1
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Nguyen HLT, Nguyen NQT, Le TT, Pham XDT, Pham HL, Le HNT, Phan TN, Dinh NT. Improved expression and purification of highly-active 3 chymotrypsin-like protease from SARS-CoV-2. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 215:106414. [PMID: 38072143 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2023.106414] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative pathogen of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths and widespread socio-economic damage worldwide. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to identify effective measures to control the spreading of the virus. Among various potential targets, the 3 chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), also known as Mpro, stands out as the key protease of SARS-CoV-2, playing an essential role in virus replication and assembly, is the most prospective. In this study, we modified the commercial vector, pETM33-Nsp5-Mpro (plasmid # 156475, Addgene, USA), by inserting an autocleavage site (AVLQ) of 3CLpro and 6 × His-tag encoding sequences before and after the Nsp5-Mpro sequence, respectively. This modification enabled the expression of 3CLpro as an authentic N terminal protease (au3CLpro), which was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a single-step chromatography using two tandem Glutathione- and Ni-Sepharose columns. The enzyme au3CLpro demonstrated significantly higher activity (3169 RFU/min/μg protein) and catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km of 0.007 μM-1.s-1) than that of the 3CLpro (com3CLpro) expressed from the commercial vector (pETM33-Nsp5-Mpro) with specific activity 889 RFU/min/μg and Kcat/Km of 0.0015 μM-1.s-1, respectively. Optimal conditions for au3CLpro activity included a 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer at pH 7, containing 150 mM NaCl and 0.1 mg/ml BSA at 37 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Loan T Nguyen
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Protein Technology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nhu-Quynh T Nguyen
- Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - The-Thai Le
- Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Xuan-Dieu T Pham
- Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Hai-Long Pham
- Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Hong-Nhung T Le
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Protein Technology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Tuan-Nghia Phan
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Protein Technology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Nho-Thai Dinh
- Key Laboratory of Enzyme and Protein Technology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
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2
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Giri-Rachman EA, Effendy VV, Azmi MHS, Yamahoki N, Stephanie R, Agustiyanti DF, Wisnuwardhani PH, Angelina M, Rubiyana Y, Aditama R, Ningrum RA, Wardiana A, Fibriani A. The SARS-CoV-2 M pro Dimer-Based Screening System: A Synthetic Biology Tool for Identifying Compounds with Dimerization Inhibitory Potential. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:509-520. [PMID: 38316139 PMCID: PMC10877612 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00446] [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: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 endemic remains a global concern. The search for effective antiviral candidates is still needed to reduce disease risk. However, the availability of high biosafety level laboratory facilities for drug screening is limited in number. To address this issue, a screening system that could be utilized at lower biosafety levels remains essential. This study aimed to develop a novel SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) dimer-based screening system (DBSS) utilizing synthetic biology in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). We linked the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with the DNA-binding domain of AraC regulatory protein, which regulates the reporter gene expression. Protein modeling and molecular docking showed that saquinavir could bind to AraC-Mpro both in its monomer and dimer forms. The constructed DBSS assay indicated the screening system could detect saquinavir inhibitory activity at a concentration range of 4-10 μg/mL compared to the untreated control (P ≤ 0.05). The Vero E6 cell assay validated the DBSS result that saquinavir at 4-10 μg/mL exhibited antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Our DBSS could be used for preliminary screening of numerous drug candidates that possess a dimerization inhibitor activity of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and also minimize the use of a high biosafety level laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vergio V. Effendy
- School
of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut
Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad H. S. Azmi
- School
of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut
Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Nicholas Yamahoki
- School
of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut
Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Rebecca Stephanie
- School
of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut
Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Dian F. Agustiyanti
- Research
Center for Genetic Engineering, Indonesian
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - Popi H. Wisnuwardhani
- Research
Center for Genetic Engineering, Indonesian
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - Marissa Angelina
- Research
Center for Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Traditional Medicine, Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency
(BRIN), Serpong 15314, Indonesia
| | - Yana Rubiyana
- Research
Center for Genetic Engineering, Indonesian
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - Reza Aditama
- Biochemistry
Research Group, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
| | - Ratih A. Ningrum
- Research
Center for Genetic Engineering, Indonesian
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - Andri Wardiana
- Research
Center for Genetic Engineering, Indonesian
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - Azzania Fibriani
- School
of Life Sciences and Technology, Institut
Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
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3
