1
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Dong Y, Shao E, Li S, Wang R, Wang D, Wang L, Yang H, He Y, Luan T, Chen Y, Wang Y, Lin L, Wang Y, Zhong Z, Zhao W. Baicalein suppresses Coxsackievirus B3 replication by inhibiting caspase-1 and viral protease 2A. Virol Sin 2024; 39:685-693. [PMID: 39025463 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2024.07.003] [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: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the cardiac muscle and one of the primary causes of dilated cardiomyopathy. Group B coxsackievirus (CVB) is one of the leading causative pathogens of viral myocarditis, which primarily affects children and young adults. Due to the lack of vaccines, the development of antiviral medicines is crucial to controlling CVB infection and the progression of myocarditis. In this study, we investigated the antiviral effect of baicalein, a flavonoid extracted from Scutellaria baicaleinsis. Our results demonstrated that baicalein treatment significantly reduced cytopathic effect and increased cell viability in CVB3-infected cells. In addition, significant reductions in viral protein 3D, viral RNA, and viral particles were observed in CVB3-infected cells treated with baicalein. We found that baicalein exerted its inhibitory effect in the early stages of CVB3 infection. Baicalein also suppressed viral replication in the myocardium and effectively alleviated myocarditis induced by CVB3 infection. Our study revealed that baicalein exerts its antiviral effect by inhibiting the activity of caspase-1 and viral protease 2A. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that baicalein has antiviral activity against CVB3 infection and may serve as a potential therapeutic option for the myocarditis caused by enterovirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Dong
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Enze Shao
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Siwei Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Ruiqi Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Lixin Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yingxia He
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Tian Luan
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Lexun Lin
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Zhaohua Zhong
- Department of Microbiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Wenran Zhao
- Department of Cell Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
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2
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Soleimani Asl S, Roozbahani MH. A novel robust inhibitor of papain-like protease (PLpro) as a COVID-19 drug. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:6863-6870. [PMID: 37578047 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2245474] [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: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Regarding the significance of SARS-CoV-2, scientists have shown considerable interest in developing effective drugs. Inhibitors for PLpro are the primary strategies for locating suitable COVID-19 drugs. Natural compounds comprise the majority of COVID-19 drugs. Due to limitations on the safety of clinical trials in cases of COVID, computational methods are typically utilized for inhibition studies. Whereas papain is highly similar to PLpro and is entirely safe, the current study aimed to examine several plant secondary metabolites to identify the most effective papain inhibitor and validate the results using molecular dynamics and docking. This simulation was conducted identically for PLpro and the optimal inhibitor. The results indicated that the experimental results are comparable to those obtained In-Silico, and the inhibition effects of Chlorogenic acid (CGA) on papain attained in the experiment were validated (IC50=0.54 mM). CGA as an inhibitor was located in the active site of PLpro and papain (total energy -2009410 and -456069 kJ/mol, respectively) at the desired location and distance. The study revealed that CGA and its derivatives are effective PLpro inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Soleimani Asl
- Iran Digital Twin Laboratory (IDT-Lab)- Incubator Center, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
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3
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Wang X, Zhu Y, Zhao Q, Lu W, Xu Y, Hu H, Lu X. Chemical Space Profiling of SARS-CoV-2 PL pro Using DNA-Encoded Focused Libraries. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:555-564. [PMID: 38628804 PMCID: PMC11017295 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00069] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology is gaining attention for its rapid construction and deconvolution capabilities. Our study explored a novel strategy using rational DELs tailored for the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease, which revealed new fragments. Structural changes post-DEL screening mimic traditional medicinal chemistry lead optimization. We unveiled unique aromatic structures offering an alternative optimization path. Notably, we identified superior binding fragments targeting the BL2 groove. Derivative 16 emerged as the most promising by exhibiting IC50 values of 0.25 μM. Derivative 6, which features an aromatic fragment capped with a naphthalene moiety, showed IC50 values of 2.91 μM. Molecular modeling revealed hydrogen bond interactions with Lys157 residue and potential covalent interactions with nearby amino acid residues. This research underscored DEL's potential for fragment-based drug discovery against SARS-CoV-2 protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Ying Zhu
- School
of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Qingyi Zhao
- School
of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Lu
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
| | - Yechun Xu
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
- School
of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Hangchen Hu
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
- School
of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced
Study, University of Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Xiaojie Lu
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
- School
of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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4
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Zhang R, Zhou J, Yan H, Liu X, Shang C, Chen Y. Manidipine is not a potential inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0129723. [PMID: 38294235 PMCID: PMC10916385 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01297-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Jiahao Zhou
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Haohao Yan
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Chao Shang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Yunyu Chen
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
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5
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Alipour Z, Zarezadeh S, Ghotbi-Ravandi AA. The Potential of Anti-coronavirus Plant Secondary Metabolites in COVID-19 Drug Discovery as an Alternative to Repurposed Drugs: A Review. PLANTA MEDICA 2024; 90:172-203. [PMID: 37956978 DOI: 10.1055/a-2209-6357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
In early 2020, a global pandemic was announced due to the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), known to cause COVID-19. Despite worldwide efforts, there are only limited options regarding antiviral drug treatments for COVID-19. Although vaccines are now available, issues such as declining efficacy against different SARS-CoV-2 variants and the aging of vaccine-induced immunity highlight the importance of finding more antiviral drugs as a second line of defense against the disease. Drug repurposing has been used to rapidly find COVID-19 therapeutic options. Due to the lack of clinical evidence for the therapeutic benefits and certain serious side effects of repurposed antivirals, the search for an antiviral drug against SARS-CoV-2 with fewer side effects continues. In recent years, numerous studies have included antiviral chemicals from a variety of plant species. A better knowledge of the possible antiviral natural products and their mechanism against SARS-CoV-2 will help to develop stronger and more targeted direct-acting antiviral agents. The aim of the present study was to compile the current data on potential plant metabolites that can be investigated in COVID-19 drug discovery and development. This review represents a collection of plant secondary metabolites and their mode of action against SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Alipour
- Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Somayeh Zarezadeh
- Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Ghotbi-Ravandi
- Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
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6
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Zhang R, Yan H, Zhou J, Yan G, Liu X, Shang C, Chen Y. Improved fluorescence-based assay for rapid screening and evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29498. [PMID: 38436148 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29498] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global threat to human health. In parallel with vaccines, efficacious antivirals are urgently needed. SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is an attractive drug target for antiviral development owing to its key roles in virus replication and host immune evasion. Due to the limitations of currently available methods, the development of novel high-throughput screening assays is of the highest importance for the discovery of Mpro inhibitors. In this study, we first developed an improved fluorescence-based assay for rapid screening of Mpro inhibitors from an anti-infection compound library using a versatile dimerization-dependent red fluorescent protein (ddRFP) biosensor. Utilizing this assay, we identified MG-101 as a competitive Mpro inhibitor in vitro. Moreover, our results revealed that ensitrelvir is a potent Mpro inhibitor, but baicalein, chloroquine, ebselen, echinatin, and silibinin are not. Therefore, this robust ddRFP assay provides a faithful avenue for rapid screening and evaluation of Mpro inhibitors to fight against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Haohao Yan
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Jiahao Zhou
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Gangan Yan
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Chao Shang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Yunyu Chen
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
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Yan H, Zhang R, Yan G, Liu X, Li N, Chen Y. Validation of baicalein and oridonin as nonspecific SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. Phytother Res 2024; 38:1161-1164. [PMID: 37042347 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Haohao Yan
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Gangan Yan
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Ni Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yunyu Chen
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241002, China
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8
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Janin YL. On the origins of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:81-118. [PMID: 38283212 PMCID: PMC10809347 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00493g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
