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ElSawy KM. Competitive Interaction of the SGFRKMAF Peptide with 3CLpro Dimerization Intermediates: A Brownian Dynamics Investigation. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:7313-7321. [PMID: 39028939 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c01938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
The SGFRKMAF peptide is known to inhibit the dimerization of 3CLpro monomers, which is essential for SARS-CoV-2 replication. The mechanism behind this, however, is largely unknown. In this work, we used Brownian dynamics simulations to compare and contrast 3CLpro monomer-monomer interactions and 3CLpro monomer-SGFRKMAF peptide interactions. We found that formation of the 3CLpro wild-type dimer could potentially involve formation of three intermediates that are primarily stabilized by G11-G124, S1-S301, and T118-G278 interactions. Analysis of 3CLpro monomer interaction with the SGFRKMAF peptide, however, revealed the presence of eight basins of interactions where the peptide assumes the highest local densities at the 3CLPro monomer surface. The second highest-density basin was found to coincide with the interface region of the wild-type 3CLpro dimer, thereby directly blocking the 3CLpro dimer-dimer interactions. The other basins, however, were found to lie far from the interface region. Notably, we found that only 6% of the BD trajectories end up directly into the basin at the interface region and ∼39% of the trajectories end up into those basins lying away from the interface region, indicating a greater role for peptide binding at sites away from the dimer interface region. Importantly, the locations of the basins lying away from the interface were found to coincide with the 3CLpro residues involved in stabilization of the 3CLpro monomer-monomer intermediates. Given that the rate constant of the peptide reaching the monomer surface was found to be almost an order of magnitude higher than the rate constant of monomer-monomer association, the SGFRKMAF peptide has the potential to inhibit dimerization of 3CLpro monomers not only through blocking the interface region but also through blocking the formation of the intermediates involved in the dimerization process. This could potentially open new avenues for 3CLpro dimerization inhibitors that transcend traditional X-ray-based discovery approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim M ElSawy
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia
- York Cross-disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis (YCCSA), University of York, York YO10 5GE, United Kingdom
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2
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Lis K, Plewka J, Menezes F, Bielecka E, Chykunova Y, Pustelny K, Niebling S, Garcia AS, Garcia-Alai M, Popowicz GM, Czarna A, Kantyka T, Pyrc K. SARS-CoV-2 M pro oligomerization as a potential target for therapy. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 267:131392. [PMID: 38582483 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131392] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is critical in the virus's replication cycle, facilitating the maturation of polyproteins into functional units. Due to its conservation across taxa, Mpro is a promising target for broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. Targeting Mpro with small molecule inhibitors, such as nirmatrelvir combined with ritonavir (Paxlovid™), which the FDA has approved for post-exposure treatment and prophylaxis, can effectively interrupt the replication process of the virus. A key aspect of Mpro's function is its ability to form a functional dimer. However, the mechanics of dimerization and its influence on proteolytic activity remain less understood. In this study, we utilized biochemical, structural, and molecular modelling approaches to explore Mpro dimerization. We evaluated critical residues, specifically Arg4 and Arg298, that are essential for dimerization. Our results show that changes in the oligomerization state of Mpro directly affect its enzymatic activity and dimerization propensity. We discovered a synergistic relationship influencing dimer formation, involving both intra- and intermolecular interactions. These findings highlight the potential for developing allosteric inhibitors targeting Mpro, offering promising new directions for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Lis
- Jagiellonian University, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Virogenetics, Laboratory of Virology, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24,31-155 Cracow, Poland
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Jagiellonian University, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Virogenetics, Laboratory of Virology, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Filipe Menezes
- Helmholtz Munich, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Institute of Structural Biology, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ewa Bielecka
- Jagiellonian University, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Proteolysis and Post-translational Modification of Proteins, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Yuliya Chykunova
- Jagiellonian University, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Virogenetics, Laboratory of Virology, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Cracow, Poland; Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Microbiology Department, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Cracow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Pustelny
- Jagiellonian University, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
| | - Stephan Niebling
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg, Germany; Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Angelica Struve Garcia
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg, Germany; Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria Garcia-Alai
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg, Germany; Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Grzegorz M Popowicz
- Helmholtz Munich, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Institute of Structural Biology, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Anna Czarna
- Jagiellonian University, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Kantyka
- Jagiellonian University, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Proteolysis and Post-translational Modification of Proteins, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Pyrc
- Jagiellonian University, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Virogenetics, Laboratory of Virology, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
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3
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Nguyen HH, Tufts J, Minh DDL. On Inactivation of the Coronavirus Main Protease. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:1644-1656. [PMID: 38423522 PMCID: PMC10936523 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
A deeper understanding of the inactive conformations of the coronavirus main protease (MPro) could inform the design of allosteric drugs. Based on extensive molecular dynamics simulations, we built a Markov State Model to investigate structural changes that can inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 MPro. In a subset of structures, one subunit of the homodimer assumes an inactive conformation that resembles an inactive crystal structure. However, contradicting the widely held half-of-sites activity hypothesis, the most populated enzyme structures have two active subunits. We then used transition path theory (TPT) and the Jensen-Shannon Divergence (JSD) to pinpoint residues involved in the inactivation process. A π stack between Phe140 and His163 is a key feature that can distinguish active and inactive conformations of MPro. Each subunit has unique inactive conformations stabilized by π stacking interactions involving residues Phe140, Tyr118, His163, and His172, a hydrogen bonding network centered around His163 and His172, and a modified network of interactions in the dimer interface. The importance of these residues in maintaining an active structure explains the sensitivity of enzymatic activity to site-directed mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ha Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Jim Tufts
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - David D. L. Minh
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
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4
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Haghir Ebrahim Abadi MH, Ghasemlou A, Bayani F, Sefidbakht Y, Vosough M, Mozaffari-Jovin S, Uversky VN. AI-driven covalent drug design strategies targeting main protease (m pro) against SARS-CoV-2: structural insights and molecular mechanisms. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-29. [PMID: 38287509 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2308769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants has raised concerns about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. To address this challenge, small-molecule antivirals have been proposed as a crucial therapeutic option. Among potential targets for anti-COVID-19 therapy, the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is important due to its essential role in the virus's life cycle and high conservation. The substrate-binding region of the core proteases of various coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), could be used for the generation of new protease inhibitors. Various drug discovery methods have employed a diverse range of strategies, targeting both monomeric and dimeric forms, including drug repurposing, integrating virtual screening with high-throughput screening (HTS), and structure-based drug design, each demonstrating varying levels of efficiency. Covalent inhibitors, such as Nirmatrelvir and MG-101, showcase robust and high-affinity binding to Mpro, exhibiting stable interactions confirmed by molecular docking studies. Development of effective antiviral drugs is imperative to address potential pandemic situations. This review explores recent advances in the search for Mpro inhibitors and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in drug design. AI leverages vast datasets and advanced algorithms to streamline the design and identification of promising Mpro inhibitors. AI-driven drug discovery methods, including molecular docking, predictive modeling, and structure-based drug repurposing, are at the forefront of identifying potential candidates for effective antiviral therapy. In a time when COVID-19 potentially threat global health, the quest for potent antiviral solutions targeting Mpro could be critical for inhibiting the virus.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fatemeh Bayani
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yahya Sefidbakht
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sina Mozaffari-Jovin
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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5
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Wang G, Venegas FA, Rueda AM, Weerasinghe NW, Uggowitzer KA, Thibodeaux CJ, Moitessier N, Mittermaier AK. A naturally occurring G11S mutation in the 3C-like protease from the SARS-CoV-2 virus dramatically weakens the dimer interface. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4857. [PMID: 38058248 PMCID: PMC10731504 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The 3C-like protease (3CLpro ) is crucial to the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, and is the target of several successful drugs including Paxlovid and Xocova. Nevertheless, the emergence of viral resistance underlines the need for alternative drug strategies. 3CLpro only functions as a homodimer, making the protein-protein interface an attractive drug target. Dimerization is partly mediated by a conserved glycine at position 11. However, some naturally occurring SARS-CoV-2 sequences contain a serine at this position, potentially disrupting the dimer. We have used concentration-dependent activity assays and mass spectrometry to show that indeed the G11S mutation reduces the stability of the dimer by 600-fold. This helps to set a quantitative benchmark for the minimum potency required of any future protein-protein interaction inhibitors targeting 3CLpro and raises interesting questions regarding how coronaviruses bearing such weakly dimerizing 3CLpro enzymes are capable of replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyu Wang
- Department of ChemistryMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | | | - Andres M. Rueda
- Department of ChemistryMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
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6
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Li X, Song Y. Structure and function of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 main proteases and their inhibition: A comprehensive review. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 260:115772. [PMID: 37659195 PMCID: PMC10529944 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) identified in 2003 infected ∼8000 people in 26 countries with 800 deaths, which was soon contained and eradicated by syndromic surveillance and enhanced quarantine. A closely related coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 identified in 2019, has been dramatically more contagious and catastrophic. It has infected and caused various flu-like symptoms of billions of people in >200 countries, including >6 million people died of or with the virus. Despite the availability of several vaccines and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2, finding new therapeutics is needed because of viral evolution and a possible emerging coronavirus in the future. The main protease (Mpro) of these coronaviruses plays important roles in their life cycle and is essential for the viral replication. This article represents a comprehensive review of the function, structure and inhibition of SARS-CoV and -CoV-2 Mpro, including structure-activity relationships, protein-inhibitor interactions and clinical trial status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Yongcheng Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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7