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Bains A, Guan W, LiWang PJ. The Effect of Select SARS-CoV-2 N-Linked Glycan and Variant of Concern Spike Protein Mutations on C-Type Lectin-Receptor-Mediated Infection. Viruses 2023; 15:1901. [PMID: 37766307 PMCID: PMC10535197 DOI: 10.3390/v15091901] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virion has shown remarkable resilience, capable of mutating to escape immune detection and re-establishing infectious capabilities despite new vaccine rollouts. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify relatively immutable epitopes on the SARS-CoV-2 virion that are resistant to future mutations the virus may accumulate. While hACE2 has been identified as the receptor that mediates SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility, it is only modestly expressed in lung tissue. C-type lectin receptors like DC-SIGN can act as attachment sites to enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection of cells with moderate or low hACE2 expression. We developed an easy-to-implement assay system that allows for the testing of SARS-CoV-2 trans-infection. Using our assay, we assessed how SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1-domain glycans and spike proteins from different strains affected the ability of pseudotyped lentivirions to undergo DC-SIGN-mediated trans-infection. Through our experiments with seven glycan point mutants, two glycan cluster mutants and four strains of SARS-CoV-2 spike, we found that glycans N17 and N122 appear to have significant roles in maintaining COVID-19's infectious capabilities. We further found that the virus cannot retain infectivity upon the loss of multiple glycosylation sites, and that Omicron BA.2 pseudovirions may have an increased ability to bind to other non-lectin receptor proteins on the surface of cells. Taken together, our work opens the door to the development of new therapeutics that can target overlooked epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 virion to prevent C-type lectin-receptor-mediated trans-infection in lung tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjan Bains
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA;
| | - Wenyan Guan
- Materials and Biomaterials Science and Engineering, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA;
| | - Patricia J. LiWang
- Molecular Cell Biology, Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
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4
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Patel U, Desai K, Dabhi RC, Maru JJ, Shrivastav PS. Bioprospecting phytochemicals of Rosmarinus officinalis L. for targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M pro): a computational study. J Mol Model 2023; 29:161. [PMID: 37115321 PMCID: PMC10141822 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-023-05569-6] [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: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The persistent spread of highly contagious COVID-19 disease is one of the deadliest occurrences in the history of mankind. Despite the distribution of numerous efficacious vaccines and their extensive usage, the perpetual effectiveness of immunization is being catechized. Therefore, discovering an alternative therapy to control and prevent COVID-19 infections has become a top priority. The main protease (Mpro) plays a key role in viral replication, making it an intriguing pharmacological target for SARS-CoV-2. METHODS In this context, virtual screening of thirteen bioactive polyphenols and terpenoids of Rosmarinus officinalis L. was performed using several computational modules including molecular docking, ADMET, drug-likeness characteristics, and molecular dynamic simulation to predict the potential inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro (PDB: 6LU7). The results suggest that apigenin, betulinic acid, luteolin, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid may emerge as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 with acceptable drug-likeness, pharmacokinetics, ADMET characteristics, and binding interactions comparable with remdesivir and favipiravir. These findings imply that some of the active components of Rosmarinus officinalis L. can serve as an effective antiviral source for the development of therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unnati Patel
- Department of Chemistry, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380009, India
| | - Krishna Desai
- Department of Botany, Bioinformatics and Climate Change Impacts Management, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380009, India
| | - Ranjitsinh C Dabhi
- Department of Chemistry, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380009, India
| | - Jayesh J Maru
- Department of Chemistry, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380009, India
| | - Pranav S Shrivastav
- Department of Chemistry, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380009, India.
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5
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Pozzi C, Vanet A, Francesconi V, Tagliazucchi L, Tassone G, Venturelli A, Spyrakis F, Mazzorana M, Costi MP, Tonelli M. Antitarget, Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Leads, Drugs, and the Drug Discovery-Genetics Alliance Perspective. J Med Chem 2023; 66:3664-3702. [PMID: 36857133 PMCID: PMC10005815 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
The most advanced antiviral molecules addressing major SARS-CoV-2 targets (Main protease, Spike protein, and RNA polymerase), compared with proteins of other human pathogenic coronaviruses, may have a short-lasting clinical efficacy. Accumulating knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the target structural basis, its mutational progression, and the related biological significance to virus replication allows envisaging the development of better-targeted therapies in the context of COVID-19 epidemic and future coronavirus outbreaks. The identification of evolutionary patterns based solely on sequence information analysis for those targets can provide meaningful insights into the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions and adaptation, leading to drug resistance phenomena. Herein, we will explore how the study of observed and predicted mutations may offer valuable suggestions for the application of the so-called "synthetic lethal" strategy to SARS-CoV-2 Main protease and Spike protein. The synergy between genetics evidence and drug discovery may prioritize the development of novel long-lasting antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Pozzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy,
University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena,
Italy
| | - Anne Vanet
- Université Paris Cité,
CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris,
France
| | - Valeria Francesconi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of
Genoa, viale Benedetto XV n.3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Tagliazucchi
- Department of Life Science, University of
Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena,
Italy
- Doctorate School in Clinical and Experimental Medicine
(CEM), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287,
41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giusy Tassone
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy,
University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena,
Italy
| | - Alberto Venturelli
- Department of Life Science, University of
Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena,
Italy
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology,
University of Turin, Via Giuria 9, 10125 Turin,
Italy
| | - Marco Mazzorana
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,
U.K.