In order to address the world-wide health challenge caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 3CL protease/SARS-CoV-2 main protease (SARS-CoV-2-Mpro) coded by its nsp5 gene became one of the biochemical targets for the design of antiviral drugs. In less than 3 years of research, 4 inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2-Mpro have actually been authorized for COVID-19 treatment (nirmatrelvir, ensitrelvir, leritrelvir and simnotrelvir) and more such as EDP-235, FB-2001 and STI-1558/Olgotrelvir or five undisclosed compounds (CDI-988, ASC11, ALG-097558, QLS1128 and H-10517) are undergoing clinical trials. This review is an attempt to picture this quite unprecedented medicinal chemistry feat and provide insights on how these cysteine protease inhibitors were discovered. Since many series of covalent SARS-CoV-2-Mpro inhibitors owe some of their origins to previous work on other proteases, we first provided a description of various inhibitors of cysteine-bearing human caspase-1 or cathepsin K, as well as inhibitors of serine proteases such as human dipeptidyl peptidase-4 or the hepatitis C protein complex NS3/4A. This is then followed by a description of the results of the approaches adopted (repurposing, structure-based and high throughput screening) to discover coronavirus main protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves L Janin
- Structure et Instabilité des Génomes (StrInG), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, INSERM, CNRS, Alliance Sorbonne Université 75005 Paris France
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Zhou J, Zhang R, Yan H, Liu X, Shang C, Chen Y. Evaluation of natural products from virtual screenings as SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors using combinational experiments. Nat Prod Res 2024:1-4. [PMID: 38189351 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2301466] [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: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Recently, andrographolide, kaempferol, maslinic acid, rutin, and schaftoside have been identified as potent SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitors via molecular docking studies. However, no comprehensive in vitro testing of these compounds against Mpro has been conducted. In this study, we rigorously evaluated the in vitro inhibition of Mpro by these compounds using combinational experiments, including fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence polarization (FP), and dimerization-dependent red fluorescent protein (ddRFP) assays. Our data revealed that these compounds are not Mpro inhibitors based on the results from a set of in vitro assays. These results suggest that an efficient combination of a molecular docking approach and an experimental assay is essential for the discovery of Mpro inhibitors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Zhou
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, P. R. China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, P. R. China
| | - Haohao Yan
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, P. R. China
| | - Chao Shang
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, P. R. China
| | - Yunyu Chen
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, P. R. China
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Herzog AM, Göbel K, Marongiu L, Ruetalo N, Alonso MC, Leischner C, Busch C, Burkard M, Lauer UM, Geurink PP, Knobeloch KP, Schindler M, Fritz G, Venturelli S. Compounds derived from Humulus lupulus inhibit SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease and virus replication. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 123:155176. [PMID: 37976697 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Selected natural compounds exhibit very good antiviral properties. Especially, the medicinal plant Humulus lupulus (hop) contains several secondary plant metabolites some of which have previously shown antiviral activities. Among them, the prenylated chalcone xanthohumol (XN) demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (Mpro). HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE Following the finding that xanthohumol (XN) is a potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, the effect of XN and its major derivatives isoxanthohumol (IXN), 6-prenylnaringenin (6-PN), and 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) from hops on SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) were investigated. STUDY DESIGN The modulatory effect of the hop compounds on PLpro were studied first in silico and then in vitro. In addition, the actual effect of hop compounds on the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in host cells was investigated. METHODS In silico docking analysis was used to predict the binding affinity of hop compounds to the active site of PLpro. A recombinant PLpro was cloned, purified, characterized, and analyzed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), deISGylation assays, and kinetic analyses. Antiviral activity of hop compounds was assessed using the fluorescently labeled wildtype SARS-CoV-2 (icSARS-CoV-2-mNG) in Caco-2 host cells. RESULTS Our in silico docking suggests that the purified hop compounds bind to the active site of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro blocking the access of its natural substrates. The hop-derived compounds inhibit SARS-CoV-2 PLpro with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in the range of 59-162 µM. Furthermore, we demonstrate that XN and 6-PN, in particular, impede viral replication with IC50 values of 3.3 µM and 7.3 µM, respectively. CONCLUSION In addition to the already known inhibition of Mpro by XN, our results show, for the first time, that hop-derived compounds target also SARS-CoV-2 PLpro which is a promising therapeutic target as it contributes to both viral replication and modulation of the immune system. These findings support the possibility to develop new hop-derived antiviral drugs targeting human coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Herzog
- Department of Cellular Microbiology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Katharina Göbel
- Department of Cellular Microbiology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Luigi Marongiu
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; Department of Nutritional Biochemistry, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Natalia Ruetalo
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marta Campos Alonso
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christian Leischner
- Department of Nutritional Biochemistry, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Markus Burkard
- Department of Nutritional Biochemistry, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Paul P Geurink
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Klaus-Peter Knobeloch
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schindler
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Günter Fritz
- Department of Cellular Microbiology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Sascha Venturelli
- Department of Nutritional Biochemistry, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; Institute of Physiology, Department of Vegetative and Clinical Physiology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
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11
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Zhang R, Yan H, Yan G, Liu X, Chen Y. Letter to the Editor: Repurposing Tafenoquine as a Potential Inhibitor Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Main Protease via a Fluorescence Polarization Assay. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2023; 21:369-371. [PMID: 37930848 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2023.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Haohao Yan
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Gangan Yan
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Yunyu Chen
- Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
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12
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Omage FB, Madabeni A, Tucci AR, Nogara PA, Bortoli M, Rosa ADS, Neuza Dos Santos Ferreira V, Teixeira Rocha JB, Miranda MD, Orian L. Diphenyl Diselenide and SARS-CoV-2: in silico Exploration of the Mechanisms of Inhibition of Main Protease (M pro) and Papain-like Protease (PL pro). J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:2226-2239. [PMID: 36952618 PMCID: PMC10091420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has prompted global efforts to develop therapeutics. The main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro) and the papain-like protease (PLpro) are essential for viral replication and are key targets for therapeutic development. In this work, we investigate the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 inhibition by diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2 which is an archetypal model of diselenides and a renowned potential therapeutic agent. The in vitro inhibitory concentration of (PhSe)2 against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells falls in the low micromolar range. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations [level of theory: SMD-B3LYP-D3(BJ)/6-311G(d,p), cc-pVTZ] are used to inspect non-covalent inhibition modes of both proteases via π-stacking and the mechanism of covalent (PhSe)2 + Mpro product formation involving the catalytic residue C145, respectively. The in vitro CC50 (24.61 μM) and EC50 (2.39 μM) data indicate that (PhSe)2 is a good inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 virus replication in a cell culture model. The in silico findings indicate potential mechanisms of proteases' inhibition by (PhSe)2; in particular, the results of the covalent inhibition here discussed for Mpro, whose thermodynamics is approximatively isoergonic, prompt further investigation in the design of antiviral organodiselenides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Folorunsho Bright Omage
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Andrea Madabeni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Amanda Resende Tucci
- Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e Do Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Morfogênese Viral, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
| | - Pablo Andrei Nogara
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Marco Bortoli
- Institute of Computational Chemistry and Catalysis (IQCC) and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, C/M. A. Capmany 69, Girona 17003, Spain
| | - Alice Dos Santos Rosa
- Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e Do Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Morfogênese Viral, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
| | - Vivian Neuza Dos Santos Ferreira
- Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e Do Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Morfogênese Viral, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
| | - João Batista Teixeira Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Milene Dias Miranda
- Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e Do Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
- Laboratório de Morfologia e Morfogênese Viral, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
| | - Laura Orian
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, Padova 35131, Italy
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Maulana S, Wahyuni TS, Widiyanti P, Zubair MS. <em>In silico</em> screening of potential compounds from begonia genus as 3CL protease (3Cl pro) SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors. J Public Health Afr 2023. [PMID: 37492544 PMCID: PMC10365649 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The emergence of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemic and made a medical emergency worldwide. Various attempts have been made, including optimizing effective treatments against the disease or developing a vaccine. Since the SARS-CoV-2 protease crystal structure has been discovered, searching for its inhibitors by in silico technique becomes possible.
