1
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Maluck S, Bobrovsky R, Poór M, Lange RW, Steinmetzer T, Jerzsele Á, Adorján A, Bajusz D, Rácz A, Pászti-Gere E. In Vitro Evaluation of Antipseudomonal Activity and Safety Profile of Peptidomimetic Furin Inhibitors. Biomedicines 2024; 12:2075. [PMID: 39335588 PMCID: PMC11444200 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12092075] [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: 08/09/2024] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of the serine protease furin have been widely studied as antimicrobial agents due to their ability to block the cleavage and activation of certain viral surface proteins and bacterial toxins. In this study, the antipseudomonal effects and safety profiles of the furin inhibitors MI-1851 and MI-2415 were assessed. Fluorescence quenching studies suggested no relevant binding of the compounds to human serum albumin and α1-acid glycoprotein. Both inhibitors demonstrated significant antipseudomonal activity in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, especially compound MI-1851 at very low concentrations (0.5 µM). Using non-tumorigenic porcine IPEC-J2 cells, neither of the two furin inhibitors induced cytotoxicity (CCK-8 assay) or altered significantly the intracellular (Amplex Red assay) or extracellular (DCFH-DA assay) redox status even at a concentration of 100 µM. The same assays with MI-2415 conducted on primary human hepatocytes also resulted in no changes in cell viability and oxidative stress at up to 100 µM. Microsomal and hepatocyte-based CYP3A4 activity assays showed that both inhibitors exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of the isoenzyme at high concentrations. In conclusion, this study indicates a good safety profile of the furin inhibitors MI-1851 and MI-2415, suggesting their applicability as antimicrobials for further in vivo investigations, despite some inhibitory effects on CYP3A4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Maluck
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hungary István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Rivka Bobrovsky
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hungary István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Miklós Poór
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 13, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Molecular Medicine Research Group, János Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Ifjúság útja 20, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Roman W Lange
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Ákos Jerzsele
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hungary István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
- National Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Adorján
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hungária krt. 23-25, H-1143 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Bajusz
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Group and Drug Innovation Centre, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anita Rácz
- Plasma Chemistry Research Group, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Erzsébet Pászti-Gere
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hungary István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
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2
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Ivachtchenko AV, Khvat AV, Shkil DO. Development and Prospects of Furin Inhibitors for Therapeutic Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9199. [PMID: 39273149 PMCID: PMC11394684 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179199] [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: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Furin, a serine protease enzyme located in the Golgi apparatus of animal cells, plays a crucial role in cleaving precursor proteins into their mature, active forms. It is ubiquitously expressed across various tissues, including the brain, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, and reproductive organs. Since its discovery in 1990, furin has been recognized as a significant therapeutic target, leading to the active development of furin inhibitors for potential use in antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, and other therapeutic applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the progress in the development and characterization of furin inhibitors, encompassing peptides, linear and macrocyclic peptidomimetics, and non-peptide compounds, highlighting their potential in the treatment of both infectious and non-infectious diseases.
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3
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Van Lam van T, Ivanova T, Lindberg I, Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Steinmetzer T, Hardes K. Design, synthesis, and characterization of novel fluorogenic substrates of the proprotein convertases furin, PC1/3, PC2, PC5/6, and PC7. Anal Biochem 2022; 655:114836. [PMID: 35964735 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2022.114836] [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: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Proprotein convertases (PCs) are involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, making them promising drug targets. Most assays for PCs have been performed with few standard substrates, regardless of differences in cleavage efficiencies. Derived from studies on substrate-analogue inhibitors, 11 novel substrates were synthesized and characterized with five PCs. H-Arg-Arg-Tle-Lys-Arg-AMC is the most efficiently cleaved furin substrate based on its kcat/KM value. Due to its higher kcat value, acetyl-Arg-Arg-Tle-Arg-Arg-AMC was selected for further measurements to demonstrate the benefit of this improved substrate. Compared to our standard conditions, its use allowed a 10-fold reduction of the furin concentration, which enabled Ki value determinations of previously described tight-binding inhibitors under classical conditions. Under these circumstances, a slow-binding behavior was observed for the first time with inhibitor MI-1148. In addition to furin, four additional PCs were used to characterize these substrates. The most efficiently cleaved PC1/3 substrate was Ac-Arg-Arg-Arg-Tle-Lys-Arg-AMC. The highest kcat/KM values for PC2 and PC7 were found for the N-terminally unprotected analogue of this substrate, although other substrates possess higher kcat values. The highest efficiency for PC5/6A was observed for the substrate Ac-Arg-Arg-Tle-Lys-Arg-AMC. In summary, we have identified new substrates for furin, PC1/3, PC2, and PC7 suitable for improved enzyme-kinetic measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Van Lam van
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Teodora Ivanova
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Iris Lindberg
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | | | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032, Marburg, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, D-35394, Giessen, Germany.
