1
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Iman K, Mirza MU, Sadia F, Froeyen M, Trant JF, Chaudhary SU. Pharmacophore-Assisted Covalent Docking Identifies a Potential Covalent Inhibitor for Drug-Resistant Genotype 3 Variants of Hepatitis C Viral NS3/4A Serine Protease. Viruses 2024; 16:1250. [PMID: 39205224 PMCID: PMC11359326 DOI: 10.3390/v16081250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of drug-resistance-inducing mutations in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) coupled with genotypic heterogeneity has made targeting NS3/4A serine protease difficult. In this work, we investigated the mutagenic variations in the binding pocket of Genotype 3 (G3) HCV NS3/4A and evaluated ligands for efficacious inhibition. We report mutations at 14 positions within the ligand-binding residues of HCV NS3/4A, including H57R and S139P within the catalytic triad. We then modelled each mutational variant for pharmacophore-based virtual screening (PBVS) followed by covalent docking towards identifying a potential covalent inhibitor, i.e., cpd-217. The binding stability of cpd-217 was then supported by molecular dynamic simulation followed by MM/GBSA binding free energy calculation. The free energy decomposition analysis indicated that the resistant mutants alter the HCV NS3/4A-ligand interaction, resulting in unbalanced energy distribution within the binding site, leading to drug resistance. Cpd-217 was identified as interacting with all NS3/4A G3 variants with significant covalent docking scores. In conclusion, cpd-217 emerges as a potential inhibitor of HCV NS3/4A G3 variants that warrants further in vitro and in vivo studies. This study provides a theoretical foundation for drug design and development targeting HCV G3 NS3/4A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanzal Iman
- Biomedical Informatics & Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 36000, Pakistan; (K.I.); (F.S.)
| | - Muhammad Usman Mirza
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada;
| | - Fazila Sadia
- Biomedical Informatics & Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 36000, Pakistan; (K.I.); (F.S.)
| | - Matheus Froeyen
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - John F. Trant
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada;
| | - Safee Ullah Chaudhary
- Biomedical Informatics & Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore 36000, Pakistan; (K.I.); (F.S.)
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2
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Brewitz L, Schofield CJ. Fixing the Achilles Heel of Pfizer's Paxlovid for COVID-19 Treatment. J Med Chem 2024; 67:11656-11661. [PMID: 38967233 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01342] [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: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332), a first-in-class inhibitor of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (Mpro), was developed by Pfizer under intense pressure during the pandemic to treat COVID-19. A weakness of nirmatrelvir is its limited metabolic stability, which led to the development of a combination therapy (paxlovid), involving coadministration of nirmatrelvir with the cytochrome P450 inhibitor ritonavir. However, limitations in tolerability of the ritonavir component reduce the scope of paxlovid. In response to these limitations, researchers at Pfizer have now developed the second-generation Mpro inhibitor PF-07817883 (ibuzatrelvir). Structurally related to nirmatrelvir, including with the presence of a trifluoromethyl group, albeit located differently, ibuzatrelvir manifests enhanced oral bioavailability, so it does not require coadministration with ritonavir. The development of ibuzatrelvir is an important milestone, because it is expected to enhance the treatment of COVID-19 without the drawbacks associated with ritonavir. Given the success of paxlovid in treating COVID-19, it is likely that ibuzatrelvir will be granted approval as an improved drug for treatment of COVID-19 infections, so complementing vaccination efforts and improving pandemic preparedness. The development of nirmatrelvir and ibuzatrelvir dramatically highlights the power of appropriately resourced modern medicinal chemistry to very rapidly enable the development of breakthrough medicines. Consideration of how analogous approaches can be used to develop similarly breakthrough medicines for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria is worthwhile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Brewitz
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
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3
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Effiong UM, Khairandish H, Ramirez-Velez I, Wang Y, Belardi B. Turn-on protein switches for controlling actin binding in cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5840. [PMID: 38992021 PMCID: PMC11239668 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49934-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Within a shared cytoplasm, filamentous actin (F-actin) plays numerous and critical roles across the cell body. Cells rely on actin-binding proteins (ABPs) to organize F-actin and to integrate its polymeric characteristics into diverse cellular processes. Yet, the multitude of ABPs that engage with and shape F-actin make studying a single ABP's influence on cellular activities a significant challenge. Moreover, without a means of manipulating actin-binding subcellularly, harnessing the F-actin cytoskeleton for synthetic biology purposes remains elusive. Here, we describe a suite of designed proteins, Controllable Actin-binding Switch Tools (CASTs), whose actin-binding behavior can be controlled with external stimuli. CASTs were developed that respond to different external inputs, providing options for turn-on kinetics and enabling orthogonality and multiplexing. Being genetically encoded, we show that CASTs can be inserted into native protein sequences to control F-actin association locally and engineered into structures to control cell and tissue shape and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unyime M Effiong