Objective: This study aims to virtually screen the potential of phytoconstituents from the Begonia genus as 3Cl pro-SARS-CoV- 2 inhibitors, based on its crucial role in viral replication, hence making these proteases “promising” for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 target.
Methods: In silico screening was carried out by molecular docking on the web-based program DockThor and validated by a retrospective method. Predictive binding affinity (Dock Score) was used for scoring the compounds. Further molecular dynamics on Desmond was performed to assess the complex stability.
Results: Virtual screening protocol was valid with the area under curve value 0.913. Molecular docking revealed only β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside with a lower docking score of - 9.712 kcal/mol than positive control of indinavir. The molecular dynamic study showed that the compound was stable for the first 30 ns simulations time with Root Mean Square Deviation <3 Å, despite minor fluctuations observed at the end of simulation times. Root Mean Square Fluctuation of catalytic sites HIS41 and CYS145 was 0.756 Å and 0.773 Å, respectively.
Conclusions: This result suggests that β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D- glucopyranoside might be a prospective metabolite compound that can be developed as anti-SARS-CoV-2.
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14
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Refaat Fahim J, Darwish AG, El Zawily A, Wells J, Abourehab MA, Yehia Desoukey S, Zekry Attia E. Exploring the volatile metabolites of three Chorisia species: Comparative headspace GC–MS, multivariate chemometrics, chemotaxonomic significance, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:706-726. [PMID: 37181141 PMCID: PMC10172601 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Chorisia (syn. Ceiba) species are important ornamental, economic, and medicinal plants that are endowed with a diversity of secondary metabolites; however, their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been scarcely studied. Therefore, this work explores and compares the headspace floral volatiles of three common Chorisia species, namely Chorisia chodatii Hassl., Chorisia speciosa A. St.-Hil, and Chorisia insignis H.B.K. for the first time. A total of 112 VOCs of varied biosynthetic origins were identified at different qualitative and quantitative ratios, encompassing isoprenoids, fatty acid derivatives, phenylpropanoids, and others. Flowers of the investigated species showed perceptibly differentiated volatile profiles, with those emitted by C. insignis being dominated by non-oxygenated compounds (56.69 %), whereas oxygenated derivatives prevailed among the volatiles of C. chodatii (66.04 %) and C. speciosa (71.53 %). The variable importance in the projection (VIP) in the partial least-squares-discriminant (PLS-DA) analysis described 25 key compounds among the studied species, of which linalool was verified as the most important aroma compound based on VIP values and significance analysis, and it could represent the most typical VOC among these Chorisia species. Furthermore, molecular docking and dynamics analyses of both the major and the key VOCs displayed their moderate to promising binding interactions with four main proteins of SARS-CoV-2, including Mpro, PLpro, RdRp, and spike S1 subunit RBD. The current results collectively cast new light on the chemical diversity of the VOCs of Chorisia plants as well as their chemotaxonomic and biological relevance.
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15
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Brewitz L, Dumjahn L, Zhao Y, Owen CD, Laidlaw SM, Malla TR, Nguyen D, Lukacik P, Salah E, Crawshaw AD, Warren AJ, Trincao J, Strain-Damerell C, Carroll MW, Walsh MA, Schofield CJ. Alkyne Derivatives of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors Including Nirmatrelvir Inhibit by Reacting Covalently with the Nucleophilic Cysteine. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2663-2680. [PMID: 36757959 PMCID: PMC9924091 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332) is a nitrile-bearing small-molecule inhibitor that, in combination with ritonavir, is used to treat infections by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Nirmatrelvir interrupts the viral life cycle by inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), which is essential for processing viral polyproteins into functional nonstructural proteins. We report studies which reveal that derivatives of nirmatrelvir and other Mpro inhibitors with a nonactivated terminal alkyne group positioned similarly to the electrophilic nitrile of nirmatrelvir can efficiently inhibit isolated Mpro and SARS-CoV-2 replication in cells. Mass spectrometric and crystallographic evidence shows that the alkyne derivatives inhibit Mpro by apparent irreversible covalent reactions with the active site cysteine (Cys145), while the analogous nitriles react reversibly. The results highlight the potential for irreversible covalent inhibition of Mpro and other nucleophilic cysteine proteases by alkynes, which, in contrast to nitriles, can be functionalized at their terminal position to optimize inhibition and selectivity, as well as pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Brewitz
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Leo Dumjahn
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - C. David Owen
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Stephen M. Laidlaw
- Wellcome
Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Tika R. Malla
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Dung Nguyen
- Wellcome
Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Eidarus Salah
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Adam D. Crawshaw
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Anna J. Warren
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Jose Trincao
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Miles W. Carroll
- Wellcome
Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Martin A. Walsh
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
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16
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Zhu T, Pawlak S, Toussi SS, Hackman F, Thompson K, Song W, Salageanu J, Winter E, Shi H, Winton J, Binks M. Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Doses of PF-07304814, a Phosphate Prodrug Protease Inhibitor for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2, in Healthy Adult Participants. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2022; 11:1382-1393. [PMID: 36285536 PMCID: PMC9874748 DOI: 10.1002/cpdd.1174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Studies on targeted antivirals for treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of the ongoing pandemic, are limited. PF-07304814 (lufotrelvir) is the phosphate prodrug of PF-00835231, a protease inhibitor targeting the 3C-like protease of SARS-CoV-2. This phase 1 study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of single ascending intravenous doses of lufotrelvir (continuous 24-hour infusion of 50, 150, 500, or 700 mg) versus placebo in healthy volunteers (2 interleaving cohorts: 1, n = 8; 2, n = 7). Each dosing period was separated by a washout interval (≥5 days). Treatment-emergent adverse events, PK, and biomarker concentrations were estimated from plasma/urine samples. Lufotrelvir was administered to 15 volunteers (mean [SD] age 39.7 [11.8] years). No serious adverse events, discontinuations, or deaths were reported. Mean maximum observed concentration of PF-00835231 (active moiety; 97.0 ng/mL to 1288 ng/mL) were observed between median time to maximum concentration of 14 to 16 hours after the start of the lufotrelvir infusion. Near-maximum plasma concentrations of PF-00835231 were observed ≈6 hours after infusion start and sustained until infusion end. PF-00835231 plasma concentrations declined rapidly after infusion end (mean terminal half-life: 500 mg, 2.0 hours; 700 mg, 1.7 hours). Approximately 9%-11% of the dose was recovered in urine as PF-00835231 across doses. A continuous, single-dose, 24-hour infusion of lufotrelvir (50-700 mg) was rapidly converted to PF-00835231 (active moiety), with dose-proportional PK exposures and no significant safety concerns. A daily, 24-hour continuous infusion of 270 to 350 mg is expected to maintain PF-00835231 concentration at steady state/above effective antiviral concentrations. Further studies exploring lufotrelvir efficacy in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Zhu