| | - Maria P. Costi
- Department of Life Science, University of
Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena,
Italy
| | - Michele Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of
Genoa, viale Benedetto XV n.3, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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6
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Noske GD, de Souza Silva E, de Godoy MO, Dolci I, Fernandes RS, Guido RVC, Sjö P, Oliva G, Godoy AS. Structural basis of nirmatrelvir and ensitrelvir activity against naturally occurring polymorphisms of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:103004. [PMID: 36775130 PMCID: PMC9916189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.103004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of COVID-19. The main viral protease (Mpro) is an attractive target for antivirals. The clinically approved drug nirmatrelvir and the clinical candidate ensitrelvir have so far showed great potential for treatment of viral infection. However, the broad use of antivirals is often associated with resistance generation. Herein, we enzymatically characterized 14 naturally occurring Mpro polymorphisms that are close to the binding site of these antivirals. Nirmatrelvir retained its potency against most polymorphisms tested, while mutants G143S and Q189K were associated with diminished inhibition constants. For ensitrelvir, diminished inhibition constants were observed for polymorphisms M49I, G143S, and R188S, but not for Q189K, suggesting a distinct resistance profile between inhibitors. In addition, the crystal structures of selected polymorphisms revealed interactions that were critical for loss of potency. In conclusion, our data will assist the monitoring of potential resistant strains, support the design of combined therapy, as well as assist the development of the next generation of Mpro inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Dias Noske
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos, Brazil
| | | | | | - Isabela Dolci
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos, Brazil
| | | | | | - Peter Sjö
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos, Brazil.
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7
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Sargsyan K, Mazmanian K, Lim C. A strategy for evaluating potential antiviral resistance to small molecule drugs and application to SARS-CoV-2. Sci Rep 2023; 13:502. [PMID: 36627366 PMCID: PMC9831016 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27649-6] [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: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in viral fitness cannot be inferred from only mutagenesis studies of an isolated viral protein. To-date, no systematic analysis has been performed to identify mutations that improve virus fitness and reduce drug efficacy. We present a generic strategy to evaluate which viral mutations might diminish drug efficacy and applied it to assess how SARS-CoV-2 evolution may affect the efficacy of current approved/candidate small-molecule antivirals for Mpro, PLpro, and RdRp. For each drug target, we determined the drug-interacting virus residues from available structures and the selection pressure of the virus residues from the SARS-CoV-2 genomes. This enabled the identification of promising drug target regions and small-molecule antivirals that the virus can develop resistance. Our strategy of utilizing sequence and structural information from genomic sequence and protein structure databanks can rapidly assess the fitness of any emerging virus variants and can aid antiviral drug design for future pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Sargsyan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
| | - Karine Mazmanian
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
| | - Carmay Lim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
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8
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Parigger L, Krassnigg A, Schopper T, Singh A, Tappler K, Köchl K, Hetmann M, Gruber K, Steinkellner G, Gruber CC. Recent changes in the mutational dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease substantiate the danger of emerging resistance to antiviral drugs. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1061142. [PMID: 36590977 PMCID: PMC9794616 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1061142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The current coronavirus pandemic is being combated worldwide by nontherapeutic measures and massive vaccination programs. Nevertheless, therapeutic options such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main-protease (Mpro) inhibitors are essential due to the ongoing evolution toward escape from natural or induced immunity. While antiviral strategies are vulnerable to the effects of viral mutation, the relatively conserved Mpro makes an attractive drug target: Nirmatrelvir, an antiviral targeting its active site, has been authorized for conditional or emergency use in several countries since December 2021, and a number of other inhibitors are under clinical evaluation. We analyzed recent SARS-CoV-2 genomic data, since early detection of potential resistances supports a timely counteraction in drug development and deployment, and discovered accelerated mutational dynamics of Mpro since early December 2021. Methods We performed a comparative analysis of 10.5 million SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences available by June 2022 at GISAID to the NCBI reference genome sequence NC_045512.2. Amino-acid exchanges within high-quality regions in 69,878 unique Mpro sequences were identified and time- and in-depth sequence analyses including a structural representation of mutational dynamics were performed using in-house software. Results The analysis showed a significant recent event of mutational dynamics in Mpro. We report a remarkable increase in mutational variability in an eight-residue long consecutive region (R188-G195) near the active site since December 2021. Discussion The increased mutational variability in close proximity to an antiviral-drug binding site as described herein may suggest the onset of the development of antiviral resistance. This emerging diversity urgently needs to be further monitored and considered in ongoing drug development and lead optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Parigger
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Amit Singh
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Katharina Tappler
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Michael Hetmann
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Karl Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Georg Steinkellner
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christian C. Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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9
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Iketani S, Hong SJ, Sheng J, Bahari F, Culbertson B, Atanaki FF, Aditham AK, Kratz AF, Luck MI, Tian R, Goff SP, Montazeri H, Sabo Y, Ho DD, Chavez A. Functional map of SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease reveals tolerant and immutable sites. Cell Host Microbe 2022; 30:1354-1362.e6. [PMID: 36029764 PMCID: PMC9365866 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro) is an attractive therapeutic target, as it is essential to the virus and highly conserved among coronaviruses. However, our current understanding of its tolerance to mutations is limited. Here, we develop a yeast-based deep mutational scanning approach to systematically profile the activity of all possible single mutants of the 3CLpro and validate a subset of our results within authentic viruses. We reveal that the 3CLpro is highly malleable and is capable of tolerating mutations throughout the protein. Yet, we also identify specific residues that appear immutable, suggesting that these may be targets for future 3CLpro inhibitors. Finally, we utilize our screening as a basis to identify E166V as a resistance-conferring mutation against the clinically used 3CLpro inhibitor, nirmatrelvir. Collectively, the functional map presented herein may serve as a guide to better understand the biological properties of the 3CLpro and for drug development against coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Iketani