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Naidu SAG, Tripathi YB, Shree P, Clemens RA, Naidu AS. Phytonutrient Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2/NSP5-Encoded Main Protease (M pro) Autocleavage Enzyme Critical for COVID-19 Pathogenesis. J Diet Suppl 2023; 20:284-311. [PMID: 34821532 DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2021.2006388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The genomic reshuffling, mutagenicity, and high transmission rate of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen highlights an urgent need for effective antiviral interventions for COVID-19 control. Targeting the highly conserved viral genes and/or gene-encoded viral proteins such as main proteinase (Mpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and helicases are plausible antiviral approaches to prevent replication and propagation of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Coronaviruses (CoVs) are prone to extensive mutagenesis; however, any genetic alteration to its highly conserved Mpro enzyme is often detrimental to the viral pathogen. Therefore, inhibitors that target the Mpro enzyme could reduce the risk of mutation-mediated drug resistance and provide effective antiviral protection. Several existing antiviral drugs and dietary bioactives are currently repurposed to treat COVID-19. Dietary bioactives from three ayurvedic medicinal herbs, 18 β-glycyrrhetinic acid (ΔG = 8.86 kcal/mol), Solanocapsine (ΔG = 8.59 kcal/mol), and Vasicoline (ΔG = 7.34 kcal/mol), showed high-affinity binding to Mpro enzyme than the native N3 inhibitor (ΔG = 5.41 kcal/mol). Flavonoids strongly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with comparable or higher potency than the antiviral drug, remdesivir. Several tannin hydrolysates avidly bound to the receptor-binding domain and catalytic dyad (His41 and Cys145) of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro through H-bonding forces. Quercetin binding to Mpro altered the thermostability of the viral protein through redox-based mechanism and inhibited the viral enzymatic activity. Interaction of quercetin-derivatives with the Mpro seem to be influenced by the 7-OH group and the acetoxylation of sugar moiety on the ligand molecule. Based on pharmacokinetic and ADMET profiles, several phytonutrients could serve as a promising redox nutraceutical for COVID-19 management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreus A G Naidu
- N-terminus Research Laboratory, Yorba Linda, California, USA
| | - Yamini B Tripathi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Priya Shree
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Roger A Clemens
- Department of International Regulatory Science, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, California, USA
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8
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Ghosh S, Bhattacherjee D, Satpati P, Bhabak KP. Venetoclax: a promising repurposed drug against SARS-CoV-2 main protease. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:12088-12099. [PMID: 34424151 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1967786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Global health care emergency caused by a new coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2) demands urgent need to repurpose the approved pharmaceutical drugs. Main protease, Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 draws significant attention as a drug target. Herein, we have screened FDA approved organosulfur drugs (till 2016) and our laboratory synthesized organosulfur and organoselenium compounds (L1-L306) against Mpro-apo using docking followed by classical MD simulations. Additionally, a series of compounds (L307-L364) were chosen from previous experimental studies, which were reported to exhibit inhibitory potentials towards Mpro. We found several organosulfur drugs, particularly Venetoclax (FDA approved organosulfur drug for Leukemia) to be a high-affinity binders to the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2. The results reveal that organosulfur compounds including Venetoclax preferentially bind (non-covalently) to the non-catalytic pocket of the protein located in the dimer interface. We found that the ligand binding is primarily favoured by ligand-protein van der Waals interaction and penalized by desolvation effect. Interestingly, Venetoclax binding alters the local flexibility of Mpro and exerts pronounced effect in the C-terminal as well as two loop regions (Loop-A and Loop-B) that play important roles in catalysis. These findings highlighted the importance of drug repurposing and explored the non-catalytic pockets of Mpro in combating COVID-19 infection in addition to the importance of catalytic binding pocket of the protein.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvankar Ghosh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Debojit Bhattacherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India.,Centre for the Environment, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Priyadarshi Satpati
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Krishna Pada Bhabak
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India.,Centre for the Environment, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
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9
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Parmar M, Thumar R, Patel B, Athar M, Jha PC, Patel D. Structural differences in 3C-like protease (Mpro) from SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2: molecular insights revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Struct Chem 2022; 34:1-18. [PMID: 36467259 PMCID: PMC9686461 DOI: 10.1007/s11224-022-02089-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has infected millions of people with thousands of mortalities globally. The main protease (Mpro) is vital in processing replicase polyproteins. Both the CoV's Mpro shares 97% identity, with 12 mutations, but none are present in the active site. Although many therapeutics and vaccines are available to combat SARS-CoV-2, these treatments may not be practical due to their high mutational rate. On the other hand, Mpro has a high degree of conservation throughout variants, making Mpro a stout drug target. Here, we report a detailed comparison of both the monomeric Mpro and the biologically active dimeric Mpro using MD simulation to understand the impact of the 12 divergent residues (T35V, A46S, S65N, L86V, R88K, S94A, H134F, K180N, L202V, A267S, T285A and I286L) on the molecular microenvironment and the interaction between crucial residues. The present study concluded that the change in the microenvironment of residues at the entrance (T25, T26, M49 and Q189), near the catalytic site (F140, H163, H164, M165 and H172) and in the substrate-binding site (V35, N65, K88 and N180) is due to 12 mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Furthermore, the involvement of F140, E166 and H172 residues in dimerization stabilizes the Mpro dimer, which should be considered. We anticipate that networks and microenvironment changes identified here might guide repurposing attempts and optimization of new Mpro inhibitors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11224-022-02089-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meet Parmar
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382426 India
| | - Ritik Thumar
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382426 India
| | - Bhumi Patel
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382426 India
| | - Mohd Athar
- Center for Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, InStem, Bangalore, 560065 Karnataka India
- Physics Department, University of Cagliari, Monserrato (CA), Italy
| | - Prakash C. Jha
- School of Applied Material Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, 382030 Gujarat India
| | - Dhaval Patel
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382426 India
- Gujarat Biotechnology University, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, Gandhinagar, 382355 Gujarat India
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10
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Hu Q, Xiong Y, Zhu G, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Huang P, Ge G. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M pro): Structure, function, and emerging therapies for COVID-19. MedComm (Beijing) 2022; 3:e151. [PMID: 35845352 PMCID: PMC9283855 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The main proteases (Mpro), also termed 3-chymotrypsin-like proteases (3CLpro), are a class of highly conserved cysteine hydrolases in β-coronaviruses. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that 3CLpros play an indispensable role in viral replication and have been recognized as key targets for preventing and treating coronavirus-caused infectious diseases, including COVID-19. This review is focused on the structural features and biological function of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease Mpro (also known as 3CLpro), as well as recent advances in discovering and developing SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitors. To better understand the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitors, the inhibition activities, inhibitory mechanisms, and key structural features of various 3CLpro inhibitors (including marketed drugs, peptidomimetic, and non-peptidomimetic synthetic compounds, as well as natural compounds and their derivatives) are summarized comprehensively. Meanwhile, the challenges in this field are highlighted, while future directions for designing and developing efficacious 3CLpro inhibitors as novel anti-coronavirus therapies are also proposed. Collectively, all information and knowledge presented here are very helpful for understanding the structural features and inhibitory mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitors, which offers new insights or inspiration to medicinal chemists for designing and developing more efficacious 3CLpro inhibitors as novel anti-coronavirus agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Hu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical BiologyInstitute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine ResearchShanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
- Clinical Pharmacy CenterCancer CenterDepartment of PharmacyZhejiang Provincial People's HospitalAffiliated People's HospitalHangzhou Medical College, HangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Yuan Xiong
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical BiologyInstitute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine ResearchShanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Guang‐Hao Zhu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical BiologyInstitute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine ResearchShanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Ya‐Ni Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical BiologyInstitute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine ResearchShanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yi‐Wen Zhang
- Clinical Pharmacy CenterCancer CenterDepartment of PharmacyZhejiang Provincial People's HospitalAffiliated People's HospitalHangzhou Medical College, HangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Ping Huang
- Clinical Pharmacy CenterCancer CenterDepartment of PharmacyZhejiang Provincial People's HospitalAffiliated People's HospitalHangzhou Medical College, HangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Guang‐Bo Ge
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical BiologyInstitute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine ResearchShanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
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11
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Alzyoud L, Ghattas MA, Atatreh N. Allosteric Binding Sites of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease: Potential Targets for Broad-Spectrum Anti-Coronavirus Agents. Drug Des Devel Ther 2022; 16:2463-2478. [PMID: 35941927 PMCID: PMC9356625 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s370574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The current pandemic caused by the COVID-19 disease has reached everywhere in the world and has affected every aspect of our lives. As of the current data, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported more than 300 million confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide and more than 5 million deaths. Mpro is an enzyme that plays a key role in the life cycle of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and it is vital for the disease progression. The Mpro enzyme seems to have several allosteric sites that can hinder the enzyme catalytic activity. Furthermore, some of these allosteric sites are located at or nearby the dimerization interface which is essential for the overall Mpro activity. In this review paper, we investigate the potential of the Mpro allosteric site to act as a drug target, especially since they interestingly appear to be resistant to mutation. The work is illustrated through three subsequent sections: First, the two main categories of Mpro allosteric sites have been explained and discussed. Second, a total of six pockets have been studied and evaluated for their druggability and cavity characteristics. Third, the experimental and computational attempts for the discovery of new allosteric inhibitors have been illustrated and discussed. To sum up, this review paper gives a detailed insight into the feasibility of developing new Mpro inhibitors to act as a potential treatment for the COVID-19 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Alzyoud
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammad A Ghattas
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: Mohammad A Ghattas; Noor Atatreh, Email ;
| | - Noor Atatreh
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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12
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Kashyap P, Bhardwaj VK, Chauhan M, Chauhan V, Kumar A, Purohit R, Kumar A, Kumar S. A ricin-based peptide BRIP from Hordeum vulgare inhibits M pro of SARS-CoV-2. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12802. [PMID: 35896605 PMCID: PMC9326418 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15977-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 led to the research aiming to find the inhibitors of this virus. Towards this world problem, an attempt was made to identify SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitory peptides from ricin domains. The ricin-based peptide from barley (BRIP) was able to inhibit Mpro in vitro with an IC50 of 0.52 nM. Its low and no cytotoxicity upto 50 µM suggested its therapeutic potential against SARS-CoV-2. The most favorable binding site on Mpro was identified by molecular docking and steered molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The Mpro-BRIP interactions were further investigated by evaluating the trajectories for microsecond timescale MD simulations. The structural parameters of Mpro-BRIP complex were stable, and the presence of oppositely charged surfaces on the binding interface of BRIP and Mpro complex further contributed to the overall stability of the protein-peptide complex. Among the components of thermodynamic binding free energy, Van der Waals and electrostatic contributions were most favorable for complex formation. Our findings provide novel insight into the area of inhibitor development against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakriti Kashyap
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Bhardwaj
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Structural Bioinformatics Lab, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India
| | - Mahima Chauhan
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Varun Chauhan
- Covid-19 Testing Facility, Dietetics & Nutrition Technology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, H.P, India, 176061
| | - Asheesh Kumar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rituraj Purohit
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Structural Bioinformatics Lab, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India.