- Pfizer Worldwide ResearchDevelopment and MedicalCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Sima S. Toussi
- Pfizer Worldwide ResearchDevelopment and Medical, Pearl RiverNew YorkUSA
| | | | | | - Wei Song
- Pfizer Worldwide ResearchDevelopment and MedicalGrotonConnecticutUSA
| | | | - Erica Winter
- Pfizer Global Product DevelopmentGrotonConnecticutUSA
| | - Haihong Shi
- Pfizer Global Product DevelopmentGrotonConnecticutUSA
| | | | - Michael Binks
- Pfizer Worldwide ResearchDevelopment and MedicalCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
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17
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Liang J, Zheng M, Xu W, Chen Y, Tang P, Wu G, Zou P, Li H, Chen L. Acriflavine and proflavine hemisulfate as potential antivirals by targeting M pro. Bioorg Chem 2022; 129:106185. [PMID: 36240541 PMCID: PMC9540699 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic buffets the world, and the concerted efforts are needed to explore effective drugs. Mpro is an intriguing antiviral target for interfering with viral RNA replication and transcription. In order to get potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents, we established an enzymatic assay using a fluorogenic substrate to screen the inhibitors of Mpro. Fortunately, Acriflavine (ACF) and Proflavine Hemisulfate (PRF) with the same acridine scaffold were picked out for their good inhibitory activity against Mpro with IC50 of 5.60 ± 0.29 μM and 2.07 ± 0.01 μM, respectively. Further evaluation of MST assay and enzymatic kinetics experiment in vitro showed that they had a certain affinity to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and were both non-competitive inhibitors. In addition, they inhibited about 90 % HCoV-OC43 replication in BHK-21 cells at 1 μM. Both compounds showed nano-molar activities against SARS-CoV-2 virus, which were superior to GC376 for anti-HCoV-43, and equivalent to the standard molecule remdesivir. Our study demonstrated that ACF and PRF were inhibitors of Mpro, and ACF has been previously reported as a PLpro inhibitor. Taken together, ACF and PRF might be dual-targeted inhibitors to provide protection against infections of coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Mengzhu Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yongkang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Piyu Tang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Guoyi Wu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China,Corresponding authors at: Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China (H. Li and L. Chen)
| | - Peng Zou
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China,Corresponding authors at: Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China (H. Li and L. Chen)
| | - Hua Li
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China,Institute of Structural Pharmacology & TCM Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China,School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China,Corresponding authors at: Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China (H. Li and L. Chen)
| | - Lixia Chen
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China,Corresponding authors at: Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China (H. Li and L. Chen)
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18
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Chen W, Shao Y, Peng X, Liang B, Xu J, Xing D. Review of preclinical data of PF-07304814 and its active metabolite derivatives against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1035969. [PMID: 36438815 PMCID: PMC9691842 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1035969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Main protease (Mpro) is a superior target for anti-SARS-COV-2 drugs. PF-07304814 is a phosphate ester prodrug of PF-00835231 that is rapidly metabolized into the active metabolite PF-00835231 by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and then suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication by inhibiting Mpro. PF-07304814 increased the bioavailability of PF-00835231 by enhancing plasma protein binding (PPB). P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors and cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitors increased the efficacy of PF-00835231 by suppressing its efflux from target cells and metabolism, respectively. The life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 is approximately 4 h. The mechanisms and efficacy outcomes of PF-00835231 occur simultaneously. PF-00835231 can inhibit not only cell infection (such as Vero E6, 293T, Huh-7.5, HeLa+angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), A549+ACE2, and MRC-5) but also the human respiratory epithelial organ model and animal model infection. PF-07304814 exhibits a short terminal elimination half-life and is cleared primarily through renal elimination. There were no significant adverse effects of PF-07304814 administration in rats. Therefore, PF-07304814 exhibits good tolerability, pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and safety in preclinical trials. However, the Phase 1 data of PF-07304814 were not released. The Phase 2/3 trial of PF-07304814 was also suspended. Interestingly, the antiviral activities of PF-00835231 derivatives (compounds 5–22) are higher than, similar to, or slightly weaker than those of PF-00835231. In particular, compound 22 exhibited the highest potency and had good safety and stability. However, the low solubility of compound 22 limits its clinical application. Prodrugs, nanotechnology and salt form drugs may solve this problem. In this review, we focus on the preclinical data of PF-07304814 and its active metabolite derivatives to hopefully provide knowledge for researchers to study SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wujun Chen
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Yingchun Shao
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaojin Peng
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Bing Liang
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiazhen Xu
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Jiazhen Xu, ; Dongming Xing,
| | - Dongming Xing
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jiazhen Xu, ; Dongming Xing,
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19
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Reactivity and binding mode of disulfiram, its metabolites, and derivatives in SARS-CoV-2 PL pro: insights from computational chemistry studies. J Mol Model 2022; 28:354. [PMID: 36222962 PMCID: PMC9554863 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-022-05341-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The papain-like protease (PLpro) from SARS-CoV-2 is an important target for the development of antivirals against COVID-19. The safe drug disulfiram (DSF) presents antiviral activity inhibiting PLpro in vitro, and it is under clinical trial studies, indicating to be a promising anti-COVID-19 drug. In this work, we aimed to understand the mechanism of PLpro inhibition by DSF and verify if DSF metabolites and derivatives could be potential inhibitors too. Molecular docking, DFT, and ADMET techniques were applied. The carbamoylation of the active site cysteine residue by DSF metabolite (DETC-MeSO) is kinetically and thermodynamically favorable (ΔG‡ = 3.15 and ΔG = - 12.10 kcal mol-1, respectively). Our results strongly suggest that the sulfoxide metabolites from DSF are promising covalent inhibitors of PLpro and should be tested in in vitro and in vivo assays to confirm their antiviral action.