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4
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Thomas G, Couture F, Kwiatkowska A. The Path to Therapeutic Furin Inhibitors: From Yeast Pheromones to SARS-CoV-2. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:3435. [PMID: 35408793 PMCID: PMC8999023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The spurious acquisition and optimization of a furin cleavage site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is associated with increased viral transmission and disease, and has generated intense interest in the development and application of therapeutic furin inhibitors to thwart the COVID-19 pandemic. This review summarizes the seminal studies that informed current efforts to inhibit furin. These include the convergent efforts of endocrinologists, virologists, and yeast geneticists that, together, culminated in the discovery of furin. We describe the pioneering biochemical studies which led to the first furin inhibitors that were able to block the disease pathways which are broadly critical for pathogen virulence, tumor invasiveness, and atherosclerosis. We then summarize how these studies subsequently informed current strategies leading to the development of small-molecule furin inhibitors as potential therapies to combat SARS-CoV-2 and other diseases that rely on furin for their pathogenicity and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Thomas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Frédéric Couture
- TransBIOTech, Lévis, QC G6V 6Z3, Canada;
- Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Laval University, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux de Chaudière-Appalaches, Lévis, QC G6V 3Z1, Canada
| | - Anna Kwiatkowska
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5N4, Canada
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5
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Abstract
Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 sequence revealed a multibasic furin cleavage site at the S1/S2 boundary of the spike protein distinguishing this virus from SARS-CoV. Furin, the best-characterized member of the mammalian proprotein convertases, is an ubiquitously expressed single pass type 1 transmembrane protein. Cleavage of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by furin promotes viral entry into lung cells. While furin knockout is embryonically lethal, its knockout in differentiated somatic cells is not, thus furin provides an exciting therapeutic target for viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 and bacterial infections. Several peptide-based and small-molecule inhibitors of furin have been recently reported, and select cocrystal structures have been solved, paving the way for further optimization and selection of clinical candidates. This perspective highlights furin structure, substrates, recent inhibitors, and crystal structures with emphasis on furin's role in SARS-CoV-2 infection, where the current data strongly suggest its inhibition as a promising therapeutic intervention for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essam
Eldin A. Osman
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Alnawaz Rehemtulla
- Department
of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Nouri Neamati
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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6
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Battisti V, Urban E, Langer T. Antivirals against the Chikungunya Virus. Viruses 2021; 13:1307. [PMID: 34372513 PMCID: PMC8310245 DOI: 10.3390/v13071307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that has re-emerged in recent decades, causing large-scale epidemics in many parts of the world. CHIKV infection leads to a febrile disease known as chikungunya fever (CHIKF), which is characterised by severe joint pain and myalgia. As many patients develop a painful chronic stage and neither antiviral drugs nor vaccines are available, the development of a potent CHIKV inhibiting drug is crucial for CHIKF treatment. A comprehensive summary of current antiviral research and development of small-molecule inhibitor against CHIKV is presented in this review. We highlight different approaches used for the identification of such compounds and further discuss the identification and application of promising viral and host targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thierry Langer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Chemistry Division, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; (V.B.); (E.U.)