| | - Arun Kumar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India.
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13
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Iketani S, Hong SJ, Sheng J, Bahari F, Culbertson B, Atanaki FF, Aditham AK, Kratz AF, Luck MI, Tian R, Goff SP, Montazeri H, Sabo Y, Ho DD, Chavez A. The Functional Landscape of SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.06.23.497404. [PMID: 35860222 PMCID: PMC9298129 DOI: 10.1101/2022.06.23.497404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) as the etiologic agent of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has drastically altered life globally. Numerous efforts have been placed on the development of therapeutics to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. One particular target is the 3CL protease (3CL pro ), which holds promise as it is essential to the virus and highly conserved among coronaviruses, suggesting that it may be possible to find broad inhibitors that treat not just SARS-CoV-2 but other coronavirus infections as well. While the 3CL protease has been studied by many groups for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, our understanding of its tolerance to mutations is limited, knowledge which is particularly important as 3CL protease inhibitors become utilized clinically. Here, we develop a yeast-based deep mutational scanning approach to systematically profile the activity of all possible single mutants of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL pro , and validate our results both in yeast and in authentic viruses. We reveal that the 3CL pro is highly malleable and is capable of tolerating mutations throughout the protein, including within the substrate binding pocket. Yet, we also identify specific residues that appear immutable for function of the protease, suggesting that these interactions may be novel targets for the design of future 3CL pro inhibitors. Finally, we utilize our screening results as a basis to identify E166V as a resistance-conferring mutation against the therapeutic 3CL pro inhibitor, nirmatrelvir, in clinical use. Collectively, the functional map presented herein may serve as a guide for further understanding of the biological properties of the 3CL protease and for drug development for current and future coronavirus pandemics.
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14
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Allosteric Modulation of the Main Protease (MPro) of SARS-CoV-2 by Casticin—Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations. CHEMISTRY AFRICA 2022. [PMCID: PMC9261893 DOI: 10.1007/s42250-022-00411-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 has been suggested to be vital in shutting down viral replication in a host. Most efforts aimed at inhibiting MPro activity have been channeled into competitive inhibition at the active site, but this strategy will require a high inhibitor concentration and impressive inhibitor-MPro binding affinity. Allosteric inhibition can potentially serve as an effective strategy for alleviating these limitations. In this study, the ability of antiviral natural products to inhibit MPro in an allosteric fashion was explored with in silico techniques. Molecular docking revealed a strong interaction between casticin, an antiviral flavonoid, and Mpro at a site distant from the active site. This site, characterized as a distal site, has been shown to have an interdependent dynamic effect with the active site region. Mpro only, Mpro-peptide (binary) and Mpro-peptide-casticin (ternary) complexes were subjected to molecular dynamics simulations for 50 ns to investigate the modulatory activity of casticin binding on Mpro. Molecular dynamic simulations revealed that binding of casticin at the distal site interferes with the proper orientation of the peptide substrate in the oxyanion hole of the active site, and this could lead to a halt or decrease in catalytic activity. This study therefore highlights casticin as a potential allosteric modulator of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, which could be optimized and developed into a potential lead compound for anti-SARS-CoV-2 chemotherapy.
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15
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Kaptan S, Girych M, Enkavi G, Kulig W, Sharma V, Vuorio J, Rog T, Vattulainen I. Maturation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is regulated by dimerization of its main protease. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:3336-3346. [PMID: 35720615 PMCID: PMC9195460 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) involved in COVID-19 is required for maturation of the virus and infection of host cells. The key question is how to block the activity of Mpro. By combining atomistic simulations with machine learning, we found that the enzyme regulates its own activity by a collective allosteric mechanism that involves dimerization and binding of a single substrate. At the core of the collective mechanism is the coupling between the catalytic site residues, H41 and C145, which direct the activity of Mpro dimer, and two salt bridges formed between R4 and E290 at the dimer interface. If these salt bridges are mutated, the activity of Mpro is blocked. The results suggest that dimerization of main proteases is a general mechanism to foster coronavirus proliferation, and propose a robust drug-based strategy that does not depend on the frequently mutating spike proteins at the viral envelope used to develop vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreyas Kaptan
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mykhailo Girych
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Giray Enkavi
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Waldemar Kulig
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vivek Sharma
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joni Vuorio
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tomasz Rog
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilpo Vattulainen
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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16
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Ferreira JC, Fadl S, Rabeh WM. Key dimer interface residues impact the catalytic activity of 3CLpro, the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102023. [PMID: 35568197 PMCID: PMC9091064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
3C-like protease (3CLpro) is one of two proteases that process and liberate functional viral proteins essential for the maturation and infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for COVID-19. It has been suggested that 3CLpro is catalytically active as a dimer, making the dimerization interface a target for antiviral development. Guided by structural analysis, here we introduced single amino acid substitutions at nine residues at three key sites of the dimer interface to assess their impact on dimerization and activity. We show that at site 1, alanine substitution of S1 or E166 increased by 2-fold or reduced relative activity, respectively. At site 2, alanine substitution of S10 or E14 eliminated activity, whereas K12A exhibited ∼60% relative activity. At site 3, alanine substitution of R4, E290, or Q299 eliminated activity, whereas S139A exhibited 46% relative activity. We further found the oligomerization states of the dimer interface mutants varied; the inactive mutants R4A, R4Q, S10A/C, E14A/D/Q/S, E290A, and Q299A/E were present as dimers, demonstrating that dimerization is not an indication of catalytically active 3CLpro. In addition, present mostly as monomers, K12A displayed residual activity, which could be attributed to the conspicuous amount of dimer present. Finally, differential scanning calorimetry did not reveal a direct relationship between the thermodynamic stability of mutants with oligomerization or catalytic activity. These results provide insights on two allosteric sites, R4/E290 and S10/E14, that may promote the design of antiviral compounds that target the dimer interface rather than the active site of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana C Ferreira
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Samar Fadl
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wael M Rabeh
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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17
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Prakash A, Borkotoky S, Dubey VK. Targeting two potential sites of SARS-CoV-2 main protease through computational drug repurposing. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 41:3014-3024. [PMID: 35266856 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2044907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Before the rise of SARS-CoV-2, emergence of different coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV has been reported that indicates possibility of the future novel pathogen from the coronavirus family at a pandemic level. In this context, explicit studies on identifying inhibitors focused on the coronavirus life cycle, are immensely important. The main protease is critical for the life cycle of coronaviruses. Majority of the work done on the inhibitor studies on the catalytically active dimeric SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), primarily focussed on the catalytic site of a single protomer, with a few targeting the dimeric site. In this study, we have exploited the FDA-approved drugs, for a computational drug repurposing study against the Mpro. A virtual screening approach was employed with docking and molecular dynamics (MD) methods. Out of 1576, FDA-approved compounds, our study suggests three compounds: netupitant, paliperidone and vilazodone as possible inhibitors with a potential to inhibit both sites (monomeric and dimeric) of the Mpro. These compounds were found to be stable during the MD simulations and their post simulation binding energies were also correlated for both the targeted sites, suggesting equal binding capacity. This unique efficiency of the reported compounds might support further experimental studies on developing inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 main protease.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archisha Prakash
- Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Subhomoi Borkotoky
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vikash Kumar Dubey
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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18
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Nashed NT, Aniana A, Ghirlando R, Chiliveri SC, Louis JM. Modulation of the monomer-dimer equilibrium and catalytic activity of SARS-CoV-2 main protease by a transition-state analog inhibitor. Commun Biol 2022; 5:160. [PMID: 35233052 PMCID: PMC8888643 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03084-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of dimer formation for the onset of catalytic activity of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MProWT) was assessed using a predominantly monomeric mutant (MProM). Rates of MProWT and MProM catalyzed hydrolyses display substrate saturation kinetics and second-order dependency on the protein concentration. The addition of the prodrug GC376, an inhibitor of MProWT, to MProM leads to an increase in the dimer population and catalytic activity with increasing inhibitor concentration. The activity reaches a maximum corresponding to a dimer population in which one active site is occupied by the inhibitor and the other is available for catalytic activity. This phase is followed by a decrease in catalytic activity due to the inhibitor competing with the substrate. Detailed kinetics and equilibrium analyses are presented and a modified Michaelis-Menten equation accounts for the results. These observations provide conclusive evidence that dimer formation is coupled to catalytic activity represented by two equivalent active sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nashaat T Nashed
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Annie Aniana
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rodolfo Ghirlando
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sai Chaitanya Chiliveri
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John M Louis
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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19
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Fornasier E, Macchia ML, Giachin G, Sosic A, Pavan M, Sturlese M, Salata C, Moro S, Gatto B, Bellanda M, Battistutta R. A new inactive conformation of SARS-CoV-2 main protease. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2022; 78:363-378. [PMID: 35234150 PMCID: PMC8900819 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798322000948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The SARS‐CoV‐2 main protease (Mpro) has a pivotal role in mediating viral genome replication and transcription of the coronavirus, making it a promising target for drugs against the COVID‐19 pandemic. Here, a crystal structure is presented in which Mpro adopts an inactive state that has never been observed before, called new‐inactive. It is shown that the oxyanion loop, which is involved in substrate recognition and enzymatic activity, adopts a new catalytically incompetent conformation and that many of the key interactions of the active conformation of the enzyme around the active site are lost. Solvation/desolvation energetic contributions play an important role in the transition from the inactive to the active state, with Phe140 moving from an exposed to a buried environment and Asn142 moving from a buried environment to an exposed environment. In new‐inactive Mpro a new cavity is present near the S2′ subsite, and the N‐terminal and C‐terminal tails, as well as the dimeric interface, are perturbed, with partial destabilization of the dimeric assembly. This novel conformation is relevant both for comprehension of the mechanism of action of Mpro within the catalytic cycle and for the successful structure‐based drug design of antiviral drugs.