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20
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Shang W, Dai W, Yao C, Xu L, Tao X, Su H, Li J, Xie X, Xu Y, Hu M, Xie D, Jiang H, Zhang L, Liu H. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the main protease inhibitor FB2001 against SARS-CoV-2. Antiviral Res 2022; 208:105450. [PMID: 36354082 PMCID: PMC9617675 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
FB2001 is a drug candidate that targets the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 via covalently binding to cysteine 145. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory activities of FB2001 against several SARS-CoV-2 variants in vitro and in vivo (in mice), and we also evaluated the histopathological analysis and immunostaining of FB2001 on lung and brain which have been rarely reported. The results showed that FB2001 exhibited potent antiviral efficacy against several current SARS-CoV-2 variants in Vero E6 cells, namely, B.1.1.7 (Alpha): EC50 = 0.39 ± 0.01 μM, EC90 = 0.75 ± 0.01 μM; B.1.351 (Beta): EC50 = 0.28 ± 0.11 μM, EC90 = 0.57 ± 0.21 μM; B.1.617.2 (Delta): EC50 = 0.27 ± 0.05 μM, EC90 = 0.81 ± 0.20 μM; B.1.1.529 (Omicron): EC50 = 0.26 ± 0.06 μM and EC50 = 0.042 ± 0.007 μM (in the presence of a P-glycoprotein inhibitor). FB2001 remained potent against SARS-CoV-2 replication in the presence of high concentrations of human serum, which indicating that human serum had no significant effect on the in vitro inhibitory activity. Additionally, this inhibitor exhibited an additive effect against SARS-CoV-2 when combined with Remdesivir. Furthermore, FB2001 significantly reduced the SARS-CoV-2 copy numbers and titers in the lungs and brains in vivo, and alleviated the pathological symptoms. In addition, FB2001 could alleviated local bleeding, erythrocyte overflow, edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration in brain tissue, and inhibitors reducing viral titers and improving inflammation in the brain have been rarely reported. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was established and verified to predict the FB2001 concentration in human lungs. When FB2001 was administered at 200 mg twice a day for 5 days, the observed Ctrough ss in plasma and predicted Ctrough ss of lung total concentration were 0.163 and 2.5 μg/mL, which were approximately 9 and 132-fold higher than the EC50 of 0.019 μg/mL (0.042 μM) against Omicron variant. Taken together, our study suggests that FB2001 is a promising therapeutic agent in COVID-19 treatment and can be combined with remdesivir to achieve improved clinical outcomes. Owing to its good safety and tolerability in healthy human (NCT05197179 and NCT04766931), FB2001 has been approved for Phase II/III clinical trial (NCT05445934).
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21
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Delgado CP, Rocha JBT, Orian L, Bortoli M, Nogara PA. In silico studies of M pro and PL pro from SARS-CoV-2 and a new class of cephalosporin drugs containing 1,2,4-thiadiazole. Struct Chem 2022; 33:2205-2220. [PMID: 36106095 PMCID: PMC9463509 DOI: 10.1007/s11224-022-02036-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 proteases Mpro and PLpro are important targets for the development of antivirals against COVID-19. The functional group 1,2,4-thiadiazole has been indicated to inhibit cysteinyl proteases, such as papain and cathepsins. Of note, the 1,2,4-thiadiazole moiety is found in a new class of cephalosporin FDA-approved antibiotics: ceftaroline fosamil, ceftobiprole, and ceftobiprole medocaril. Here we investigated the interaction of these new antibiotics and their main metabolites with the SARS-CoV-2 proteases by molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our results indicated the PLpro enzyme as a better in silico target for the new antibacterial cephalosporins. The results with ceftaroline fosamil and the dephosphorylate metabolite compounds should be tested as potential inhibitor of PLpro, Mpro, and SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. In addition, the data here reported can help in the design of new potential drugs against COVID-19 by exploiting the S atom reactivity in the 1,2,4-thiadiazole moiety. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11224-022-02036-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cássia Pereira Delgado
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS 97105-900 Brazil
| | - João Batista Teixeira Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS 97105-900 Brazil
| | - Laura Orian
- Dipartimento di Scuenze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Bortoli
- Institut de Química Computacionali Catàlisi (IQCC), Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, C/M. A. Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Pablo Andrei Nogara
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS 97105-900 Brazil
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22
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ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2-Main Protease Capillary Columns for Affinity Chromatography: Testimony of the Binding of Dexamethasone and its Carbon Nanotube Nanovector. Chromatographia 2022; 85:773-781. [PMID: 35855682 PMCID: PMC9275543 DOI: 10.1007/s10337-022-04181-9] [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: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, each of the two following proteins, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the Main protease (Main pro) of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) were grafted for the first time on homemade neutravidin poly(GMA-co-EDMA) capillary columns for the research of their ligands. The effect of the column diameter on the quantity of immobilized biotinylated protein was studied. For a capillary length of 40 mm, when its internal diameter varied from 75 to 25 μm, the grafted quantity of ACE2 decreased by 85% (from 1.50 to 0.24 μg). Among all the studied ligands, a particular vigilance has been given for dexamethasone, a widely used molecule today for adult patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2. Competition experiments were performed with SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain used as reference molecule with the ACE2 affinity column to assess the orthosteric binding site of dexamethasone (Dex) on ACE2. This ligand was then immobilized on Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (Dex/MWCNT). By comparison of the normalized breakthrough curves measured for Dex and Dex/MWCNT on both the ACE2 and Main pro affinity columns, it was showed for the first time that nanovectorisation of Dex with MWCNT enhanced and stabilized its binding to both ACE2 and Main pro. This last result reinforced the use of Dex and the interest of MWCNT for boosting immune health against COVID 19.
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23
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In silico discovery of multi-targeting inhibitors for the COVID-19 treatment by molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation studies, and ADMET predictions. Struct Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11224-022-01996-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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24
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Islam T, Hasan M, Rahman MS, Islam MR. Comparative evaluation of authorized drugs for treating Covid-19 patients. Health Sci Rep 2022; 5:e671. [PMID: 35734340 PMCID: PMC9194463 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Vaccines are the first line of defense against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). However, the antiviral drugs provide a new tool to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Here we aimed for a comparative evaluation of authorized drugs for treating Covid-19 patients. Methods We searched in PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords and terms such as Covid, SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus disease 2019, therapeutic management, hospitalized Covid-19 patients, Covid-19 treatment. We also gathered information from reputed newspapers, web portals, and websites. We thoroughly observed, screened, and included the studies relevant to our inclusion criteria. We included only the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized drugs for this review. Results We found that molnupiravir and paxlovid are available for oral use, and remdesivir is for only hospitalized patients. Paxlovid is a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, nirmatrelvir is a protease inhibitor (ritonavir increases the concentration of nirmatrelvir), and the other two (remdesivir and molnupiravir) are nucleoside analog prodrugs. Remdesivir and molnupiravir doses do not need to adjust in renal and hepatic impairment. However, the paxlovid dose adjustment is required for mild to moderate renal or hepatic impaired patients. Also, the drug is not allowed for Covid-19 patients with severe renal or hepatic impairment. Preliminary studies showed oral antiviral drugs significantly reduce hospitalization or death among mild to severe patients. Moreover, the US FDA has approved four monoclonal antibodies for Covid-19 treatment. Studies suggest that these drugs would reduce the risk of hospitalization or severity of symptoms. World Health Organization strongly recommended the use of corticosteroids along with other antiviral drugs for severe or critically hospitalized patients. Conclusion All authorized drugs are effective in inhibiting viral replication for most SARS-CoV-2 variants. Therefore, along with vaccines, these drugs might potentially aid in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Towhidul Islam