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7
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Lam van TV, Heindl MR, Schlutt C, Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Bartenschlager R, Klebe G, Brandstetter H, Dahms SO, Steinmetzer T. The Basicity Makes the Difference: Improved Canavanine-Derived Inhibitors of the Proprotein Convertase Furin. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:426-432. [PMID: 33732412 PMCID: PMC7957917 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
![]()
Furin activates numerous
viral glycoproteins, and its inhibition
prevents virus replication and spread. Through the replacement of
arginine by the less basic canavanine, new inhibitors targeting furin
in the trans-Golgi network were developed. These inhibitors exert
potent antiviral activity in cell culture with much lower toxicity
than arginine-derived analogues, most likely due to their reduced
protonation in the blood circulation. Thus, despite its important
physiological functions, furin might be a suitable antiviral drug
target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Van Lam van
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Miriam Ruth Heindl
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Christine Schlutt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University and German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg Partner Site, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Hans Brandstetter
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sven O. Dahms
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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8
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Lewandowska-Goch MA, Kwiatkowska A, Łepek T, Ly K, Navals P, Gagnon H, Dory YL, Prahl A, Day R. Design and Structure-Activity Relationship of a Potent Furin Inhibitor Derived from Influenza Hemagglutinin. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:365-372. [PMID: 33738063 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Furin plays an important role in various pathological states, especially in bacterial and viral infections. A detailed understanding of the structural requirements for inhibitors targeting this enzyme is crucial to develop new therapeutic strategies in infectious diseases, including an urgent unmet need for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previously, we have identified a potent furin inhibitor, peptide Ac-RARRRKKRT-NH 2 (CF1), based on the highly pathogenic avian influenza hemagglutinin. The goal of this study was to determine how its N-terminal part (the P8-P5 positions) affects its activity profile. To do so, the positional-scanning libraries of individual peptides modified at the selected positions with natural amino acids were generated. Subsequently, the best substitutions were combined together and/or replaced by unnatural residues to expand our investigations. The results reveal that the affinity of CF1 can be improved (2-2.5-fold) by substituting its P5 position with the small hydrophobic residues (Ile or Val) or a basic Lys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika A. Lewandowska-Goch
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Kwiatkowska
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Teresa Łepek
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Kévin Ly
- PhenoSwitch Bioscience Inc., 975 rue Léon-Trépanier, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1G 5J6, Canada
| | - Pauline Navals
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Hugo Gagnon
- PhenoSwitch Bioscience Inc., 975 rue Léon-Trépanier, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1G 5J6, Canada
| | - Yves L. Dory
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Adam Prahl
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Robert Day
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
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9
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Gioia M, Ciaccio C, Calligari P, De Simone G, Sbardella D, Tundo G, Fasciglione GF, Di Masi A, Di Pierro D, Bocedi A, Ascenzi P, Coletta M. Role of proteolytic enzymes in the COVID-19 infection and promising therapeutic approaches. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 182:114225. [PMID: 32956643 PMCID: PMC7501082 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In the Fall of 2019 a sudden and dramatic outbreak of a pulmonary disease (Coronavirus Disease COVID-19), due to a new Coronavirus strain (i.e., SARS-CoV-2), emerged in the continental Chinese area of Wuhan and quickly diffused throughout the world, causing up to now several hundreds of thousand deaths. As for common viral infections, the crucial event for the viral life cycle is the entry of genetic material inside the host cell, realized by the spike protein of the virus through its binding to host receptors and its activation by host proteases; this is followed by translation of the viral RNA into a polyprotein, exploiting the host cell machinery. The production of individual mature viral proteins is pivotal for replication and release of new virions. Several proteolytic enzymes either of the host and of the virus act in a concerted fashion to regulate and coordinate specific steps of the viral replication and assembly, such as (i) the entry of the virus, (ii) the maturation of the polyprotein and (iii) the assembly of the secreted virions for further diffusion. Therefore, proteases involved in these three steps are important targets, envisaging that molecules which interfere with their activity are promising therapeutic compounds. In this review, we will survey what is known up to now on the role of specific proteolytic enzymes in these three steps and of most promising compounds designed to impair this vicious cycle.