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20
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Kidera A, Moritsugu K, Ekimoto T, Ikeguchi M. Allosteric Regulation of 3CL Protease of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV Observed in the Crystal Structure Ensemble. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167324. [PMID: 34717972 PMCID: PMC8550881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19. Importantly, it has an abundance of structural information solved as a complex with various drug candidate compounds. Collecting these crystal structures (83 Protein Data Bank (PDB) entries) together with those of the highly homologous 3CLpro of SARS-CoV (101 PDB entries), we constructed the crystal structure ensemble of 3CLpro to analyze the dynamic regulation of its catalytic function. The structural dynamics of the 3CLpro dimer observed in the ensemble were characterized by the motions of four separate loops (the C-loop, E-loop, H-loop, and Linker) and the C-terminal domain III on the rigid core of the chymotrypsin fold. Among the four moving loops, the C-loop (also known as the oxyanion binding loop) causes the order (active)-disorder (collapsed) transition, which is regulated cooperatively by five hydrogen bonds made with the surrounding residues. The C-loop, E-loop, and Linker constitute the major ligand binding sites, which consist of a limited variety of binding residues including the substrate binding subsites. Ligand binding causes a ligand size dependent conformational change to the E-loop and Linker, which further stabilize the C-loop via the hydrogen bond between the C-loop and E-loop. The T285A mutation from SARS-CoV 3CLpro to SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro significantly closes the interface of the domain III dimer and allosterically stabilizes the active conformation of the C-loop via hydrogen bonds with Ser1 and Gly2; thus, SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro seems to have increased activity relative to that of SARS-CoV 3CLpro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akinori Kidera
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.
| | - Kei Moritsugu
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Toru Ekimoto
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Mitsunori Ikeguchi
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
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21
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Glaab E, Manoharan GB, Abankwa D. Pharmacophore Model for SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro Small-Molecule Inhibitors and in Vitro Experimental Validation of Computationally Screened Inhibitors. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:4082-4096. [PMID: 34348021 PMCID: PMC8353990 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Among the biomedical efforts in response to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, pharmacological strategies to reduce viral load in patients with severe forms of the disease are being studied intensively. One of the main drug target proteins proposed so far is the SARS-CoV-2 viral protease 3CLpro (also called Mpro), an essential component for viral replication. Ongoing ligand- and receptor-based computational screening efforts would be facilitated by an improved understanding of the electrostatic, hydrophobic, and steric features that characterize small-molecule inhibitors binding stably to 3CLpro and by an extended collection of known binders. Here, we present combined virtual screening, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, machine learning, and in vitro experimental validation analyses, which have led to the identification of small-molecule inhibitors of 3CLpro with micromolar activity and to a pharmacophore model that describes functional chemical groups associated with the molecular recognition of ligands by the 3CLpro binding pocket. Experimentally validated inhibitors using a ligand activity assay include natural compounds with the available prior knowledge on safety and bioavailability properties, such as the natural compound rottlerin (IC50 = 37 μM) and synthetic compounds previously not characterized (e.g., compound CID 46897844, IC50 = 31 μM). In combination with the developed pharmacophore model, these and other confirmed 3CLpro inhibitors may provide a basis for further similarity-based screening in independent compound databases and structural design optimization efforts to identify 3CLpro ligands with improved potency and selectivity. Overall, this study suggests that the integration of virtual screening, MD simulations, and machine learning can facilitate 3CLpro-targeted small-molecule screening investigations. Different receptor-, ligand-, and machine learning-based screening strategies provided complementary information, helping to increase the number and diversity of the identified active compounds. Finally, the resulting pharmacophore model and experimentally validated small-molecule inhibitors for 3CLpro provide resources to support follow-up computational screening efforts for this drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Glaab
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB),
University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts Fourneaux,
L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Ganesh Babu Manoharan
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine,
University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts Fourneaux,
L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Daniel Abankwa
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine,
University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts Fourneaux,
L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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22
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Regulation of the Dimerization and Activity of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease through Reversible Glutathionylation of Cysteine 300. mBio 2021; 12:e0209421. [PMID: 34399606 PMCID: PMC8406260 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02094-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), encodes two proteases required for replication. The main protease (Mpro), encoded as part of two polyproteins, pp1a and pp1ab, is responsible for 11 different cleavages of these viral polyproteins to produce mature proteins required for viral replication. Mpro is therefore an attractive target for therapeutic interventions. Certain proteins in cells under oxidative stress undergo modification of reactive cysteines. We show Mpro is susceptible to glutathionylation, leading to inhibition of dimerization and activity. Activity of glutathionylated Mpro could be restored with reducing agents or glutaredoxin. Analytical studies demonstrated that glutathionylated Mpro primarily exists as a monomer and that modification of a single cysteine with glutathione is sufficient to block dimerization and inhibit its activity. Gel filtration studies as well as analytical ultracentrifugation confirmed that glutathionylated Mpro exists as a monomer. Tryptic and chymotryptic digestions of Mpro as well as experiments using a C300S Mpro mutant revealed that Cys300, which is located at the dimer interface, is a primary target of glutathionylation. Moreover, Cys300 is required for inhibition of activity upon Mpro glutathionylation. These findings indicate that Mpro dimerization and activity can be regulated through reversible glutathionylation of a non-active site cysteine, Cys300, which itself is not required for Mpro activity, and provides a novel target for the development of agents to block Mpro dimerization and activity. This feature of Mpro may have relevance to the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 and related bat coronaviruses.
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23
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El Ahdab D, Lagardère L, Inizan TJ, Célerse F, Liu C, Adjoua O, Jolly LH, Gresh N, Hobaika Z, Ren P, Maroun RG, Piquemal JP. Interfacial Water Many-Body Effects Drive Structural Dynamics and Allosteric Interactions in SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Dimerization Interface. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:6218-6226. [PMID: 34196568 PMCID: PMC8262171 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c01460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Following our previous work ( Chem. Sci. 2021, 12, 4889-4907), we study the structural dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease dimerization interface (apo dimer) by means of microsecond adaptive sampling molecular dynamics simulations (50 μs) using the AMOEBA polarizable force field (PFF). This interface is structured by a complex H-bond network that is stable only at physiological pH. Structural correlations analysis between its residues and the catalytic site confirms the presence of a buried allosteric site. However, noticeable differences in allosteric connectivity are observed between PFFs and non-PFFs. Interfacial polarizable water molecules are shown to appear at the heart of this discrepancy because they are connected to the global interface H-bond network and able to adapt their dipole moment (and dynamics) to their diverse local physicochemical microenvironments. The water-interface many-body interactions appear to drive the interface volume fluctuations and to therefore mediate the allosteric interactions with the catalytic cavity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina El Ahdab
- Sorbonne Université, LCT, UMR 7616 CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
- Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, UR EGP, Centre d'Analyses et de Recherche, Faculté des Sciences, 1104 2020 Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Louis Lagardère
- Sorbonne Université, LCT, UMR 7616 CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, IP2CT, FR 2622 CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Fréderic Célerse
- Sorbonne Université, LCT, UMR 7616 CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, IPCM, UMR 8232 CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Chengwen Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Olivier Adjoua
- Sorbonne Université, LCT, UMR 7616 CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Luc-Henri Jolly
- Sorbonne Université, IP2CT, FR 2622 CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Nohad Gresh
- Sorbonne Université, LCT, UMR 7616 CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Zeina Hobaika
- Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, UR EGP, Centre d'Analyses et de Recherche, Faculté des Sciences, 1104 2020 Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Pengyu Ren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Richard G Maroun
- Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, UR EGP, Centre d'Analyses et de Recherche, Faculté des Sciences, 1104 2020 Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jean-Philip Piquemal
- Sorbonne Université, LCT, UMR 7616 CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Institut Universitaire de France, 75005 Paris, France
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De novo ssRNA Aptamers against the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease: In Silico Design and Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136874. [PMID: 34206794 PMCID: PMC8267631 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein, we have generated ssRNA aptamers to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, a protease necessary for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus replication. Because there is no aptamer 3D structure currently available in the databanks for this protein, first, we modeled an ssRNA aptamer using an entropic fragment-based strategy. We refined the initial sequence and 3D structure by using two sequential approaches, consisting of an elitist genetic algorithm and an RNA inverse process. We identified three specific aptamers against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, called MAptapro, MAptapro-IR1, and MAptapro-IR2, with similar 3D conformations and that fall in the dimerization region of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro necessary for the enzymatic activity. Through the molecular dynamic simulation and binding free energy calculation, the interaction between the MAptapro-IR1 aptamer and the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzyme resulted in the strongest and the highest stable complex; therefore, the ssRNA MAptapro-IR1 aptamer was selected as the best potential candidate for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and a perspective therapeutic drug for the COVID-19 disease.