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Hannah Khairandish
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Isabela Ramirez-Velez
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Yanran Wang
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Brian Belardi
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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4
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Li S, Li H, Lian R, Xie J, Feng R. New perspective of small-molecule antiviral drugs development for RNA viruses. Virology 2024; 594:110042. [PMID: 38492519 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
High variability and adaptability of RNA viruses allows them to spread between humans and animals, causing large-scale infectious diseases which seriously threat human and animal health and social development. At present, AIDS, viral hepatitis and other viral diseases with high incidence and low cure rate are still spreading around the world. The outbreaks of Ebola, Zika, dengue and in particular of the global pandemic of COVID-19 have presented serious challenges to the global public health system. The development of highly effective and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs is a substantial and urgent research subject to deal with the current RNA virus infection and the possible new viral infections in the future. In recent years, with the rapid development of modern disciplines such as artificial intelligence technology, bioinformatics, molecular biology, and structural biology, some new strategies and targets for antivirals development have emerged. Here we review the main strategies and new targets for developing small-molecule antiviral drugs against RNA viruses through the analysis of the new drug development progress against several highly pathogenic RNA viruses, to provide clues for development of future antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Huixia Li
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Ruiya Lian
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Jingying Xie
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Ruofei Feng
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China.
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5
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Skorenski M, Ji S, Verhelst SHL. Covalent activity-based probes for imaging of serine proteases. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:923-935. [PMID: 38629725 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Serine proteases are one of the largest mechanistic classes of proteases. They regulate a plethora of biochemical pathways inside and outside the cell. Aberrant serine protease activity leads to a wide variety of human diseases. Reagents to visualize these activities can be used to gain insight into the biological roles of serine proteases. Moreover, they may find future use for the detection of serine proteases as biomarkers. In this review, we discuss small molecule tools to image serine protease activity. Specifically, we outline different covalent activity-based probes and their selectivity against various serine protease targets. We also describe their application in several imaging methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Skorenski
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat 49 Box 901b, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Shanping Ji
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat 49 Box 901b, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven H L Verhelst
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Herestraat 49 Box 901b, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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6
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Zhuang Y, Quan W, Wang X, Cheng Y, Jiao Y. Comprehensive Review of EGCG Modification: Esterification Methods and Their Impacts on Biological Activities. Foods 2024; 13:1232. [PMID: 38672904 PMCID: PMC11048832 DOI: 10.3390/foods13081232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the key constituent of tea polyphenols, presents challenges in terms of its lipid solubility, stability, and bioavailability because of its polyhydroxy structure. Consequently, structural modifications are imperative to enhance its efficacy. This paper comprehensively reviews the esterification techniques applied to EGCG over the past two decades and their impacts on bioactivities. Both chemical and enzymatic esterification methods involve catalysts, solvents, and hydrophobic groups as critical factors. Although the chemical method is cost-efficient, it poses challenges in purification; on the other hand, the enzymatic approach offers improved selectivity and simplified purification processes. The biological functions of EGCG are inevitably influenced by the structural changes incurred through esterification. The antioxidant capacity of EGCG derivatives can be compromised under certain conditions by reducing hydroxyl groups, while enhancing lipid solubility and stability can strengthen their antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. Additionally, esterification broadens the utility of EGCG in food applications. This review provides critical insights into developing cost-effective and environmentally sustainable selective esterification methods, as well as emphasizes the elucidation of the bioactive mechanisms of EGCG derivatives to facilitate their widespread adoption in food processing, healthcare products, and pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjun Zhuang
- School of Food Science and Bioengineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Y.C.)
| | - Wei Quan
- College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China;
| | - Xufeng Wang
- School of Food Science and Bioengineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yunhui Cheng
- School of Food Science and Bioengineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Y.C.)
| | - Ye Jiao
- School of Food Science and Bioengineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; (Y.Z.); (X.W.); (Y.C.)