- Department of PharmacyUniversity of Asia PacificDhakaBangladesh
| | - Moynul Hasan
- Department of PharmacyJagannath UniversityDhakaBangladesh
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25
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Malla TR, Brewitz L, Muntean DG, Aslam H, Owen CD, Salah E, Tumber A, Lukacik P, Strain-Damerell C, Mikolajek H, Walsh MA, Schofield CJ. Penicillin Derivatives Inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease by Reaction with Its Nucleophilic Cysteine. J Med Chem 2022; 65:7682-7696. [PMID: 35549342 PMCID: PMC9115881 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is a medicinal chemistry target for COVID-19 treatment. Given the clinical efficacy of β-lactams as inhibitors of bacterial nucleophilic enzymes, they are of interest as inhibitors of viral nucleophilic serine and cysteine proteases. We describe the synthesis of penicillin derivatives which are potent Mpro inhibitors and investigate their mechanism of inhibition using mass spectrometric and crystallographic analyses. The results suggest that β-lactams have considerable potential as Mpro inhibitors via a mechanism involving reaction with the nucleophilic cysteine to form a stable acyl-enzyme complex as shown by crystallographic analysis. The results highlight the potential for inhibition of viral proteases employing nucleophilic catalysis by β-lactams and related acylating agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tika R. Malla
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lennart Brewitz
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dorian-Gabriel Muntean
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Hiba Aslam
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - C. David Owen
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell
Science and Innovation Campus, OX11
0FA Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Eidarus Salah
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Tumber
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell
Science and Innovation Campus, OX11
0FA Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell
Science and Innovation Campus, OX11
0FA Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Halina Mikolajek
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell
Science and Innovation Campus, OX11
0FA Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Martin A. Walsh
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell
Science and Innovation Campus, OX11
0FA Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
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26
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Brewitz L, Kamps JJAG, Lukacik P, Strain‐Damerell C, Zhao Y, Tumber A, Malla TR, Orville AM, Walsh MA, Schofield CJ. Mass Spectrometric Assays Reveal Discrepancies in Inhibition Profiles for the SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202200016. [PMID: 35085423 PMCID: PMC9015526 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The two SARS-CoV-2 proteases, i. e. the main protease (Mpro ) and the papain-like protease (PLpro ), which hydrolyze the viral polypeptide chain giving functional non-structural proteins, are essential for viral replication and are medicinal chemistry targets. We report a high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS)-based assay which directly monitors PLpro catalysis in vitro. The assay was applied to investigate the effect of reported small-molecule PLpro inhibitors and selected Mpro inhibitors on PLpro catalysis. The results reveal that some, but not all, PLpro inhibitor potencies differ substantially from those obtained using fluorescence-based assays. Some substrate-competing Mpro inhibitors, notably PF-07321332 (nirmatrelvir) which is in clinical development, do not inhibit PLpro . Less selective Mpro inhibitors, e. g. auranofin, inhibit PLpro , highlighting the potential for dual PLpro /Mpro inhibition. MS-based PLpro assays, which are orthogonal to widely employed fluorescence-based assays, are of utility in validating inhibitor potencies, especially for inhibitors operating by non-covalent mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Brewitz
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial ResearchUniversity of Oxford12 Mansfield RoadOX1 3TAOxfordUK
| | - Jos J. A. G. Kamps
- Diamond Light Source Ltd.Harwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0DEDidcotUK
- Research Complex at HarwellHarwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0FADidcotUK
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond Light Source Ltd.Harwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0DEDidcotUK
- Research Complex at HarwellHarwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0FADidcotUK
| | - Claire Strain‐Damerell
- Diamond Light Source Ltd.Harwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0DEDidcotUK
- Research Complex at HarwellHarwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0FADidcotUK
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial ResearchUniversity of Oxford12 Mansfield RoadOX1 3TAOxfordUK
| | - Anthony Tumber
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial ResearchUniversity of Oxford12 Mansfield RoadOX1 3TAOxfordUK
| | - Tika R. Malla
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial ResearchUniversity of Oxford12 Mansfield RoadOX1 3TAOxfordUK
| | - Allen M. Orville
- Diamond Light Source Ltd.Harwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0DEDidcotUK
- Research Complex at HarwellHarwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0FADidcotUK
| | - Martin A. Walsh
- Diamond Light Source Ltd.Harwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0DEDidcotUK
- Research Complex at HarwellHarwell Science and Innovation CampusOX11 0FADidcotUK
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial ResearchUniversity of Oxford12 Mansfield RoadOX1 3TAOxfordUK
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27
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Tecalco Cruz AC. Free ISG15 and protein ISGylation emerging in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Curr Drug Targets 2022; 23:686-691. [PMID: 35297347 DOI: 10.2174/1389450123666220316094720] [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: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Interferon-simulated gene 15 (ISG15) belongs to the family of ubiquitin-like proteins. ISG15 acts as a cytokine and modifies proteins through ISGylation. This posttranslational modification has been associated with antiviral and immune response pathways. In addition, it is known that the genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) encodes proteases critical for viral replication. Consequently, these proteases are also central in the progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Interestingly, the protease SARS-CoV-2-PLpro removes ISG15 from ISGylated proteins such as IRF3 and MDA5, affecting immune and antiviral defense from the host. Here, the implications of ISG15, ISGylation, and generation of SARS-CoV-2-PLpro inhibitors in SARS-CoV-2 infection are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles C Tecalco Cruz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México (UACM), CDMX, México
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28
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Elgohary MAS, Hasan EM, Ibrahim AA, Abdelsalam MFA, Abdel-Rahman RZ, Zaki AI, Elaatar MB, Elnagar MT, Emam ME, Hamada MM, Abdel-Hamid TM, Abdel-Hafez AS, Seadawy MG, Fatoh AR, Elsaied MA, Sakr MAR, Elkady AO, Shehata MM, Nawar OM, Selem MAE, Abd-aal MS, Lotfy HH, Elnagdy TR, Helmy S, Mubark MA. Efficacy of Sofosbuvir plus Ledipasvir in Egyptian patients with COVID-19 compared to standard treatment: a randomized controlled trial. J Med Life 2022; 15:350-358. [PMID: 35449996 PMCID: PMC9015168 DOI: 10.25122/jml-2021-0175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is a pandemic disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, which is an RNA virus similar to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the replication process. Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir is an approved drug to treat HCV infection. This study investigates the efficacy of Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir as a treatment for patients with moderate COVID-19 infection. This is a single-blinded parallel-randomized controlled trial. The participants were randomized equally into the intervention group that received Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (S.L. group), and the control group received Oseltamivir, Hydroxychloroquine, and Azithromycin (OCH group). The primary outcomes were the cure rate over time and the incidence of serious adverse events. The secondary outcomes included the laboratory findings. 250 patients were divided equally into each group. Both groups were similar regarding gender, but age was higher in the S.L. group (p=0.001). In the S.L. group, 89 (71.2%) patients were cured, while only 51 (40.8%) patients were cured in the OCH group. The cure rate was significantly higher in the S.L. group (RR=1.75, p<0.001). Kaplan-Meir plot showed a considerably higher cure over time in the S.L. group (Log-rank test, p=0.032). There were no deaths in the S.L. group, but there were six deaths (4.8%) in the OCH group (RR=0.08, p=0.013). Seven patients (5.6%) in the S.L. group and six patients (4.8%) in the OCH group were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (RR=1.17, P=0.776). There were no significant differences between treatment groups regarding total leukocyte and neutrophils count, lymph, and urea. Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir is suggestive of being effective in treating patients with moderate COVID-19 infection. Further studies are needed to compare Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir with new treatment protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eman Medhat Hasan
- Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amany Ahmad Ibrahim
- Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mohamed Gomaa Seadawy
- Biological Prevention Department, Egyptian Army, Cairo, Egypt,Corresponding Author: Mohamed Gomaa Seadawy, Biological Prevention Department, Egyptian Army, Cairo, Egypt. E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sherine Helmy
- Research & Development, PHARCO Pharmaceuticals, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Magdy Amin Mubark
- Egyptian Military Medical Services Department, Egyptian Army, Cairo, Egypt
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29
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Bai B, Belovodskiy A, Hena M, Kandadai AS, Joyce MA, Saffran HA, Shields JA, Khan MB, Arutyunova E, Lu J, Bajwa SK, Hockman D, Fischer C, Lamer T, Vuong W, van Belkum MJ, Gu Z, Lin F, Du Y, Xu J, Rahim M, Young HS, Vederas JC, Tyrrell DL, Lemieux MJ, Nieman JA. Peptidomimetic α-Acyloxymethylketone Warheads with Six-Membered Lactam P1 Glutamine Mimic: SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease Inhibition, Coronavirus Antiviral Activity, and in Vitro Biological Stability. J Med Chem 2022; 65:2905-2925. [PMID: 34242027 PMCID: PMC8291138 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recurring coronavirus outbreaks, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, establish a necessity to develop direct-acting antivirals that can be readily administered and are active against a broad spectrum of coronaviruses. Described in this Article are novel α-acyloxymethylketone warhead peptidomimetic compounds with a six-membered lactam glutamine mimic in P1. Compounds with potent SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease and in vitro viral replication inhibition were identified with low cytotoxicity and good plasma and glutathione stability. Compounds 15e, 15h, and 15l displayed selectivity for SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease over CatB and CatS and superior in vitro SARS-CoV-2 antiviral replication inhibition compared with the reported peptidomimetic inhibitors with other warheads. The cocrystallization of 15l with SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease confirmed the formation of a covalent adduct. α-Acyloxymethylketone compounds also exhibited antiviral activity against an alphacoronavirus and non-SARS betacoronavirus strains with similar potency and a better selectivity index than remdesivir. These findings demonstrate the potential of the substituted heteroaromatic and aliphatic α-acyloxymethylketone warheads as coronavirus inhibitors, and the described results provide a basis for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Bai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Alexandr Belovodskiy
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Mostofa Hena
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Appan Srinivas Kandadai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Michael A. Joyce
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Holly A. Saffran
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Justin A. Shields
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Muhammad Bashir Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Elena Arutyunova
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Jimmy Lu
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Sardeev K. Bajwa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Darren Hockman
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Conrad Fischer
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Tess Lamer
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Wayne Vuong
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Marco J. van Belkum
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Zhengxian Gu
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Fusen Lin
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Yanhua Du
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Jia Xu
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Mohammad Rahim
- Rane Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
4290 91a Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 5V2, Canada
| | - Howard S. Young
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - John C. Vederas
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - D. Lorne Tyrrell
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - M. Joanne Lemieux
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - James A. Nieman
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
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30
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Jiang H, Yang P, Zhang J. Potential Inhibitors Targeting Papain-Like Protease of SARS-CoV-2: Two Birds With One Stone. Front Chem 2022; 10:822785. [PMID: 35281561 PMCID: PMC8905519 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.822785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the pathogen of the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), is still devastating the world causing significant chaos to the international community and posing a significant threat to global health. Since the first outbreak in late 2019, several lines of intervention have been developed to prevent the spread of this virus. Nowadays, some vaccines have been approved and extensively administered. However, the fact that SARS-CoV-2 rapidly mutates makes the efficacy and safety of this approach constantly under debate. Therefore, antivirals are still needed to combat the infection of SARS-CoV-2. Papain-like protease (PLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 supports viral reproduction and suppresses the innate immune response of the host, which makes PLpro an attractive pharmaceutical target. Inhibition of PLpro could not only prevent viral replication but also restore the antiviral immunity of the host, resulting in the speedy recovery of the patient. In this review, we describe structural and functional features on PLpro of SARS-CoV-2 and the latest development in searching for PLpro inhibitors. Currently available inhibitors targeting PLpro as well as their structural basis are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihai Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Haihai Jiang, ; Jin Zhang,
| | - Peiyao Yang
- Queen Mary School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Haihai Jiang, ; Jin Zhang,
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31
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Bhowmick S, Saha A, AlFaris NA, ALTamimi JZ, ALOthman ZA, Aldayel TS, Wabaidur SM, Islam MA. Identification of potent food constituents as SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease modulators through advanced pharmacoinformatics approaches. J Mol Graph Model 2021; 111:108113. [PMID: 34959151 PMCID: PMC8688376 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2021.108113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The current ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 urges immediate treatment measures for controlling the highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 infections. The papain-like protease (PLpro), which is released from nsp3, is presently being evaluated as a significant anti-viral drug target for COVID-19 therapy development. Particularly, PLpro is implicated in the cleavage of viral polyproteins and antagonizes the host innate immune response through its deubiquitinating and deISGylating actions, thus making it a high-profile antiviral therapeutic target. The present study reports a few specific food compounds that can bind tightly with the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protein identified through extensive computational screening techniques. Precisely, extensive advanced computational approaches combining target-based virtual screening, particularly employing sub-structure based similarity search, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and MM-GBSA based binding free energy calculations have been employed for the identification of the most promising food compounds with substantial functional implications as SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protein inhibitors/modulators. Observations from the present research investigation also provide a deeper understanding of the binding modes of the proposed four food compounds with SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protein. In docking analyses, all compounds have established essential inter-molecular interaction profiles at the active site cavity of the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protein. Similarly, the long-range 100 ns conventional MD simulation studies also provided an in-depth understanding of probable interactions and dynamic behaviour of the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protein-food compound complexes. Binding free energies of all molecular systems revealed a strong interaction affinity of food compounds towards the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protein. Moreover, clear-cut comparative analyses against the known standard inhibitor also suggest that proposed food compounds may act as potential active chemical entities for modulating the action of the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shovonlal Bhowmick
- Department of Chemical Technology, University of Calcutta, 92, A.P.C. Road, Kolkata, 700009, India
| | - Achintya Saha
- Department of Chemical Technology, University of Calcutta, 92, A.P.C. Road, Kolkata, 700009, India.