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25
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Ferreira JC, Fadl S, Villanueva AJ, Rabeh WM. Catalytic Dyad Residues His41 and Cys145 Impact the Catalytic Activity and Overall Conformational Fold of the Main SARS-CoV-2 Protease 3-Chymotrypsin-Like Protease. Front Chem 2021; 9:692168. [PMID: 34249864 PMCID: PMC8264439 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.692168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses are responsible for multiple pandemics and millions of deaths globally, including the current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Development of antivirals against coronaviruses, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for COVID-19, is essential for containing the current and future coronavirus outbreaks. SARS-CoV-2 proteases represent important targets for the development of antivirals because of their role in the processing of viral polyproteins. 3-Chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) is one such protease. The cleavage of SARS-CoV-2 polyproteins by 3CLpro is facilitated by a Cys145–His41 catalytic dyad. We here characterized the catalytic roles of the cysteine–histidine pair for improved understanding of the 3CLpro reaction mechanism, to inform the development of more effective antivirals against Sars-CoV-2. The catalytic dyad residues were substituted by site-directed mutagenesis. All substitutions tested (H41A, H41D, H41E, C145A, and C145S) resulted in a complete inactivation of 3CLpro, even when amino acids with a similar catalytic function to that of the original residues were used. The integrity of the structural fold of enzyme variants was investigated by circular dichroism spectroscopy to test if the catalytic inactivation of 3CLpro was caused by gross changes in the enzyme secondary structure. C145A, but not the other substitutions, shifted the oligomeric state of the enzyme from dimeric to a higher oligomeric state. Finally, the thermodynamic stability of 3CLpro H41A, H41D, and C145S variants was reduced relative the wild-type enzyme, with a similar stability of the H41E and C145A variants. Collectively, the above observations confirm the roles of His41 and Cys145 in the catalytic activity and the overall conformational fold of 3CLpro SARS-CoV-2. We conclude that the cysteine–histidine pair should be targeted for inhibition of 3CLpro and development of antiviral against COVID-19 and coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana C Ferreira
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Samar Fadl
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Adrian J Villanueva
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wael M Rabeh
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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26
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Novak J, Rimac H, Kandagalla S, Pathak P, Naumovich V, Grishina M, Potemkin V. Proposition of a new allosteric binding site for potential SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitors by utilizing molecular dynamics simulations and ensemble docking. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:9347-9360. [PMID: 34018907 PMCID: PMC8146203 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1927845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro) shows a high similarity with 3CL proteases of other beta-coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS. It is the main enzyme involved in generating various non-structural proteins that are important for viral replication and is one of the most important proteins responsible for SARS-CoV-2 virulence. In this study, we have conducted an ensemble docking of molecules from the DrugBank database using both the crystallographic structure of the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, as well as five conformations obtained after performing a cluster analysis of a 300 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. This procedure elucidated the inappropriateness of the active site for non-covalent inhibitors, but it has also shown that there exists an additional, more favorable, allosteric binding site, which could be a better target for non-covalent inhibitors, as it could prevent dimerization and activation of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. Two such examples are radotinib and nilotinib, tyrosine kinase inhibitors already in use for treatment of leukemia and which binding to the newly found allosteric binding site was also confirmed using MD simulations. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurica Novak
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Hrvoje Rimac
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Shivananda Kandagalla
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Prateek Pathak
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Vladislav Naumovich
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Maria Grishina
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir Potemkin
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia
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27
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Anirudhan V, Lee H, Cheng H, Cooper L, Rong L. Targeting SARS-CoV-2 viral proteases as a therapeutic strategy to treat COVID-19. J Med Virol 2021; 93:2722-2734. [PMID: 33475167 PMCID: PMC8014870 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The 21st century has witnessed three outbreaks of coronavirus (CoVs) infections caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, spreads rapidly and since the discovery of the first COVID-19 infection in December 2019, has caused 1.2 million deaths worldwide and 226,777 deaths in the United States alone. The high amino acid similarity between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins supports testing therapeutic molecules that were designed to treat SARS infections during the 2003 epidemic. In this review, we provide information on possible COVID-19 treatment strategies that act via inhibition of the two essential proteins of the virus, 3C-like protease (3CLpro ) or papain-like protease (PLpro ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Varada Anirudhan
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Hyun Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Biophysics Core at Research Resources CenterUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Han Cheng
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Laura Cooper
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Lijun Rong
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
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28
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Chang CK, Lin SM, Satange R, Lin SC, Sun SC, Wu HY, Kehn-Hall K, Hou MH. Targeting protein-protein interaction interfaces in COVID-19 drug discovery. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2246-2255. [PMID: 33936565 PMCID: PMC8064971 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over 1 million human lives, infected another 50 million individuals and wreaked havoc on the global economy. The crisis has spurred the ongoing development of drugs targeting its etiological agent, the SARS-CoV-2. Targeting relevant protein-protein interaction interfaces (PPIIs) is a viable paradigm for the design of antiviral drugs and enriches the targetable chemical space by providing alternative targets for drug discovery. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the theory, methods and applications of PPII-targeted drug development towards COVID-19 based on recent literature. We will also highlight novel developments, such as the successful use of non-native protein-protein interactions as targets for antiviral drug screening. We hope that this review may serve as an entry point for those interested in applying PPIIs towards COVID-19 drug discovery and speed up drug development against the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Ke Chang
- Taiwan Biobank, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Shan-Meng Lin
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Roshan Satange
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.,Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Chao Lin
- Bachelor Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Sin-Cih Sun
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yi Wu
- Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Kylene Kehn-Hall
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Ming-Hon Hou
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.,Ph.D. Program in Medical Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
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29
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Yang H, Yang J. A review of the latest research on M pro targeting SARS-COV inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:1026-1036. [PMID: 34355175 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00066g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection is still spreading at an alarming rate and has caused huge loss of life and economic damage worldwide. Although more than one year has passed, effective treatments for COVID-19 and other pathogenic coronaviruses have not yet been developed. Therefore, the development of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors is an urgent priority. Given that the Mpro sequences of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 are 100% identical in the catalytic domain for protein cleavage, the viral main protease (Mpro) is one of the most extensive drug targets in all the drug targets being investigated for SARS-CoV-2. To provide scientific researchers with timely anti-SARS-CoV drug development information for Mpro, we focus on the past and current drug design and development strategies for MPro in this review. We believe that this review will provide meaningful guidance for the design and development of innovative drugs against COVID-19 and other pathogenic coronaviruses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Yang
- Medical School Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University Nantong 226019 China
| | - Jinfei Yang
- Institute of Modern Rehabilitation, University of Health and Rehabilitation Science Qingdao 266001 China .,Medical School Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University Nantong 226019 China
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30
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Davis DA, Bulut H, Shrestha P, Yaparla A, Jaeger HK, Hattori SI, Wingfield PT, Mitsuya H, Yarchoan R. Regulation of the Dimerization and Activity of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease through Reversible Glutathionylation of Cysteine 300. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021. [PMID: 33851157 PMCID: PMC8043447 DOI: 10.1101/2021.04.09.439169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 encodes main protease (Mpro), an attractive target for therapeutic interventions. We show Mpro is susceptible to glutathionylation leading to inhibition of dimerization and activity. Activity of glutathionylated Mpro could be restored with reducing agents or glutaredoxin. Analytical studies demonstrated that glutathionylated Mpro primarily exists as a monomer and that a single modification with glutathione is sufficient to block dimerization and loss of activity. Proteolytic digestions of Mpro revealed Cys300 as a primary target of glutathionylation, and experiments using a C300S Mpro mutant revealed that Cys300 is required for inhibition of activity upon Mpro glutathionylation. These findings indicate that Mpro dimerization and activity can be regulated through reversible glutathionylation of Cys300 and provides a novel target for the development of agents to block Mpro dimerization and activity. This feature of Mpro may have relevance to human disease and the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 in bats, which develop oxidative stress during flight.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Davis
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Haydar Bulut
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Prabha Shrestha
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Amulya Yaparla
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Hannah K Jaeger
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Shin-Ichiro Hattori
- Department of Refractory Viral Infections, National Center for Global Health and Medicine Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Paul T Wingfield
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Hiroaki Mitsuya
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.,Department of Refractory Viral Infections, National Center for Global Health and Medicine Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Robert Yarchoan
- HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
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31
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Roe MK, Junod NA, Young AR, Beachboard DC, Stobart CC. Targeting novel structural and functional features of coronavirus protease nsp5 (3CL pro, M pro) in the age of COVID-19. J Gen Virol 2021; 102:001558. [PMID: 33507143 PMCID: PMC8515871 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus protease nsp5 (Mpro, 3CLpro) remains a primary target for coronavirus therapeutics due to its indispensable and conserved role in the proteolytic processing of the viral replicase polyproteins. In this review, we discuss the diversity of known coronaviruses, the role of nsp5 in coronavirus biology, and the structure and function of this protease across the diversity of known coronaviruses, and evaluate past and present efforts to develop inhibitors to the nsp5 protease with a particular emphasis on new and mostly unexplored potential targets of inhibition. With the recent emergence of pandemic SARS-CoV-2, this review provides novel and potentially innovative strategies and directions to develop effective therapeutics against the coronavirus protease nsp5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly K. Roe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Nathan A. Junod
- Department of Biological Sciences, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Audrey R. Young
- Department of Biological Sciences, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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32
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Tian D, Liu Y, Liang C, Xin L, Xie X, Zhang D, Wan M, Li H, Fu X, Liu H, Cao W. An update review of emerging small-molecule therapeutic options for COVID-19. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 137:111313. [PMID: 33556871 PMCID: PMC7857046 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and pandemic that began near the end of 2019 has posed a challenge to global health. At present, many candidate small-molecule therapeutics have been developed that can inhibit both the infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 and even potentially relieve cytokine storms and other related complications. Meanwhile, host-targeted drugs that inhibit cellular transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2) can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells, and its combination with chloroquine and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors can limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients with COVID-19. The present article provides an overview of these small-molecule therapeutics based on insights from medicinal chemistry research and focuses on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors, such as the nucleoside analogues remdesivir, favipiravir and ribavirin. This review also covers inhibitors of 3C-like protease (3CLpro), papain-like protease (PLpro) and other potentially innovative active ingredient molecules, describing their potential targets, activities, clinical status and side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengke Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, PR China
| | - Yuzhi Liu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Chengyuan Liang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, PR China; Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China.