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seo Jung Hong
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jenny Sheng
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Farideh Bahari
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bruce Culbertson
- Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fereshteh Fallah Atanaki
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arjun K Aditham
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexander F Kratz
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria I Luck
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruxiao Tian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen P Goff
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hesam Montazeri
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yosef Sabo
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - David D Ho
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alejandro Chavez
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
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10
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X-ray crystallographic characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease polyprotein cleavage sites essential for viral processing and maturation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5196. [PMID: 36057636 PMCID: PMC9440467 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32854-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the pathogen that causes COVID-19, produces polyproteins 1a and 1ab that contain, respectively, 11 or 16 non-structural proteins (nsp). Nsp5 is the main protease (Mpro) responsible for cleavage at eleven positions along these polyproteins, including at its own N- and C-terminal boundaries, representing essential processing events for viral assembly and maturation. Using C-terminally substituted Mpro chimeras, we have determined X-ray crystallographic structures of Mpro in complex with 10 of its 11 viral cleavage sites, bound at full occupancy intermolecularly in trans, within the active site of either the native enzyme and/or a catalytic mutant (C145A). Capture of both acyl-enzyme intermediate and product-like complex forms of a P2(Leu) substrate in the native active site provides direct comparative characterization of these mechanistic steps as well as further informs the basis for enhanced product release of Mpro’s own unique C-terminal P2(Phe) cleavage site to prevent autoinhibition. We characterize the underlying noncovalent interactions governing binding and specificity for this diverse set of substrates, showing remarkable plasticity for subsites beyond the anchoring P1(Gln)-P2(Leu/Val/Phe), representing together a near complete analysis of a multiprocessing viral protease. Collectively, these crystallographic snapshots provide valuable mechanistic and structural insights for antiviral therapeutic development. The SARS-CoV-2 protease Mpro is essential for viral replication. Here, the authors have determined the structures of Mpro in complex with 10 of the 11 viral cleavage sequences including a covalent acyl-enzyme intermediate, providing mechanistic and structural insights for antiviral development.
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11
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Chelleng N, Puzari M, Chetia P, Tamuly C. Phenolic compounds of Zanthoxylum armatum DC as potential inhibitors of urease and SARS-CoV2 using molecular docking approach and with simulation study. Nat Prod Res 2022; 37:1993-1997. [PMID: 35968637 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2022.2110096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
The anti-urease effects of active extract and three isolated phenolic compounds viz., chlorogenic acid, trans-ferulic acid, and gallic acid of leaves of Zanthoxylum armatum DC were evaluated. The compounds were identified based on HPLC-PDA, HR-MS, and NMR analysis. Molecular docking analysis revealed that these compounds significantly interacted with Helicobacter pylori urease and SARS-CoV2 vital proteins. Chlorogenic acid was found to show the strongest interaction with the H. pylori urease and coronavirus main protease (Mpro, also called 3CLpro), while gallic acid with five spike proteins (Cathepsin L) of SARS-CoV2. The compounds were checked for their drug-likeliness character and were found to pass the Lipinski filter and abide by Veber's rule and passed through ADMET. Chlorogenic acid was simulated for 50 ns using GROMACS. The study shows that chlorogenic acid isolated from Z. armatum could be a significant antagonist of the H. pylori urease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilamoni Chelleng
- CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Branch Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh-791110, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India
| | - Minakshi Puzari
- Department of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam-786004, India
| | - Pankaj Chetia
- Department of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam-786004, India
| | - Chandan Tamuly
- CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Branch Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh-791110, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India
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12
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Iketani S, Hong SJ, Sheng J, Bahari F, Culbertson B, Atanaki FF, Aditham AK, Kratz AF, Luck MI, Tian R, Goff SP, Montazeri H, Sabo Y, Ho DD, Chavez A. The Functional Landscape of SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.06.23.497404. [PMID: 35860222 PMCID: PMC9298129 DOI: 10.1101/2022.06.23.497404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) as the etiologic agent of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has drastically altered life globally. Numerous efforts have been placed on the development of therapeutics to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. One particular target is the 3CL protease (3CL pro ), which holds promise as it is essential to the virus and highly conserved among coronaviruses, suggesting that it may be possible to find broad inhibitors that treat not just SARS-CoV-2 but other coronavirus infections as well. While the 3CL protease has been studied by many groups for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, our understanding of its tolerance to mutations is limited, knowledge which is particularly important as 3CL protease inhibitors become utilized clinically. Here, we develop a yeast-based deep mutational scanning approach to systematically profile the activity of all possible single mutants of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL pro , and validate our results both in yeast and in authentic viruses. We reveal that the 3CL pro is highly malleable and is capable of tolerating mutations throughout the protein, including within the substrate binding pocket. Yet, we also identify specific residues that appear immutable for function of the protease, suggesting that these interactions may be novel targets for the design of future 3CL pro inhibitors. Finally, we utilize our screening results as a basis to identify E166V as a resistance-conferring mutation against the therapeutic 3CL pro inhibitor, nirmatrelvir, in clinical use. Collectively, the functional map presented herein may serve as a guide for further understanding of the biological properties of the 3CL protease and for drug development for current and future coronavirus pandemics.