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Key Words
- covid-19, coronavirus disease – 19
- sars-cov, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- sars-cov-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome – 2
- mers-cov, middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- orf, open reading frame
- plpro, papain-like protease
- mpro, main protease
- pp, polyprotein
- nsp, non structural protein
- rdrp, rna dependent rna polymerase
- hel, helicase
- s protein, spike protein
- tmprss2, trans-membrane protease serine protease-2
- tmprss4, trans-membrane protease serine protease-4
- hat, human airway trypsin-like protease
- tgn, trans-golgi network
- ace2, angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor-2
- rbd, receptor binding domain
- pc, pro-protein convertase
- hcov-oc43, human coronavirus-oc43
- mhv-a59, murine hepatitis virus – a59
- hiv, human immunodeficiency virus
- cmk, chloro-methyl-ketone
- dec, decanoyl
- phac, phenyl-acetyl
- ttsp, type ii transmembrane serine proteases family
- hpv, human papillomavirus
- hbv, hepatitis b virus
- evd, ebola virus disease
- zikv, zika virus
- jev, japanese encephalitis virus
- fpv, feline panleukopenia virus
- hpaiv, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
- cdv, canine distemper virus
- rsv, respiratory syncytial virus (rsv)
- a1at, alpha-1-anti trypsin
- aebsf, 4-(2-aminomethyl)-benzene sulphonyl fluoride
- bhh, bromhexine hydrochloride
- pcsk, pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin
- ampk, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase
- hcov-nl63, human coronavirus – nl63
- hcov-229e, human coronavirus – 229e
- hcov-hku1, human coronavirus – hku1
- 3cpro, 3chymotrypsin protease of rhinoviruses
- 3d-qsar, three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships
- fda, food and drug agency
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Gioia
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
| | - Chiara Ciaccio
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
| | - Paolo Calligari
- Department of Chemical and Technological Sciences, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Donato Di Pierro
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | - Alessio Bocedi
- Department of Chemical and Technological Sciences, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | - Paolo Ascenzi
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Roma, Italy,Interdepartmental Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Roma Tre University, Roma, Italy
| | - Massimo Coletta
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
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10
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Zhou QA, Kato-Weinstein J, Li Y, Deng Y, Granet R, Garner L, Liu C, Polshakov D, Gessner C, Watkins S. Potential Therapeutic Agents and Associated Bioassay Data for COVID-19 and Related Human Coronavirus Infections. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:813-834. [PMID: 33062950 PMCID: PMC7447080 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has led to several million confirmed cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. To support the ongoing research and development of COVID-19 therapeutics, this report provides an overview of protein targets and corresponding potential drug candidates with bioassay and structure-activity relationship data found in the scientific literature and patents for COVID-19 or related virus infections. Highlighted are several sets of small molecules and biologics that act on specific targets, including 3CLpro, PLpro, RdRp, S-protein-ACE2 interaction, helicase/NTPase, TMPRSS2, and furin, which are involved in the viral life cycle or in other aspects of the disease pathophysiology. We hope this report will be valuable to the ongoing drug repurposing efforts and the discovery of new therapeutics with the potential for treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongqiong Angela Zhou
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | | | - Yingzhu Li
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Yi Deng
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Roger Granet
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Linda Garner
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Cynthia Liu
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Dmitrii Polshakov
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Chris Gessner
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
| | - Steven Watkins
- CAS, a division
of the American Chemical Society, 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-3012, United States
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11
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Izaguirre G. The Proteolytic Regulation of Virus Cell Entry by Furin and Other Proprotein Convertases. Viruses 2019; 11:v11090837. [PMID: 31505793 PMCID: PMC6784293 DOI: 10.3390/v11090837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide variety of viruses exploit furin and other proprotein convertases (PCs) of the constitutive protein secretion pathway in order to regulate their cell entry mechanism and infectivity. Surface proteins of enveloped, as well as non-enveloped, viruses become processed by these proteases intracellularly during morphogenesis or extracellularly after egress and during entry in order to produce mature virions activated for infection. Although viruses also take advantage of other proteases, it is when some viruses become reactive with PCs that they may develop high pathogenicity. Besides reacting with furin, some viruses may also react with the PCs of the other specificity group constituted by PC4/PC5/PACE4/PC7. The targeting of PCs for inhibition may result in a useful strategy to treat infections with some highly pathogenic viruses. A wide variety of PC inhibitors have been developed and tested for their antiviral activity in cell-based assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Izaguirre
- College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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12