| | - Liang Xin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Xiaolin Xie
- Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710025, PR China
| | - Dezhu Zhang
- Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710025, PR China
| | - Minge Wan
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Business & Commerce, Xi'an 712046, PR China
| | - Han Li
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Xueqi Fu
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, PR China
| | - Hong Liu
- Zhuhai Jinan Selenium Source Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., Hengqin New Area, Zhuhai, 519030, PR China.
| | - Wenqiang Cao
- Zhuhai Jinan Selenium Source Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., Hengqin New Area, Zhuhai, 519030, PR China.
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33
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Tekpinar M, Yildirim A. Impact of dimerization and N3 binding on molecular dynamics of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 main proteases. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:6243-6254. [PMID: 33525993 PMCID: PMC7869440 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1880481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 main protease is one of the major targets in drug development efforts against Covid-19. Even though several structures were reported to date, its dynamics is not understood well. In particular, impact of dimerization and ligand binding on the dynamics is an important issue to investigate. In this study, we performed molecular dynamics simulations of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 main proteases to investigate influence of dimerization on the dynamics by modeling monomeric and dimeric apo and holo forms. The dimerization causes an organization of the interdomain dynamics as well as some local structural changes. Moreover, we investigated impact of a peptide mimetic (N3) on the dynamics of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. The ligand binding to the dimeric forms causes some key local changes at the dimer interface and it causes an allosteric interaction between the active sites of two protomers. Our results support the idea that only one protomer is active on SARS-CoV-2 due to this allosteric interaction. Additionally, we analyzed the molecular dynamics trajectories from graph theoretical perspective and found that the most influential residues – as measured by eigenvector centrality – are a group of residues in active site and dimeric interface of the protease. This study may form a bridge between what we know about the dynamics of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. We think that enlightening allosteric communication of the active sites and the role of dimerization in SARS-CoV-2 Mpro can contribute to development of novel drugs against this global health problem as well as other similar proteases. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Tekpinar
- Unit of Structural Dynamics of Biological Macromolecules, Pasteur Institute, UMR 3528 CNRS, Paris, France
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34
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Chen CC, Yu X, Kuo CJ, Min J, Chen S, Ma L, Liu K, Guo RT. Overview of antiviral drug candidates targeting coronaviral 3C-like main proteases. FEBS J 2021; 288:5089-5121. [PMID: 33400393 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are positive single-stranded RNA viruses that cause severe respiratory syndromes in humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV-2) at the end of 2019 became a global pandemic. The 3C-like cysteine protease (3CLpro) processes viral polyproteins to yield mature non-structural proteins, thus playing an important role in the CoV life cycle, and therefore is considered as a prominent target for antiviral drugs. To date, many 3CLpro inhibitors have been reported, and their molecular mechanisms have been illustrated. Here, we briefly introduce the structural features of 3CLpro of the human-related SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, and explore the potency and mechanism of their cognate inhibitors. This information will shed light on the development and optimization of CoV 3CLpro inhibitors, which may benefit the further designation of therapeutic strategies for treating CoV diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Chi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuejing Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chih-Jung Kuo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jian Min
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sizhuo Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lixin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ke Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rey-Ting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
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35
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Xiong M, Su H, Zhao W, Xie H, Shao Q, Xu Y. What coronavirus 3C-like protease tells us: From structure, substrate selectivity, to inhibitor design. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:1965-1998. [PMID: 33460213 PMCID: PMC8014231 DOI: 10.1002/med.21783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of a variety of coronaviruses (CoVs) in the last decades has posed huge threats to human health. Especially, the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to more than 70 million infections and over 1.6 million of deaths worldwide in the past few months. None of the efficacious antiviral agents against human CoVs have been approved yet. 3C-like protease (3CLpro ) is an attractive target for antiviral intervention due to its essential role in processing polyproteins translated from viral RNA, and its conserved structural feature and substrate specificity among CoVs in spite of the sequence variation. This review focuses on all available crystal structures of 12 CoV 3CLpro s and their inhibitors, and intends to provide a comprehensive understanding of this protease from multiple aspects including its structural features, substrate specificity, inhibitor binding modes, and more importantly, to recapitulate the similarity and diversity among different CoV 3CLpro s and the structure-activity relationship of various types of inhibitors. Such an attempt could gain a deep insight into the inhibition mechanisms and drive future structure-based drug discovery targeting 3CLpro s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muya Xiong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haixia Su
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenfeng Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hang Xie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Shao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yechun Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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36
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Kneller DW, Phillips G, Weiss KL, Pant S, Zhang Q, O'Neill HM, Coates L, Kovalevsky A. Unusual zwitterionic catalytic site of SARS-CoV-2 main protease revealed by neutron crystallography. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:17365-17373. [PMID: 33060199 PMCID: PMC7832724 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ac120.016154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The main protease (3CL Mpro) from SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, is an essential enzyme for viral replication. 3CL Mpro possesses an unusual catalytic dyad composed of Cys145 and His41 residues. A critical question in the field has been what the protonation states of the ionizable residues in the substrate-binding active-site cavity are; resolving this point would help understand the catalytic details of the enzyme and inform rational drug development against this pernicious virus. Here, we present the room-temperature neutron structure of 3CL Mpro, which allowed direct determination of hydrogen atom positions and, hence, protonation states in the protease. We observe that the catalytic site natively adopts a zwitterionic reactive form in which Cys145 is in the negatively charged thiolate state and His41 is doubly protonated and positively charged, instead of the neutral unreactive state usually envisaged. The neutron structure also identified the protonation states, and thus electrical charges, of all other amino acid residues and revealed intricate hydrogen-bonding networks in the active-site cavity and at the dimer interface. The fine atomic details present in this structure were made possible by the unique scattering properties of the neutron, which is an ideal probe for locating hydrogen positions and experimentally determining protonation states at near-physiological temperature. Our observations provide critical information for structure-assisted and computational drug design, allowing precise tailoring of inhibitors to the enzyme's electrostatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Kneller
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA; National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Gwyndalyn Phillips
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA; National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kevin L Weiss
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA; National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Swati Pant
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA; National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Qiu Zhang
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA; National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Hugh M O'Neill
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA; National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Leighton Coates
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA; National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA; Second Target Station, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA.
| | - Andrey Kovalevsky
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA; National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, Washington, DC, USA.