| | - Nora Abdullah AlFaris
- Nutrition and Food Science, Department of Physical Sport Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P. O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jozaa Zaidan ALTamimi
- Nutrition and Food Science, Department of Physical Sport Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P. O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zeid A ALOthman
- Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 2455, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahany Saleh Aldayel
- Nutrition and Food Science, Department of Physical Sport Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P. O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saikh Mohammad Wabaidur
- Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 2455, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Md Ataul Islam
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
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Barazorda-Ccahuana HL, Nedyalkova M, Mas F, Madurga S. Unveiling the Effect of Low pH on the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease by Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:3823. [PMID: 34771379 PMCID: PMC8587287 DOI: 10.3390/polym13213823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Main Protease (Mpro) is an attractive therapeutic target that acts in the replication and transcription of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Mpro is rich in residues exposed to protonation/deprotonation changes which could affect its enzymatic function. This work aimed to explore the effect of the protonation/deprotonation states of Mpro at different pHs using computational techniques. (2) Methods: The different distribution charges were obtained in all the evaluated pHs by the Semi-Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (SGCMC) method. A set of Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations was performed to consider the different protonation/deprotonation during 250 ns, verifying the structural stability of Mpro at different pHs. (3) Results: The present findings demonstrate that active site residues and residues that allow Mpro dimerisation was not affected by pH changes. However, Mpro substrate-binding residues were altered at low pHs, allowing the increased pocket volume. Additionally, the results of the solvent distribution around Sγ, Hγ, Nδ1 and Hδ1 atoms of the catalytic residues Cys145 and His41 showed a low and high-water affinity at acidic pH, respectively. It which could be crucial in the catalytic mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro at low pHs. Moreover, we analysed the docking interactions of PF-00835231 from Pfizer in the preclinical phase, which shows excellent affinity with the Mpro at different pHs. (4) Conclusion: Overall, these findings indicate that SARS-CoV-2 Mpro is highly stable at acidic pH conditions, and this inhibitor could have a desirable function at this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruna Luz Barazorda-Ccahuana
- Materials Science and Physical Chemistry Department & Research Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTCUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04000, Peru
| | - Miroslava Nedyalkova
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Sofia “St. Kl. Okhridski”, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Francesc Mas
- Materials Science and Physical Chemistry Department & Research Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTCUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Sergio Madurga
- Materials Science and Physical Chemistry Department & Research Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTCUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
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Tsu BV, Fay EJ, Nguyen KT, Corley MR, Hosuru B, Dominguez VA, Daugherty MD. Running With Scissors: Evolutionary Conflicts Between Viral Proteases and the Host Immune System. Front Immunol 2021; 12:769543. [PMID: 34790204 PMCID: PMC8591160 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.769543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Many pathogens encode proteases that serve to antagonize the host immune system. In particular, viruses with a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome [(+)ssRNA], including picornaviruses, flaviviruses, and coronaviruses, encode proteases that are not only required for processing viral polyproteins into functional units but also manipulate crucial host cellular processes through their proteolytic activity. Because these proteases must cleave numerous polyprotein sites as well as diverse host targets, evolution of these viral proteases is expected to be highly constrained. However, despite this strong evolutionary constraint, mounting evidence suggests that viral proteases such as picornavirus 3C, flavivirus NS3, and coronavirus 3CL, are engaged in molecular 'arms races' with their targeted host factors, resulting in host- and virus-specific determinants of protease cleavage. In cases where protease-mediated cleavage results in host immune inactivation, recurrent host gene evolution can result in avoidance of cleavage by viral proteases. In other cases, such as recently described examples in NLRP1 and CARD8, hosts have evolved 'tripwire' sequences that mimic protease cleavage sites and activate an immune response upon cleavage. In both cases, host evolution may be responsible for driving viral protease evolution, helping explain why viral proteases and polyprotein sites are divergent among related viruses despite such strong evolutionary constraint. Importantly, these evolutionary conflicts result in diverse protease-host interactions even within closely related host and viral species, thereby contributing to host range, zoonotic potential, and pathogenicity of viral infection. Such examples highlight the importance of examining viral protease-host interactions through an evolutionary lens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Matthew D. Daugherty
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States
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Bai B, Arutyunova E, Khan MB, Lu J, Joyce MA, Saffran HA, Shields JA, Kandadai AS, Belovodskiy A, Hena M, Vuong W, Lamer T, Young HS, Vederas JC, Tyrrell DL, Lemieux MJ, Nieman JA. Peptidomimetic nitrile warheads as SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:1722-1730. [PMID: 34778773 PMCID: PMC8529539 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00247c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tragically, the death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rise, and with variants being observed around the globe new therapeutics, particularly direct-acting antivirals that are easily administered, are desperately needed. Studies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease, which is critical for viral replication, with different peptidomimetics and warheads is an active area of research for development of potential drugs. To date, however, only a few publications have evaluated the nitrile warhead as a viral 3CL protease inhibitor, with only modest activity reported. This article describes our investigation of P3 4-methoxyindole peptidomimetic analogs with select P1 and P2 groups with a nitrile warhead that are potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease and demonstrate in vitro SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity. A selectivity for SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease over human cathepsins B, S and L was also observed with the nitrile warhead, which was superior to that with the aldehyde warhead. A co-crystal structure with SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease and a reversibility study indicate that a reversible, thioimidate adduct is formed when the catalytic sulfur forms a covalent bond with the carbon of the nitrile. This effort also identified efflux as a property limiting antiviral activity of these compounds, and together with the positive attributes described these results provide insight for further drug development of novel nitrile peptidomimetics targeting SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Bai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Elena Arutyunova
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H7 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Muhammad Bashir Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H7 Canada
| | - Jimmy Lu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Michael A Joyce
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Holly A Saffran
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Justin A Shields
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Appan Srinivas Kandadai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Alexandr Belovodskiy
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Mostofa Hena
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - Wayne Vuong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2G2 Canada
| | - Tess Lamer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2G2 Canada
| | - Howard S Young
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - John C Vederas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2G2 Canada
| | - D Lorne Tyrrell
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - M Joanne Lemieux
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2H7 Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
| | - James A Nieman
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E1 Canada
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35
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Malekmohammad K, Rafieian-Kopaei M. Mechanistic Aspects of Medicinal Plants and Secondary Metabolites against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:3996-4007. [PMID: 34225607 DOI: 10.2174/1381612827666210705160130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a highly pathogenic virus, is responsible for a respiratory disease termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes various structural and non-structural proteins, which are necessary for viral entry and replication. Among these proteins, papain-like protease (PLpro), 3C-like protease (3CLpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), helicase, a serine protease, and spike protein are potential targets of herbal remedies and phytocompounds for inhibition of viral infection and replication. There is at present no confirmed cure for the COVID-19. Various plants and their components have been introduced against SARS-Co-2. A number of review articles have also been published on them. This article is focusing on the mechanistic aspects of these plants and their derivatives on SARS-CV-2. METHOD The material in this review article was prepared from significant scientific databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar. RESULTS Different medicinal plants and their phytocompounds interact with important structural and non-structural of SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Natural compounds form strong bonds with the active site of SARS-CoV-2 protease and make large conformational changes. These phytochemicals are potential inhibitors of structural and non-structural of SARS-CoV-2 proteins such as Spike protein, PLpro, and 3CLpro. Some important anti-SARS-CoV-2 actions of medicinal plants and their metabolites are inhibition of the virus replication or entry, blocking the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor and "Transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2)" regulation of inflammatory mediators, inhibition of endothelial activation, toll-like receptors (TLRs) and activation of the nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Some of these important natural immune boosters that are helpful for prevention and curing various symptoms related to COVID-19 include Allium sativum, Nigella sativa, Glycyrrhiza glabra Zingiber officinalis, Ocimum sanctum, Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, and Scutellaria baicalensis. Also, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Baicalin, Scutellarin, Glycyrrhizin, Curcumin, Apigenin, Ursolic acid, and Chloroquine are the best candidates for treating the symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSION Medicinal plants and/or their bioactive compounds with inhibitory effects against SARS-CoV-2 support the human immune system and help in fighting against COVID-19 and rejuvenating the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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