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Löw K, Hardes K, Fedeli C, Seidah NG, Constam DB, Pasquato A, Steinmetzer T, Roulin A, Kunz S. A novel cell-based sensor detecting the activity of individual basic proprotein convertases. FEBS J 2019; 286:4597-4620. [PMID: 31276291 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The basic proprotein convertases (PCs) furin, PC1/3, PC2, PC5/6, PACE4, PC4, and PC7 are promising drug targets for human diseases. However, developing selective inhibitors remains challenging due to overlapping substrate recognition motifs and limited structural information. Classical drug screening approaches for basic PC inhibitors involve homogeneous biochemical assays using soluble recombinant enzymes combined with fluorogenic substrate peptides that may not accurately recapitulate the complex cellular context of the basic PC-substrate interaction. Herein we report basic PC sensor (BPCS), a novel cell-based molecular sensor that allows rapid screening of candidate inhibitors and their selectivity toward individual basic PCs within mammalian cells. BPCS consists of Gaussia luciferase linked to a sortilin-1 membrane anchor via a cleavage motif that allows efficient release of luciferase specifically if individual basic PCs are provided in the same membrane. Screening of selected candidate peptidomimetic inhibitors revealed that BPCS can readily distinguish between general and selective PC inhibitors in a high-throughput screening format. The robust and cost-effective assay format of BPCS makes it suitable to identify novel specific small-molecule inhibitors against basic PCs for therapeutic application. Its cell-based nature will allow screening for drug targets in addition to the catalytically active mature enzyme, including maturation, transport, and cellular factors that modulate the enzyme's activity. This broadened 'target range' will enhance the likelihood to identify novel small-molecule compounds that inhibit basic PCs in a direct or indirect manner and represents a conceptual advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Löw
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Germany
| | - Chiara Fedeli
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nabil G Seidah
- Laboratory of Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, (Affiliated to the University of Montreal), Canada
| | - Daniel B Constam
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) SV ISREC, Switzerland
| | - Antonella Pasquato
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Kunz
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
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13
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Van Lam van T, Ivanova T, Hardes K, Heindl MR, Morty RE, Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Lindberg I, Than ME, Dahms SO, Steinmetzer T. Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Macrocyclic Inhibitors of the Proprotein Convertase Furin. ChemMedChem 2019; 14:673-685. [PMID: 30680958 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The activation of viral glycoproteins by the host protease furin is an essential step in the replication of numerous pathogenic viruses. Thus, effective inhibitors of furin could serve as broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. A crystal structure of an inhibitory hexapeptide derivative in complex with furin served as template for the rational design of various types of new cyclic inhibitors. Most of the prepared derivatives are relatively potent furin inhibitors with inhibition constants in the low nanomolar or even sub-nanomolar range. For seven derivatives the crystal structures in complex with furin could be determined. In three complexes, electron density was found for the entire inhibitor. In the other cases the structures could be determined only for the P6/P5-P1 segments, which directly interact with furin. The cyclic derivatives together with two non-cyclic reference compounds were tested as inhibitors of the proteolytic activation and replication of respiratory syncytial virus in cells. Significant antiviral activity was found for both linear reference inhibitors, whereas a negligible efficacy was determined for the cyclic derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Van Lam van
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Teodora Ivanova
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Miriam Ruth Heindl
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Rory E Morty
- Department of Lung Development and Remodelling, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | | | - Iris Lindberg
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Manuel E Than
- Protein Crystallography Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Sven O Dahms
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
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14
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Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Garten W, Klenk HD. The Antiviral Potential of Host Protease Inhibitors. ACTIVATION OF VIRUSES BY HOST PROTEASES 2018. [PMCID: PMC7122247 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75474-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The replication of numerous pathogenic viruses depends on host proteases, which therefore emerged as potential antiviral drug targets. In some cases, e.g., for influenza viruses, their function during the viral propagation cycle is relatively well understood, where they cleave and activate viral surface glycoproteins. For other viruses, e.g., Ebola virus, the function of host proteases during replication is still not clear. Host proteases may also contribute to the pathogenicity of virus infection by activating proinflammatory cytokines. For some coronaviruses, human proteases can also serve in a nonproteolytical fashion simply as receptors for virus entry. However, blocking of such protein-protein contacts is challenging, because receptor surfaces are often flat and difficult to address with small molecules. In contrast, many proteases possess well-defined binding pockets. Therefore, they can be considered as well-druggable targets, especially, if they are extracellularly active. The number of their experimental crystal structures is steadily increasing, which is an important prerequisite for a rational structure-based inhibitor design using computational chemistry tools in combination with classical medicinal chemistry approaches. Moreover, host proteases can be considered as stable targets, and their inhibition should prevent rapid resistance developments, which is often observed when addressing viral proteins. Otherwise, the inhibition of host proteases can also affect normal physiological processes leading to a higher probability of side effects and a narrow therapeutic window. Therefore, they should be preferably used in combination therapies with additional antiviral drugs. This strategy should provide a stronger antiviral efficacy, allow to use lower drug doses, and minimize side effects. Despite numerous experimental findings on their antiviral activity, no small-molecule inhibitors of host proteases have been approved for the treatment of virus infections, so far.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolfgang Garten