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Liu Y, Liang C, Xin L, Ren X, Tian L, Ju X, Li H, Wang Y, Zhao Q, Liu H, Cao W, Xie X, Zhang D, Wang Y, Jian Y. The development of Coronavirus 3C-Like protease (3CL pro) inhibitors from 2010 to 2020. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 206:112711. [PMID: 32810751 PMCID: PMC7409838 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
This review fully describes the coronavirus 3CLpro peptidomimetic inhibitors and nonpeptidic small molecule inhibitors developed from 2010 to 2020. Specifically, the structural characteristics, binding modes and SARs of these 3CLpro inhibitors are expounded in detail by division into two categories: peptidomimetic inhibitors mainly utilize electrophilic warhead groups to covalently bind the 3CLpro Cys145 residue and thereby achieve irreversible inhibition effects, whereas nonpeptidic small molecule inhibitors mainly interact with residues in the S1', S1, S2 and S4 pockets via hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic bonds and van der Waals forces. Based on the emerging PROTAC technology and the existing 3CLpro inhibitors, 3CLpro PROTAC degraders are hypothesised to be next-generation anti-coronavirus drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhi Liu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Chengyuan Liang
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China.
| | - Liang Xin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Xiaodong Ren
- Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China
| | - Lei Tian
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Xingke Ju
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Han Li
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Yongbo Wang
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Qianqian Zhao
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Hong Liu
- Zhuhai Jinan Selenium Source Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., Hengqin, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519030, PR China.
| | - Wenqiang Cao
- Zhuhai Jinan Selenium Source Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., Hengqin, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519030, PR China
| | - Xiaolin Xie
- Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710025, PR China
| | - Dezhu Zhang
- Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710025, PR China
| | - Yu Wang
- Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710025, PR China
| | - Yanlin Jian
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (FFW), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B9000, Gent, Belgium.
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38
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Vijayakumar BG, Ramesh D, Joji A, Jayachandra prakasan J, Kannan T. In silico pharmacokinetic and molecular docking studies of natural flavonoids and synthetic indole chalcones against essential proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 886:173448. [PMID: 32768503 PMCID: PMC7406432 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is distinctly infective and there is an ongoing effort to find a cure for this pandemic. Flavonoids exist in many diets as well as in traditional medicine, and their modern subset, indole-chalcones, are effective in fighting various diseases. Hence, these flavonoids and structurally similar indole chalcones derivatives were studied in silico for their pharmacokinetic properties including absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity (ADMET) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties against their proteins, namely, RNA dependent RNA polymerase (rdrp), main protease (Mpro) and Spike (S) protein via homology modelling and docking. Interactions were studied with respect to biology and function of SARS-CoV-2 proteins for activity. Functional/structural roles of amino acid residues of SARS-CoV-2 proteins and, the effect of flavonoid and indole chalcone interactions which may cause disease suppression are discussed. The results reveal that out of 23 natural flavonoids and 25 synthetic indole chalcones, 30 compounds are capable of Mpro deactivation as well as potentially lowering the efficiency of Mpro function. Cyanidin may inhibit RNA polymerase function and, Quercetin is found to block interaction sites on the viral spike. These results suggest flavonoids and their modern pharmaceutical cousins, indole chalcones are capable of fighting SARS-CoV-2. The in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of these 30 compounds needs to be studied further for complete understanding and confirmation of their inhibitory potential.
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Amamuddy OS, Verkhivker GM, Bishop ÖT. Impact of Early Pandemic Stage Mutations on Molecular Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 M pro. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:5080-5102. [PMID: 32853525 PMCID: PMC7496595 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c00634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a global threat to world health and economy. Its dimeric main protease (Mpro), which is required for the proteolytic cleavage of viral precursor proteins, is a good candidate for drug development owing to its conservation and the absence of a human homolog. Improving our understanding of Mpro behavior can accelerate the discovery of effective therapies to reduce mortality. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (100 ns) of 50 mutant Mpro dimers obtained from filtered sequences from the GISAID database were analyzed using root-mean-square deviation, root-mean-square fluctuation, Rg, averaged betweenness centrality, and geometry calculations. The results showed that SARS-CoV-2 Mpro essentially behaves in a similar manner to its SAR-CoV homolog. However, we report the following new findings from the variants: (1) Residues GLY15, VAL157, and PRO184 have mutated more than once in SARS CoV-2; (2) the D48E variant has lead to a novel "TSEEMLN"" loop at the binding pocket; (3) inactive apo Mpro does not show signs of dissociation in 100 ns MD; (4) a non-canonical pose for PHE140 widens the substrate binding surface; (5) dual allosteric pockets coinciding with various stabilizing and functional components of the substrate binding pocket were found to display correlated compaction dynamics; (6) high betweenness centrality values for residues 17 and 128 in all Mpro samples suggest their high importance in dimer stability-one such consequence has been observed for the M17I mutation whereby one of the N-fingers was highly unstable. (7) Independent coarse-grained Monte Carlo simulations suggest a relationship between the rigidity/mutability and enzymatic function. Our entire approach combining database preparation, variant retrieval, homology modeling, dynamic residue network (DRN), relevant conformation retrieval from 1-D kernel density estimates from reaction coordinates to other existing approaches of structural analysis, and data visualization within the coronaviral Mpro is also novel and is applicable to other coronaviral proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Sheik Amamuddy
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
| | - Gennady M. Verkhivker
- Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Özlem Tastan Bishop
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
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40
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Ullrich S, Nitsche C. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease as drug target. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127377. [PMID: 32738988 PMCID: PMC7331567 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 452] [Impact Index Per Article: 113.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The unprecedented pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is threatening global health. The virus emerged in late 2019 and can cause a severe disease associated with significant mortality. Several vaccine development and drug discovery campaigns are underway. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease is considered a promising drug target, as it is dissimilar to human proteases. Sequence and structure of the main protease are closely related to those from other betacoronaviruses, facilitating drug discovery attempts based on previous lead compounds. Covalently binding peptidomimetics and small molecules are investigated. Various compounds show antiviral activity in infected human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Ullrich
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Christoph Nitsche
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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41
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Li Q, Kang C. Progress in Developing Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3C-Like Protease. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1250. [PMID: 32824639 PMCID: PMC7463875 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The viral outbreak started in late 2019 and rapidly became a serious health threat to the global population. COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Several therapeutic options have been adopted to prevent the spread of the virus. Although vaccines have been developed, antivirals are still needed to combat the infection of this virus. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus, and its genome encodes polyproteins that can be processed into structural and nonstructural proteins. Maturation of viral proteins requires cleavages by proteases. Therefore, the main protease (3 chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) or Mpro) encoded by the viral genome is an attractive drug target because it plays an important role in cleaving viral polyproteins into functional proteins. Inhibiting this enzyme is an efficient strategy to block viral replication. Structural studies provide valuable insight into the function of this protease and structural basis for rational inhibitor design. In this review, we describe structural studies on the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. The strategies applied in developing inhibitors of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 and currently available protein inhibitors are summarized. Due to the availability of high-resolution structures, structure-guided drug design will play an important role in developing antivirals. The availability of high-resolution structures, potent peptidic inhibitors, and diverse compound scaffolds indicate the feasibility of developing potent protease inhibitors as antivirals for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Biomass High Value Utilization, Institute of Bioengineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510316, China
| | - CongBao Kang
- Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 10 Biopolis Road, Chromos, #05-01, Singapore 138670, Singapore
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42
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Hosseini-Zare MS, Thilagavathi R, Selvam C. Targeting severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) with structurally diverse inhibitors: a comprehensive review. RSC Adv 2020; 10:28287-28299. [PMID: 35519094 PMCID: PMC9055768 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra04395h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses, which were discovered in 1968, can lead to some human viral disorders, like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome-related (MERS), and, recently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The coronavirus that leads to COVID-19 is rapidly spreading all over the world and is the reason for the deaths of thousands of people. Recent research has revealed that there is about 80% sequence homology between the coronaviruses that cause SARS and COVID-19. Considering this fact, we decided to collect the maximum available information on targets, structures, and inhibitors reported so far for SARS-CoV-1 that could be useful for researchers who work on closely related COVID-19. There are vital proteases, like papain-like protease 2 (PL2pro) and 3C-like protease (3CLpro), or main protease (Mpro), that are involved in and are essential for the replication of SARS coronavirus and so are valuable targets for the treatment of patients affected by this type of virus. SARS-CoV-1 NTPase/helicase plays an important role in the release of several non-structural proteins (nsps), so it is another essential target relating to the viral life cycle. In this paper, we provide extensive information about diverse molecules with anti-SARS activity. In addition to traditional medicinal chemistry outcomes, HTS, virtual screening efforts, and structural insights for better understanding inhibitors and SARS-CoV-1 target complexes are also discussed. This study covers a wide range of anti-SARS agents, particularly SARS-CoV-1 inhibitors, and provides new insights into drug design for the deadly SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam S Hosseini-Zare
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University Houston TX-77004 USA +1-713-313-7552
| | - Ramasamy Thilagavathi
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education Coimbatore India
| | - Chelliah Selvam
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University Houston TX-77004 USA +1-713-313-7552
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43