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13
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Barozi V, Musyoka TM, Sheik Amamuddy O, Tastan Bishop Ö. Deciphering Isoniazid Drug Resistance Mechanisms on Dimeric Mycobacterium tuberculosis KatG via Post-molecular Dynamics Analyses Including Combined Dynamic Residue Network Metrics. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:13313-13332. [PMID: 35474779 PMCID: PMC9025985 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) catalase peroxidase protein (KatG), an essential enzyme in isoniazid (INH) activation, reduce the sensitivity of Mtb to first-line drugs, hence presenting challenges in tuberculosis (TB) management. Thus, understanding the mutational imposed resistance mechanisms remains of utmost importance in the quest to reduce the TB burden. Herein, effects of 11 high confidence mutations in the KatG structure and residue network communication patterns were determined using extensive computational approaches. Combined traditional post-molecular dynamics analysis and comparative essential dynamics revealed that the mutant proteins have significant loop flexibility around the heme binding pocket and enhanced asymmetric protomer behavior with respect to wild-type (WT) protein. Heme contact analysis between WT and mutant proteins identified a reduction to no contact between heme and residue His270, a covalent bond vital for the heme-enabled KatG catalytic activity. Betweenness centrality calculations showed large hub ensembles with new hubs especially around the binding cavity and expanded to the dimerization domain via interface in the mutant systems, providing possible compensatory allosteric communication paths for the active site as a result of the mutations which may destabilize the heme binding pocket and the loops in its vicinity. Additionally, an interesting observation came from Eigencentrality hubs, most of which are located in the C-terminal domain, indicating relevance of the domain in the protease functionality. Overall, our results provide insight toward the mechanisms involved in KatG-INH resistance in addition to identifying key regions in the enzyme functionality, which can be used for future drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Barozi
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics
(RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140 South Africa
| | - Thommas Mutemi Musyoka
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics
(RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140 South Africa
| | - Olivier Sheik Amamuddy
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics
(RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140 South Africa
| | - Özlem Tastan Bishop
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics
(RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140 South Africa
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14
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Tastan Bishop Ö, Mutemi Musyoka T, Barozi V. Allostery and missense mutations as intermittently linked promising aspects of modern computational drug discovery. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167610. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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15
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Mótyán JA, Mahdi M, Hoffka G, Tőzsér J. Potential Resistance of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro) against Protease Inhibitors: Lessons Learned from HIV-1 Protease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:3507. [PMID: 35408866 PMCID: PMC8998604 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been one of the most devastating pandemics of recent times. The lack of potent novel antivirals had led to global health crises; however, emergence and approval of potent inhibitors of the viral main protease (Mpro), such as Pfizer's newly approved nirmatrelvir, offers hope not only in the therapeutic front but also in the context of prophylaxis against the infection. By their nature, RNA viruses including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have inherently high mutation rates, and lessons learnt from previous and currently ongoing pandemics have taught us that these viruses can easily escape selection pressure through mutation of vital target amino acid residues in monotherapeutic settings. In this paper, we review nirmatrelvir and its binding to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and draw a comparison to inhibitors of HIV protease that were rendered obsolete by emergence of resistance mutations, emphasizing potential pitfalls in the design of inhibitors that may be of important relevance to the long-term use of novel inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- János András Mótyán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (J.A.M.); (M.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Mohamed Mahdi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (J.A.M.); (M.M.); (G.H.)
| | - Gyula Hoffka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (J.A.M.); (M.M.); (G.H.)
- Doctoral School of Molecular Cell and Immune Biology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - József Tőzsér
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (J.A.M.); (M.M.); (G.H.)