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7
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Borges PHO, Ferreira SB, Silva FP. Recent Advances on Targeting Proteases for Antiviral Development. Viruses 2024; 16:366. [PMID: 38543732 PMCID: PMC10976044 DOI: 10.3390/v16030366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Viral proteases are an important target for drug development, since they can modulate vital pathways in viral replication, maturation, assembly and cell entry. With the (re)appearance of several new viruses responsible for causing diseases in humans, like the West Nile virus (WNV) and the recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), understanding the mechanisms behind blocking viral protease's function is pivotal for the development of new antiviral drugs and therapeutical strategies. Apart from directly inhibiting the target protease, usually by targeting its active site, several new pathways have been explored to impair its activity, such as inducing protein aggregation, targeting allosteric sites or by inducing protein degradation by cellular proteasomes, which can be extremely valuable when considering the emerging drug-resistant strains. In this review, we aim to discuss the recent advances on a broad range of viral proteases inhibitors, therapies and molecular approaches for protein inactivation or degradation, giving an insight on different possible strategies against this important class of antiviral target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Henrique Oliveira Borges
- Laboratory of Organic Synthesis and Biological Prospecting, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil;
- Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Baptista Ferreira
- Laboratory of Organic Synthesis and Biological Prospecting, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil;
| | - Floriano Paes Silva
- Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
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8
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Janin YL. On the origins of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:81-118. [PMID: 38283212 PMCID: PMC10809347 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00493g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
In order to address the world-wide health challenge caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 3CL protease/SARS-CoV-2 main protease (SARS-CoV-2-Mpro) coded by its nsp5 gene became one of the biochemical targets for the design of antiviral drugs. In less than 3 years of research, 4 inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2-Mpro have actually been authorized for COVID-19 treatment (nirmatrelvir, ensitrelvir, leritrelvir and simnotrelvir) and more such as EDP-235, FB-2001 and STI-1558/Olgotrelvir or five undisclosed compounds (CDI-988, ASC11, ALG-097558, QLS1128 and H-10517) are undergoing clinical trials. This review is an attempt to picture this quite unprecedented medicinal chemistry feat and provide insights on how these cysteine protease inhibitors were discovered. Since many series of covalent SARS-CoV-2-Mpro inhibitors owe some of their origins to previous work on other proteases, we first provided a description of various inhibitors of cysteine-bearing human caspase-1 or cathepsin K, as well as inhibitors of serine proteases such as human dipeptidyl peptidase-4 or the hepatitis C protein complex NS3/4A. This is then followed by a description of the results of the approaches adopted (repurposing, structure-based and high throughput screening) to discover coronavirus main protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves L Janin
- Structure et Instabilité des Génomes (StrInG), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, INSERM, CNRS, Alliance Sorbonne Université 75005 Paris France
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9
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Meanwell NA. Applications of Bioisosteres in the Design of Biologically Active Compounds. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:18087-18122. [PMID: 36961953 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c00765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The design of bioisosteres represents a creative and productive approach to improve a molecule, including by enhancing potency, addressing pharmacokinetic challenges, reducing off-target liabilities, and productively modulating physicochemical properties. Bioisosterism is a principle exploited in the design of bioactive compounds of interest to both medicinal and agricultural chemists, and in this review, we provide a synopsis of applications where this kind of molecular editing has proved to be advantageous in molecule optimization. The examples selected for discussion focus on bioisosteres of carboxylic acids, applications of fluorine and fluorinated motifs in compound design, some applications of the sulfoximine functionality, the design of bioisosteres of drug-H2O complexes, and the design of bioisosteres of the phenyl ring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Meanwell
- The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Rd, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18902, United States
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10
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Chin SE, Schindler C, Vinall L, Dodd RB, Bamber L, Legg S, Sigurdardottir A, Rees DG, Malcolm TIM, Spratley SJ, Granéli C, Sumner J, Tigue NJ. A simeprevir-inducible molecular switch for the control of cell and gene therapies. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7753. [PMID: 38012128 PMCID: PMC10682029 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43484-9] [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: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical inducer of dimerization (CID) modules can be used effectively as molecular switches to control biological processes, and thus there is significant interest within the synthetic biology community in identifying novel CID systems. To date, CID modules have been used primarily in engineering cells for in vitro applications. To broaden their utility to the clinical setting, including the potential to control cell and gene therapies, the identification of novel CID modules should consider factors such as the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of the small molecule inducer, and the orthogonality and immunogenicity of the protein components. Here we describe a CID module based on the orally available, approved, small molecule simeprevir and its target, the NS3/4A protease from hepatitis C virus. We demonstrate the utility of this CID module as a molecular switch to control biological processes such as gene expression and apoptosis in vitro, and show that the CID system can be used to rapidly induce apoptosis in tumor cells in a xenograft mouse model, leading to complete tumor regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey E Chin
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Lisa Vinall
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Roger B Dodd
- Biologics Engineering, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lisa Bamber
- Biologics Engineering, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sandrine Legg
- Biologics Engineering, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - D Gareth Rees
- Biologics Engineering, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tim I M Malcolm
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Cecilia Granéli
- BioPharmaceuticals R&D Cell Therapy Department, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonathan Sumner
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Natalie J Tigue
- Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK.
