shenzhen, 518118, China; Jiangxi Jmerry Biopharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Jingwen Feng
- Applied Biology Laboratory, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, 110142, Shenyang, China
| | - Dongyang Li
- Applied Biology Laboratory, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, 110142, Shenyang, China
| | - Yue Jing
- Applied Biology Laboratory, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, 110142, Shenyang, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Shenzhen Crystalo Biopharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Shenzhen, 518118, China
| | - Xiushan Yin
- Applied Biology Laboratory, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, 110142, Shenyang, China
| | - Jian Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Heyang Ye
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
| | - Qisheng Wang
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201204, China; Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China.
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50
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Ramos-Guzmán CA, Andjelkovic M, Zinovjev K, Ruiz-Pernía JJ, Tuñón I. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease mutations on nirmatrelvir inhibitory efficiency. Computational insights into potential resistance mechanisms. Chem Sci 2023; 14:2686-2697. [PMID: 36908962 PMCID: PMC9993853 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc06584c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of antiviral drugs can promote the appearance of mutations in the target protein that increase the resistance of the virus to the treatment. This is also the case of nirmatrelvir, a covalent inhibitor of the 3CL protease, or main protease, of SARS-CoV-2. In this work we show how the by-residue decomposition of noncovalent interactions established between the drug and the enzyme, in combination with an analysis of naturally occurring mutations, can be used to detect potential mutations in the 3CL protease conferring resistance to nirmatrelvir. We also investigate the consequences of these mutations on the reaction mechanism to form the covalent enzyme-inhibitor complex using QM/MM methods. In particular, we show that the E166V variant of the protease displays smaller binding affinity to nirmatrelvir and larger activation free energy for the formation of the covalent complex, both factors contributing to the observed resistance to the treatment with this drug. The conclusions derived from our work can be used to anticipate the consequences of the introduction of nirmatrelvir in the fitness landscape of the virus and to design new inhibitors adapted to some of the possible resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Ramos-Guzmán
- Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Valencia 46100 Burjassot Spain
- Instituto de Materiales Avanzados, Universidad Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | - Milorad Andjelkovic
- Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Valencia 46100 Burjassot Spain
| | - Kirill Zinovjev
- Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Valencia 46100 Burjassot Spain
| | | | - Iñaki Tuñón
- Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Valencia 46100 Burjassot Spain
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