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16
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Antonopoulou I, Sapountzaki E, Rova U, Christakopoulos P. Inhibition of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (M pro) by repurposing/designing drug-like substances and utilizing nature's toolbox of bioactive compounds. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:1306-1344. [PMID: 35308802 PMCID: PMC8920478 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a long pandemic, with numerous cases and victims worldwide and enormous consequences on social and economic life. Although vaccinations have proceeded and provide a valuable shield against the virus, the approved drugs are limited and it is crucial that further ways to combat infection are developed, that can also act against potential mutations. The main protease (Mpro) of the virus is an appealing target for the development of inhibitors, due to its importance in the viral life cycle and its high conservation among different coronaviruses. Several compounds have shown inhibitory potential against Mpro, both in silico and in vitro, with few of them also having entered clinical trials. These candidates include: known drugs that have been repurposed, molecules specifically designed based on the natural substrate of the protease or on structural moieties that have shown high binding affinity to the protease active site, as well as naturally derived compounds, either isolated or in plant extracts. The aim of this work is to collectively present the results of research regarding Mpro inhibitors to date, focusing on the function of the compounds founded by in silico simulations and further explored by in vitro and in vivo assays. Creating an extended portfolio of promising compounds that may block viral replication by inhibiting Mpro and by understanding involved structure-activity relationships, could provide a basis for the development of effective solutions against SARS-CoV-2 and future related outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ulrika Rova
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-97187 Luleå, Sweden
| | - Paul Christakopoulos
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-97187 Luleå, Sweden
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17
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Campitelli P, Lu J, Ozkan SB. Dynamic Allostery Highlights the Evolutionary Differences between the CoV-1 and CoV-2 Main Proteases. Biophys J 2022; 121:1483-1492. [PMID: 35300968 PMCID: PMC8920573 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has become one of the most immediate and widely-studied systems since its identification and subsequent global outbreak from 2019-2021. In an effort to understand the biophysical changes as a result of mutations, the mechanistic details of multiple different proteins within the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been studied and compared with SARS-CoV-1. Focusing on the main protease (mPro), we first explored the long-range dynamics using the Dynamic Coupling Index (DCI) to investigate the dynamic coupling between the catalytic site residues and the rest of the protein, both inter and intra chain, for the CoV-1 and CoV-2 mPro. We found that there is significant cross-chain coupling between these active sites and specific distal residues in the CoV-2 mPro not present in CoV-1. The enhanced long distance interactions, particularly between the two chains, suggest subsequently enhanced cooperativity for CoV-2. A further comparative analysis of the dynamic flexibility using the Dynamic Flexibility Index (DFI) between the CoV-1 and CoV-2 mPros shows that the inhibitor binding near active sites induces change in flexibility to a distal region of the protein, opposite in behavior between the two systems; this region becomes more flexible upon inhibitor binding in CoV-1 while it becomes less flexible in the CoV-2 mPro. Upon inspection, we show that, on average, the dynamic flexibility of the sites substituted from CoV-1 to CoV-2 changes significantly less than the average calculated across all residues within the structure, indicating that the differences in behaviors between the two systems is likely the result of allosteric influence, where the new substitutions in CoV-2 induce flexibility and dynamical changes elsewhere in the structure.
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18
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Lv Z, Cano KE, Jia L, Drag M, Huang TT, Olsen SK. Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Proteases for COVID-19 Antiviral Development. Front Chem 2022; 9:819165. [PMID: 35186898 PMCID: PMC8850931 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.819165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019 marked the third occurrence of a highly pathogenic coronavirus in the human population since 2003. As the death toll surpasses 5 million globally and economic losses continue, designing drugs that could curtail infection and disease progression is critical. In the US, three highly effective Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized vaccines are currently available, and Remdesivir is approved for the treatment of hospitalized patients. However, moderate vaccination rates and the sustained evolution of new viral variants necessitate the ongoing search for new antivirals. Several viral proteins have been prioritized as SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug targets, among them the papain-like protease (PLpro) and the main protease (Mpro). Inhibition of these proteases would target viral replication, viral maturation, and suppression of host innate immune responses. Knowledge of inhibitors and assays for viruses were quickly adopted for SARS-CoV-2 protease research. Potential candidates have been identified to show inhibitory effects against PLpro and Mpro, both in biochemical assays and viral replication in cells. These results encourage further optimizations to improve prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we examine the latest developments of potential small-molecule inhibitors and peptide inhibitors for PLpro and Mpro, and how structural biology greatly facilitates this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongyang Lv
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Kristin E. Cano
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Lijia Jia
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Marcin Drag
- Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Tony T. Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shaun K. Olsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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19
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Palanisamy K, Rubavathy SME, Prakash M, Thilagavathi R, Hosseini-Zare MS, Selvam C. Antiviral activities of natural compounds and ionic liquids to inhibit the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2: a computational approach. RSC Adv 2022; 12:3687-3695. [PMID: 35425367 PMCID: PMC8979281 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra08604a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The recalcitrant spread of the COVID-19 pandemic produced by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is one of the most destructive occurrences in history. Despite the availability of several effective vaccinations and their widespread use, this line of immunization often faces questions about its long-term efficacy. Since coronaviruses rapidly change, and multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged around the world. Therefore, finding a new target-based medication became a priority to prevent and control COVID-19 infections. The main protease (Mpro) is a salient enzyme in coronaviruses that plays a vital role in viral replication, making it a fascinating therapeutic target for SARS-CoV-2. We screened 0.2 million natural products against the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 using the Universal Natural Product Database (UNPD). As well, we studied the role of ionic liquids (ILs) on the structural stabilization of Mpro. Cholinium-based ILs are biocompatible and used for a variety of biomedical applications. Molecular docking was employed for the initial screening of natural products and ILs against Mpro. To predict the drug-likeness features of lead compounds, we calculated the ADMET properties. We performed MD simulations for the selected complexes based on the docking outcomes. Using MM/PBSA approaches, we conclude that compounds NP-Hit2 (-25.6 kcal mol-1) and NP-Hit3 (-25.3 kcal mol-1) show stronger binding affinity with Mpro. The hotspot residues of Thr25, Leu27, His41, Met49, Cys145, Met165, and Gln189 strongly interacted with the natural compounds. Furthermore, naproxenate, ketoprofenate, and geranate, cholinium-based ILs strongly interact with Mpro and these ILs have antimicrobial properties. Our findings will aid in the development of effective Mpro inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kandhan Palanisamy