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11
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Effiong UM, Khairandish H, Ramirez-Velez I, Wang Y, Belardi B. Turn-On Protein Switches for Controlling Actin Binding in Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.26.561921. [PMID: 37961502 PMCID: PMC10634840 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.26.561921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Within a shared cytoplasm, filamentous actin (F-actin) plays numerous and critical roles across the cell body. Cells rely on actin-binding proteins (ABPs) to organize F-actin and to integrate its polymeric characteristics into diverse cellular processes. Yet, the multitude of ABPs that engage with and shape F-actin make studying a single ABP's influence on cellular activities a significant challenge. Moreover, without a means of manipulating actin-binding subcellularly, harnessing the F-actin cytoskeleton for synthetic biology purposes remains elusive. Here, we describe a suite of designed proteins, Controllable Actin-binding Switch Tools (CASTs), whose actin-binding behavior can be controlled with external stimuli. CASTs were developed that respond to different external inputs, providing options for turn-on kinetics and enabling orthogonality. Being genetically encoded, we show that CASTs can be inserted into native protein sequences to control F-actin association locally and engineered into new structures to control cell and tissue shape and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unyime M. Effiong
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Hannah Khairandish
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Isabela Ramirez-Velez
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Yanran Wang
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Brian Belardi
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
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12
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Liang J, Wu Y, Lan K, Dong C, Wu S, Li S, Zhou HB. Antiviral PROTACs: Opportunity borne with challenge. CELL INSIGHT 2023; 2:100092. [PMID: 37398636 PMCID: PMC10308200 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2023.100092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) degradation of pathogenic proteins by hijacking of the ubiquitin-proteasome-system has become a promising strategy in drug design. The overwhelming advantages of PROTAC technology have ensured a rapid and wide usage, and multiple PROTACs have entered clinical trials. Several antiviral PROTACs have been developed with promising bioactivities against various pathogenic viruses. However, the number of reported antiviral PROTACs is far less than that of other diseases, e.g., cancers, immune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, possibly because of the common deficiencies of PROTAC technology (e.g., limited available ligands and poor membrane permeability) plus the complex mechanism involved and the high tendency of viral mutation during transmission and replication, which may challenge the successful development of effective antiviral PROTACs. This review highlights the important advances in this rapidly growing field and critical limitations encountered in developing antiviral PROTACs by analyzing the current status and representative examples of antiviral PROTACs and other PROTAC-like antiviral agents. We also summarize and analyze the general principles and strategies for antiviral PROTAC design and optimization with the intent of indicating the potential strategic directions for future progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsen Liang
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yihe Wu
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Ke Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Chune Dong
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shuwen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Shu Li
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Hai-Bing Zhou
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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13
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Cai J, Sun B, Yu S, Zhang H, Zhang W. Heck Macrocyclization in Forging Non-Natural Large Rings including Macrocyclic Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098252. [PMID: 37175956 PMCID: PMC10179193 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The intramolecular Heck reaction is a well-established strategy for natural product total synthesis. When constructing large rings, this reaction is also referred to as Heck macrocyclization, which has proved a viable avenue to access diverse naturally occurring macrocycles. Less noticed but likewise valuable, it has created novel macrocycles of non-natural origin that neither serve as nor derive from natural products. This review presents a systematic account of the title reaction in forging this non-natural subset of large rings, thereby addressing a topic rarely covered in the literature. Walking through two complementary sections, namely (1) drug discovery research and (2) synthetic methodology development, it demonstrates that beyond the well-known domain of natural product synthesis, Heck macrocyclization also plays a remarkable role in forming synthetic macrocycles, in particular macrocyclic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayou Cai
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Bin Sun
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Siqi Yu
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Han Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Weicheng Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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14