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany
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15
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Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Garten W, Klenk HD. Characterization of Proprotein Convertases and Their Involvement in Virus Propagation. ACTIVATION OF VIRUSES BY HOST PROTEASES 2018. [PMCID: PMC7122180 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75474-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolfgang Garten
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany
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16
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Dahms SO, Hardes K, Steinmetzer T, Than ME. X-ray Structures of the Proprotein Convertase Furin Bound with Substrate Analogue Inhibitors Reveal Substrate Specificity Determinants beyond the S4 Pocket. Biochemistry 2018; 57:925-934. [PMID: 29314830 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The proprotein convertase furin is a highly specific serine protease modifying and thereby activating proteins in the secretory pathway by proteolytic cleavage. Its substrates are involved in many diseases, including cancer and infections caused by bacteria and viruses. Understanding furin's substrate specificity is crucially important for the development of pharmacologically applicable inhibitors. Using protein X-ray crystallography, we investigated the extended substrate binding site of furin in complex with three peptide-derived inhibitors at up to 1.9 Å resolution. The structure of the protease bound with a hexapeptide inhibitor revealed molecular details of its S6 pocket, which remained completely unknown so far. The arginine residue at P6 induced an unexpected turnlike conformation of the inhibitor backbone, which is stabilized by intra- and intermolecular H-bonds. In addition, we confirmed the binding of arginine to the previously proposed S5 pocket (S51). An alternative S5 site (S52) could be utilized by shorter side chains as demonstrated for a 4-aminomethyl-phenylacetyl residue, which shows steric properties similar to those of a lysine side chain. Interestingly, we also observed binding of a peptide with citrulline at P4 substituting for the highly conserved arginine. The structural data might indicate an unusual protonation state of Asp264 maintaining the interaction with uncharged citrulline. The herein identified molecular interaction sites at P5 and P6 can be utilized to improve next-generation furin inhibitors. Our data will also help to predict furin substrates more precisely on the basis of the additional specificity determinants observed for P5 and P6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven O Dahms
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg , Billrothstrasse 11, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria.,Protein Crystallography Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) , Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Manuel E Than
- Protein Crystallography Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) , Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
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Ivanova T, Hardes K, Kallis S, Dahms SO, Than ME, Künzel S, Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Lindberg I, Jiao GS, Bartenschlager R, Steinmetzer T. Optimization of Substrate-Analogue Furin Inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:1953-1968. [PMID: 29059503 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The proprotein convertase furin is a potential target for drug design, especially for the inhibition of furin-dependent virus replication. All effective synthetic furin inhibitors identified thus far are multibasic compounds; the highest potency was found for our previously developed inhibitor 4-(guanidinomethyl)phenylacetyl-Arg-Tle-Arg-4-amidinobenzylamide (MI-1148). An initial study in mice revealed a narrow therapeutic range for this tetrabasic compound, while significantly reduced toxicity was observed for some tribasic analogues. This suggests that the toxicity depends at least to some extent on the overall multibasic character of this inhibitor. Therefore, in a first approach, the C-terminal benzamidine of MI-1148 was replaced by less basic P1 residues. Despite decreased potency, a few compounds still inhibit furin in the low nanomolar range, but display negligible efficacy in cells. In a second approach, the P2 arginine was replaced by lysine; compared to MI-1148, this furin inhibitor has slightly decreased potency, but exhibits similar antiviral activity against West Nile and Dengue virus in cell culture and decreased toxicity in mice. These results provide a promising starting point for the development of efficacious and well-tolerated furin inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Ivanova
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Kallis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg Partner Site, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sven O Dahms
- Protein Crystallography Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Jena, Germany.,Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Manuel E Than
- Protein Crystallography Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Künzel
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Hochschule Ansbach, Residenzstraße 8, 91522, Ansbach, Germany
| | | | - Iris Lindberg
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Guan-Sheng Jiao
- Department of Chemistry, Hawaii Biotech, Inc., Honolulu, HI, USA.,MedChem ShortCut LLC, Pearl City, HI, USA
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg Partner Site, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
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