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology Kattankulathur-603203 Chennai Tamil Nadu India
| | - S M Esther Rubavathy
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology Kattankulathur-603203 Chennai Tamil Nadu India
| | - Muthuramalingam Prakash
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology Kattankulathur-603203 Chennai Tamil Nadu India
| | - Ramasamy Thilagavathi
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education Coimbatore India
| | - Maryam S Hosseini-Zare
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University Houston TX-77004 USA
| | - Chelliah Selvam
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University Houston TX-77004 USA
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20
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Sheik Amamuddy O, Afriyie Boateng R, Barozi V, Wavinya Nyamai D, Tastan Bishop Ö. Novel dynamic residue network analysis approaches to study allosteric modulation: SARS-CoV-2 M pro and its evolutionary mutations as a case study. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:6431-6455. [PMID: 34849191 PMCID: PMC8613987 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The rational search for allosteric modulators and the allosteric mechanisms of these modulators in the presence of mutations is a relatively unexplored field. Here, we established novel in silico approaches and applied them to SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) as a case study. First, we identified six potential allosteric modulators. Then, we focused on understanding the allosteric effects of these modulators on each of its protomers. We introduced a new combinatorial approach and dynamic residue network (DRN) analysis algorithms to examine patterns of change and conservation of critical nodes, according to five independent criteria of network centrality. We observed highly conserved network hubs for each averaged DRN metric on the basis of their existence in both protomers in the absence and presence of all ligands (persistent hubs). We also detected ligand specific signal changes. Using eigencentrality (EC) persistent hubs and ligand introduced hubs we identified a residue communication path connecting the allosteric binding site to the catalytic site. Finally, we examined the effects of the mutations on the behavior of the protein in the presence of selected potential allosteric modulators and investigated the ligand stability. One crucial outcome was to show that EC centrality hubs form an allosteric communication path between the allosteric ligand binding site to the active site going through the interface residues of domains I and II; and this path was either weakened or lost in the presence of some of the mutations. Overall, the results revealed crucial aspects that need to be considered in rational computational drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Victor Barozi
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Dorothy Wavinya Nyamai
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Özlem Tastan Bishop
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
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21
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Ferreira GM, Kronenberger T, Tonduru AK, Hirata RDC, Hirata MH, Poso A. SARS-COV-2 M pro conformational changes induced by covalently bound ligands. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:12347-12357. [PMID: 34516349 PMCID: PMC8442757 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1970626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2's main protease (Mpro) interaction with ligands has been explored with a myriad of crystal structures, most of the monomers. Nonetheless, Mpro is known to be active as a dimer but the relevance of the dimerization in the ligand-induced conformational changes has not been fully elucidated. We systematically simulated different Mpro-ligand complexes aiming to study their conformational changes and interactions, through molecular dynamics (MD). We focused on covalently bound ligands (N1 and N3, ∼9 μs per system both monomers and dimers) and compared these trajectories against the apostructure. Our results suggest that the monomeric simulations led to an unrealistically flexible active site. In contrast, the Mpro dimer displayed a stable oxyanion-loop conformation along the trajectory. Also, ligand interactions with residues His41, Gly143, His163, Glu166 and Gln189 are postulated to impact the ligands' inhibitory activity significantly. In dimeric simulations, especially Gly143 and His163 have increased interaction frequencies. In conclusion, long-timescale MD is a more suitable tool for exploring in silico the activity of bioactive compounds that potentially inhibit the dimeric form of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glaucio Monteiro Ferreira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Oncology and Pneumonology, Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Department of Oncology and Pneumonology, Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Arun Kumar Tonduru
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Rosario Dominguez Crespo Hirata
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mario Hiroyuki Hirata
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antti Poso
- Department of Oncology and Pneumonology, Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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22
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Deshmukh MG, Ippolito JA, Zhang CH, Stone EA, Reilly RA, Miller SJ, Jorgensen WL, Anderson KS. Structure-guided design of a perampanel-derived pharmacophore targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Structure 2021; 29:823-833.e5. [PMID: 34161756 PMCID: PMC8218531 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
There is a clinical need for direct-acting antivirals targeting SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, to complement current therapeutic strategies. The main protease (Mpro) is an attractive target for antiviral therapy. However, the vast majority of protease inhibitors described thus far are peptidomimetic and bind to the active-site cysteine via a covalent adduct, which is generally pharmacokinetically unfavorable. We have reported the optimization of an existing FDA-approved chemical scaffold, perampanel, to bind to and inhibit Mpro noncovalently with IC50s in the low-nanomolar range and EC50s in the low-micromolar range. Here, we present nine crystal structures of Mpro bound to a series of perampanel analogs, providing detailed structural insights into their mechanism of action and structure-activity relationship. These insights further reveal strategies for pursuing rational inhibitor design efforts in the context of considerable active-site flexibility and potential resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya G Deshmukh
- Medical Scientist Training Program (MD-PhD), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8066, USA
| | - Joseph A Ippolito
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA
| | - Chun-Hui Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Stone
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA
| | - Raquel A Reilly
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8066, USA
| | - Scott J Miller
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA
| | | | - Karen S Anderson
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8066, USA; Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8066, USA.