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Pathak RK, Kim WI, Kim JM. Targeting the PEDV 3CL protease for identification of small molecule inhibitors: an insight from virtual screening, ADMET prediction, molecular dynamics, free energy landscape, and binding energy calculations. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:29. [PMID: 37072787 PMCID: PMC10112315 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00342-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) represents a major health issue for piglets worldwide and does significant damage to the pork industry. Thus, new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed to manage PEDV infections. Due to the current lack of a reliable remedy, this present study aims to identify novel compounds that inhibit the 3CL protease of the virus involved in replication and pathogenesis. RESULTS To identify potent antiviral compounds against the 3CL protease, a virtual screening of natural compounds (n = 97,999) was conducted. The top 10 compounds were selected based on the lowest binding energy and the protein-ligand interaction analyzed. Further, the top five compounds that demonstrated a strong binding affinity were subjected to drug-likeness analysis using the ADMET prediction, which was followed by molecular dynamics simulations (500 ns), free energy landscape, and binding free energy calculations using the MM-PBSA method. Based on these parameters, four putative lead (ZINC38167083, ZINC09517223, ZINC04339983, and ZINC09517238) compounds were identified that represent potentially effective inhibitors of the 3CL protease. CONCLUSION Therefore, these can be utilized for the development of novel antiviral drugs against PEDV. However, this requires further validation through in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Kumar Pathak
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Il Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do 54596, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Mo Kim
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do 17546, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Pachota M, Grzywa R, Iwanejko J, Synowiec A, Iwan D, Kamińska K, Skoreński M, Bielecka E, Szczubialka K, Nowakowska M, Mackereth CD, Wojaczyńska E, Sieńczyk M, Pyrć K. Novel inhibitors of HSV-1 protease effective in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Res 2023; 213:105604. [PMID: 37054954 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a widespread human pathogen known to cause infections of diverse severity, ranging from mild ulceration of mucosal and dermal tissues to life-threatening viral encephalitis. In most cases, standard treatment with acyclovir is sufficient to manage the disease progression. However, the emergence of ACV-resistant strains drives the need for new therapeutics and molecular targets. HSV-1 VP24 is a protease indispensable for the assembly of mature virions and, as such, constitutes an interesting target for the therapy. In this study, we present novel compounds, KI207M and EWDI/39/55BF, that block the activity of VP24 protease and consequently inhibit HSV-1 infection in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitors were shown to prevent the egress of viral capsids from the cell nucleus and suppress the cell-to-cell spread of the infection. They were also proven effective against ACV-resistant HSV-1 strains. Considering their low toxicity and high antiviral potency, the novel VP24 inhibitors could provide an alternative for treating ACV-resistant infections or a drug to be used in combined, highly effective therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Pachota
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387, Kraków, Poland; Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Renata Grzywa
- Department of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Jakub Iwanejko
- Department of Physical and Quantum Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Synowiec
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Dominika Iwan
- Department of Physical and Quantum Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Karolina Kamińska
- Department of Physical and Quantum Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marcin Skoreński
- Department of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ewa Bielecka
- Laboratory of Proteolysis and Post-translational Modification of Proteins, Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Szczubialka
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Maria Nowakowska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Cameron D Mackereth
- Univ. Bordeaux, Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, ARNA Laboratory, IECB, 33706, Pessac, France
| | - Elżbieta Wojaczyńska
- Department of Physical and Quantum Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Marcin Sieńczyk
- Department of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Pyrć
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
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16
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N-sulfonyl peptide-hybrids as a new class of dengue virus protease inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 251:115227. [PMID: 36893626 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) from the Flaviviridae family causes an epidemic disease that seriously threatens human life. The viral serine protease NS2B-NS3 is a promising target for drug development against DENV and other flaviviruses. We here report the design, synthesis, and in-vitro characterization of potent peptidic inhibitors of DENV protease with a sulfonyl moiety as N-terminal cap, thereby creating sulfonamide-peptide hybrids. The in-vitro target affinities of some synthesized compounds were in the nanomolar range, with the most promising derivative reaching a Ki value of 78 nM against DENV-2 protease. The synthesized compounds did not have relevant off-target activity nor cytotoxicity. The metabolic stability of compounds against rat liver microsomes and pancreatic enzymes was remarkable. In general, the integration of sulfonamide moieties at the N-terminus of peptidic inhibitors proved to be a promising and attractive strategy for further drug development against DENV infections.