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Goyal B, Goyal D. Targeting the Dimerization of the Main Protease of Coronaviruses: A Potential Broad-Spectrum Therapeutic Strategy. ACS COMBINATORIAL SCIENCE 2020; 22:297-305. [PMID: 32402186 PMCID: PMC7252589 DOI: 10.1021/acscombsci.0c00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A new coronavirus (CoV) caused a pandemic named COVID-19, which has become a global health care emergency in the present time. The virus is referred to as SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2) and has a genome similar (∼82%) to that of the previously known SARS-CoV (SARS coronavirus). An attractive therapeutic target for CoVs is the main protease (Mpro) or 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CLpro), as this enzyme plays a key role in polyprotein processing and is active in a dimeric form. Further, Mpro is highly conserved among various CoVs, and a mutation in Mpro is often lethal to the virus. Thus, drugs targeting the Mpro enzyme significantly reduce the risk of mutation-mediated drug resistance and display broad-spectrum antiviral activity. The combinatorial design of peptide-based inhibitors targeting the dimerization of SARS-CoV Mpro represents a potential therapeutic strategy. In this regard, we have compiled the literature reports highlighting the effect of mutations and N-terminal deletion of residues of SARS-CoV Mpro on its dimerization and, thus, catalytic activity. We believe that the present review will stimulate research in this less explored yet quite significant area. The effect of the COVID-19 epidemic and the possibility of future CoV outbreaks strongly emphasize the urgent need for the design and development of potent antiviral agents against CoV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhupesh Goyal
- School of Chemistry & Biochemistry,
Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology,
Patiala-147004, Punjab, India
| | - Deepti Goyal
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic and Applied
Sciences, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh
Sahib-140406, Punjab, India
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44
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Pillaiyar T, Manickam M, Namasivayam V, Hayashi Y, Jung SH. An Overview of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) 3CL Protease Inhibitors: Peptidomimetics and Small Molecule Chemotherapy. J Med Chem 2016; 59:6595-628. [PMID: 26878082 PMCID: PMC7075650 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 509] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a newly emerged coronavirus that infected more than 8000 individuals and resulted in more than 800 (10-15%) fatalities in 2003. The causative agent of SARS has been identified as a novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and its viral protease, SARS-CoV 3CL(pro), has been shown to be essential for replication and has hence been recognized as a potent drug target for SARS infection. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this epidemic despite the intensive research that has been undertaken since 2003 (over 3500 publications). This perspective focuses on the status of various efficacious anti-SARS-CoV 3CL(pro) chemotherapies discovered during the last 12 years (2003-2015) from all sources, including laboratory synthetic methods, natural products, and virtual screening. We describe here mainly peptidomimetic and small molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV 3CL(pro). Attempts have been made to provide a complete description of the structural features and binding modes of these inhibitors under many conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanigaimalai Pillaiyar
- Pharmaceutical
Institute, Pharmaceutical Chemistry I, University
of Bonn, An der Immenburg
4, D-53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Manoj Manickam
- College
of Pharmacy and Institute of Drug Research and Development, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Vigneshwaran Namasivayam
- Pharmaceutical
Institute, Pharmaceutical Chemistry I, University
of Bonn, An der Immenburg
4, D-53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Yoshio Hayashi
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Tokyo University
of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Sang-Hun Jung
- College
of Pharmacy and Institute of Drug Research and Development, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
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45
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Ye G, Deng F, Shen Z, Luo R, Zhao L, Xiao S, Fu ZF, Peng G. Structural basis for the dimerization and substrate recognition specificity of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus 3C-like protease. Virology 2016; 494:225-35. [PMID: 27128350 PMCID: PMC7111274 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a member of the genus Alphacoronavirus, has caused significant damage to the Asian and American pork industries. Coronavirus 3C-like protease (3CLpro), which is involved in the processing of viral polyproteins for viral replication, is an appealing antiviral drug target. Here, we present the crystal structures of PEDV 3CLpro and a molecular complex between an inactive PEDV 3CLpro variant C144A bound to a peptide substrate. Structural characterization, mutagenesis and biochemical analysis reveal the substrate-binding pockets and the residues that comprise the active site of PEDV 3CLpro. The dimerization of PEDV 3CLpro is similar to that of other Alphacoronavirus 3CLpros but has several differences from that of SARS-CoV 3CLpro from the genus Betacoronavirus. Furthermore, the non-conserved motifs in the pockets cause different cleavage of substrate between PEDV and SARS-CoV 3CLpros, which may provide new insights into the recognition of substrates by 3CLpros in various coronavirus genera. The substrate binding mechanism of PEDV 3CLpro has been characterized. The large buried surface area is responsible for dimerization of PEDV 3CLpro. Non-conserved motifs cause different cleavage between PEDV and SARS-CoV 3CLpros.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Feng Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhou Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Rui Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shaobo Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhen F Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Guiqing Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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46
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Conformational Flexibility of a Short Loop near the Active Site of the SARS-3CLpro is Essential to Maintain Catalytic Activity. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20918. [PMID: 26879383 PMCID: PMC4754693 DOI: 10.1038/srep20918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS 3C-like proteinase (SARS-3CLpro), which is the main proteinase of the SARS coronavirus, is essential to the virus life cycle. This enzyme has been shown to be active as a dimer in which only one protomer is active. However, it remains unknown how the dimer structure maintains an active monomer conformation. It has been observed that the Ser139-Leu141 loop forms a short 3(10)-helix that disrupts the catalytic machinery in the inactive monomer structure. We have tried to disrupt this helical conformation by mutating L141 to T in the stable inactive monomer G11A/R298A/Q299A. The resulting tetra-mutant G11A/L141T/R298A/Q299A is indeed enzymatically active as a monomer. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the L141T mutation disrupts the 3(10)-helix and helps to stabilize the active conformation. The coil-3(10)-helix conformational transition of the Ser139-Leu141 loop serves as an enzyme activity switch. Our study therefore indicates that the dimer structure can stabilize the active conformation but is not a required structure in the evolution of the active enzyme, which can also arise through simple mutations.
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47
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Berry M, Fielding BC, Gamieldien J. Potential Broad Spectrum Inhibitors of the Coronavirus 3CLpro: A Virtual Screening and Structure-Based Drug Design Study. Viruses 2015; 7:6642-60. [PMID: 26694449 PMCID: PMC4690886 DOI: 10.3390/v7122963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human coronaviruses represent a significant disease burden; however, there is currently no antiviral strategy to combat infection. The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) less than 10 years later demonstrates the potential of coronaviruses to cross species boundaries and further highlights the importance of identifying novel lead compounds with broad spectrum activity. The coronavirus 3CL(pro) provides a highly validated drug target and as there is a high degree of sequence homology and conservation in main chain architecture the design of broad spectrum inhibitors is viable. The ZINC drugs-now library was screened in a consensus high-throughput pharmacophore modeling and molecular docking approach by Vina, Glide, GOLD and MM-GBSA. Molecular dynamics further confirmed results obtained from structure-based techniques. A highly defined hit-list of 19 compounds was identified by the structure-based drug design methodologies. As these compounds were extensively validated by a consensus approach and by molecular dynamics, the likelihood that at least one of these compounds is bioactive is excellent. Additionally, the compounds segregate into 15 significantly dissimilar (p < 0.05) clusters based on shape and features, which represent valuable scaffolds that can be used as a basis for future anti-coronaviral inhibitor discovery experiments. Importantly though, the enriched subset of 19 compounds identified from the larger library has to be validated experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Berry
- South African Medical Research Council Bioinformatics Capacity Development Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
- Molecular Biology and Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical BioSciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
| | - Burtram C Fielding
- Molecular Biology and Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical BioSciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
| | - Junaid Gamieldien
- South African Medical Research Council Bioinformatics Capacity Development Unit, South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
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Kuo C, Liang P. Characterization and Inhibition of the Main Protease of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. CHEMBIOENG REVIEWS 2015. [PMCID: PMC7159133 DOI: 10.1002/cben.201400031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chih‐Jung Kuo
- National Chung Hsing University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Po‐Huang Liang
- National Chung Hsing University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Taichung 402, Taiwan
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49
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Lim L, Shi J, Mu Y, Song J. Dynamically-driven enhancement of the catalytic machinery of the SARS 3C-like protease by the S284-T285-I286/A mutations on the extra domain. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101941. [PMID: 25036652 PMCID: PMC4103764 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously we revealed that the extra domain of SARS 3CLpro mediated the catalysis via different mechanisms. While the R298A mutation completely abolished the dimerization, thus resulting in the inactive catalytic machinery, N214A inactivated the enzyme by altering its dynamics without significantly perturbing its structure. Here we studied another mutant with S284-T285-I286 replaced by Ala (STI/A) with a 3.6-fold activity increase and slightly enhanced dimerization. We determined its crystal structure, which still adopts the dimeric structure almost identical to that of the wild-type (WT), except for slightly tighter packing between two extra-domains. We then conducted 100-ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for both STI/A and WT, the longest reported so far for 3CLpro. In the simulations, two STI/A extra domains become further tightly packed, leading to a significant volume reduction of the nano-channel formed by residues from both catalytic and extra domains. The enhanced packing appears to slightly increase the dynamic stability of the N-finger and the first helix residues, which subsequently triggers the redistribution of dynamics over residues directly contacting them. This ultimately enhances the dynamical stability of the residues constituting the catalytic dyad and substrate-binding pockets. Further correlation analysis reveals that a global network of the correlated motions exists in the protease, whose components include all residues identified so far to be critical for the dimerization and catalysis. Most strikingly, the N214A mutation globally decouples this network while the STI/A mutation alters the correlation pattern. Together with previous results, the present study establishes that besides the classic structural allostery, the dynamic allostery also operates in the SARS 3CLpro, which is surprisingly able to relay the perturbations on the extra domain onto the catalytic machinery to manifest opposite catalytic effects. Our results thus imply a promising avenue to design specific inhibitors for 3CL proteases by disrupting their dynamic correlation network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangzhong Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jiahai Shi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yuguang Mu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- * E-mail:
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50
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Developments in the Search for Small-Molecule Inhibitors for Treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Antiviral Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1128/9781555815493.ch12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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