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23
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Jiménez-Avalos G, Vargas-Ruiz AP, Delgado-Pease NE, Olivos-Ramirez GE, Sheen P, Fernández-Díaz M, Quiliano M, Zimic M. Comprehensive virtual screening of 4.8 k flavonoids reveals novel insights into allosteric inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M PRO. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15452. [PMID: 34326429 PMCID: PMC8322093 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94951-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 main protease is a common target for inhibition assays due to its high conservation among coronaviruses. Since flavonoids show antiviral activity, several in silico works have proposed them as potential SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. Nonetheless, there is reason to doubt certain results given the lack of consideration for flavonoid promiscuity or main protease plasticity, usage of short library sizes, absence of control molecules and/or the limitation of the methodology to a single target site. Here, we report a virtual screening study where dorsilurin E, euchrenone a11, sanggenol O and CHEMBL2171598 are proposed to inhibit main protease through different pathways. Remarkably, novel structural mechanisms were observed after sanggenol O and CHEMBL2171598 bound to experimentally proven allosteric sites. The former drastically affected the active site, while the latter triggered a hinge movement which has been previously reported for an inactive SARS-CoV main protease mutant. The use of a curated database of 4.8 k flavonoids, combining two well-known docking software (AutoDock Vina and AutoDock4.2), molecular dynamics and MMPBSA, guaranteed an adequate analysis and robust interpretation. These criteria can be considered for future screening campaigns against SARS-CoV-2 main protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Jiménez-Avalos
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Biología Molecular y Desarrollos Tecnológicos, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), 15102, Lima, Peru.
| | - A Paula Vargas-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Biología Molecular y Desarrollos Tecnológicos, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), 15102, Lima, Peru
| | - Nicolás E Delgado-Pease
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Biología Molecular y Desarrollos Tecnológicos, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), 15102, Lima, Peru
| | - Gustavo E Olivos-Ramirez
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Biología Molecular y Desarrollos Tecnológicos, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), 15102, Lima, Peru
| | - Patricia Sheen
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Biología Molecular y Desarrollos Tecnológicos, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), 15102, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Miguel Quiliano
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Research and Innovation, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), 15023, Lima, Peru
| | - Mirko Zimic
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Biología Molecular y Desarrollos Tecnológicos, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Departamento de Ciencias Celulares y Moleculares, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), 15102, Lima, Peru.
- Farmacológicos Veterinarios - FARVET S.A.C. Chincha, Lima, Peru.
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24
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Issue Highlights. IUBMB Life 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/iub.2469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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25
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Krishnamoorthy N, Fakhro K. Identification of mutation resistance coldspots for targeting the SARS-CoV2 main protease. IUBMB Life 2021; 73:670-675. [PMID: 33749986 PMCID: PMC8250577 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 are the major concern as they might lead to drug/vaccine resistance. In the host cell, the virus largely depends on the main protease (Mpro ) to regulate infection hence it is one of the most attractive targets for inhibitor design. However, >19,000 mutations in the Mpro have already been reported. The mutations encompassing 282 amino acid positions and these "hotspots" might change the Mpro structure, activity and potentially delay therapeutic strategies targeting Mpro . Thus, here we identified 24 mutational "coldspots" where mutations have not been observed. We compared the structure-function relationship of these coldspots with several SARS-CoV2 Mpro X-ray crystal structures. We found that three coldspot residues (Leu141, Phe185, and Gln192) help to form the active site, while seven (Gly2, Arg4, Tyr126, Lys137, Leu141, Leu286, and Leu287) contribute to dimer formation that is required for Mpro activity. The surface of the dimer interface is more resistant to mutations compared to the active site. Interestingly, most of the coldspots are found in three clusters and forms conserved patterns when compared with other coronaviruses. Importantly, several conserved coldspots are available on the surface of the active site and at the dimer interface for targeting. The identification and short list of these coldspots offers a new perspective to target the SARS-CoV2 Mpro while avoiding mutation-based drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Khalid Fakhro
- Department of Human Genetics, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar.,College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
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