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17
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Shen J, Geng L, Li X, Emery C, Kroning K, Shingles G, Lee K, Heyden M, Li P, Wang W. A general method for chemogenetic control of peptide function. Nat Methods 2023; 20:112-122. [PMID: 36481965 PMCID: PMC10069916 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01697-8] [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: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Natural or engineered peptides serve important biological functions. A general approach to achieve chemical-dependent activation of short peptides will be valuable for spatial and temporal control of cellular processes. Here we present a pair of chemically activated protein domains (CAPs) for controlling the accessibility of both the N- and C-terminal portion of a peptide. CAPs were developed through directed evolution of an FK506-binding protein. By fusing a peptide to one or both CAPs, the function of the peptide is blocked until a small molecule displaces them from the FK506-binding protein ligand-binding site. We demonstrate that CAPs are generally applicable to a range of short peptides, including a protease cleavage site, a dimerization-inducing heptapeptide, a nuclear localization signal peptide, and an opioid peptide, with a chemical dependence up to 156-fold. We show that the CAPs system can be utilized in cell cultures and multiple organs in living animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Shen
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lequn Geng
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xingyu Li
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Prosthodontics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Catherine Emery
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Prosthodontics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kayla Kroning
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gwendolyn Shingles
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kerry Lee
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Matthias Heyden
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Peng Li
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Prosthodontics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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18
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Ruck RT, Strotman NA, Krska SW. The Catalysis Laboratory at Merck: 20 Years of Catalyzing Innovation. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c05159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca T. Ruck
- Department of Process Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey07065, United States
| | - Neil A. Strotman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Clinical Supplies, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey07065, United States
| | - Shane W. Krska
- Chemistry Capabilities Accelerating Therapeutics, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey07033, United States
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19
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Abstract
Covalent drugs have been used to treat diseases for more than a century, but tools that facilitate the rational design of covalent drugs have emerged more recently. The purposeful addition of reactive functional groups to existing ligands can enable potent and selective inhibition of target proteins, as demonstrated by the covalent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors used to treat various cancers. Moreover, the identification of covalent ligands through 'electrophile-first' approaches has also led to the discovery of covalent drugs, such as covalent inhibitors for KRAS(G12C) and SARS-CoV-2 main protease. In particular, the discovery of KRAS(G12C) inhibitors validates the use of covalent screening technologies, which have become more powerful and widespread over the past decade. Chemoproteomics platforms have emerged to complement covalent ligand screening and assist in ligand discovery, selectivity profiling and target identification. This Review showcases covalent drug discovery milestones with emphasis on the lessons learned from these programmes and how an evolving toolbox of covalent drug discovery techniques facilitates success in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Boike
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nathaniel J Henning
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Daniel K Nomura
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Novartis-Berkeley Center for Proteomics and Chemistry Technologies, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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20
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Li HS, Wong NM, Tague E, Ngo JT, Khalil AS, Wong WW. High-performance multiplex drug-gated CAR circuits. Cancer Cell 2022; 40:1294-1305.e4. [PMID: 36084652 PMCID: PMC9669166 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells can revolutionize cancer medicine. However, overactivation, lack of tumor-specific surface markers, and antigen escape have hampered CAR T cell development. A multi-antigen targeting CAR system regulated by clinically approved pharmaceutical agents is needed. Here, we present VIPER CARs (versatile protease regulatable CARs), a collection of inducible ON and OFF switch CAR circuits engineered with a viral protease domain. We established their controllability using FDA-approved antiviral protease inhibitors in a xenograft tumor and a cytokine release syndrome mouse model. Furthermore, we benchmarked VIPER CARs against other drug-gated systems and demonstrated best-in-class performance. We showed their orthogonality in vivo using the ON VIPER CAR and OFF lenalidomide-CAR systems. Finally, we engineered several VIPER CAR circuits by combining various CAR technologies. Our multiplexed, drug-gated CAR circuits represent the next progression in CAR design capable of advanced logic and regulation for enhancing the safety of CAR T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Shan Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole M Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elliot Tague
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John T Ngo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ahmad S Khalil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wilson W Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
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21
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Adaptive Mutation in the Main Protease Cleavage Site of Feline Coronavirus Renders the Virus More Resistant to Main Protease Inhibitors. J Virol 2022; 96:e0090722. [PMID: 36000844 PMCID: PMC9472640 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00907-22] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid global emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused serious health problems, highlighting the urgent need for antiviral drugs. The viral main protease (Mpro) plays an important role in viral replication and thus remains the target of choice for the prevention or treatment of several viral diseases due to high sequence and structural conservation. Prolonged use of viral protease inhibitors can lead to the development of mutants resistant to those inhibitors and to many of the available antiviral drugs. Here, we used feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) as a model to investigate its development of resistance under pressure from the Mpro inhibitor GC376. Passage of wild-type (WT) FIPV in the presence of GC376 selected for a mutation in the nsp12 region where Mpro cleaves the substrate between nsp12 and nsp13. This mutation confers up to 3-fold resistance to GC376 and nirmatrelvir, as determined by EC50 assay. In vitro biochemical and cellular experiments confirmed that FIPV adapts to the stress of GC376 by mutating the nsp12 and nsp13 hydrolysis site to facilitate cleavage by Mpro and release to mediate replication and transcription. Finally, we demonstrate that GC376 cannot treat FIP-resistant mutants that cause FIP in animals. Taken together, these results suggest that Mpro affects the replication of coronaviruses (CoVs) and the drug resistance to GC376 by regulating the amount of RdRp from a distant site. These findings provide further support for the use of an antiviral drug combination as a broad-spectrum therapy to protect against contemporary and emerging CoVs. IMPORTANCE CoVs cause serious human infections, and antiviral drugs are currently approved to treat these infections. The development of protease-targeting therapeutics for CoV infection is hindered by resistance mutations. Therefore, we should pay attention to its resistance to antiviral drugs. Here, we identified possible mutations that lead to relapse after clinical treatment of FIP. One amino acid substitution in the nsp12 polymerase at the Mpro cleavage site provided low-level resistance to GC376 after selection exposure to the GC376 parental nucleoside. Resistance mutations enhanced FIPV viral fitness in vitro and attenuated the therapeutic effect of GC376 in an animal model of FIPV infection. Our research explains the evolutionary characteristics of coronaviruses under antiviral drugs, which is helpful for a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of virus resistance and provides important basic data for the effective prevention and control of CoVs.
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22
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Huber S, Braun NJ, Schmacke LC, Quek JP, Murra R, Bender D, Hildt E, Luo D, Heine A, Steinmetzer T. Structure-Based Optimization and Characterization of Macrocyclic Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2022; 65:6555-6572. [PMID: 35475620 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a human pathogenic arbovirus. So far, neither a specific treatment nor a vaccination against ZIKV infections has been approved. Starting from our previously described lead structure, a series of 29 new macrocyclic inhibitors of the Zika virus protease containing different linker motifs have been synthesized. By selecting hydrophobic d-amino acids as part of the linker, numerous inhibitors with Ki values < 5 nM were obtained. For 12 inhibitors, crystal structures in complex with the ZIKV protease up to 1.30 Å resolution were determined, which contribute to the understanding of the observed structure-activity relationship (SAR). In immunofluorescence assays, an antiviral effect was observed for compound 26 containing a d-homocyclohexylalanine residue in its linker segment. Due to its excellent selectivity profile and low cytotoxicity, this inhibitor scaffold could be a suitable starting point for the development of peptidic drugs against the Zika virus and related flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Huber
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University of Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Niklas J Braun
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University of Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Luna C Schmacke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University of Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jun Ping Quek
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, EMB 03-07, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 636921.,NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, EMB 06-01, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 636921
| | - Robin Murra
- Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 51-59, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Daniela Bender
- Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 51-59, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Eberhard Hildt
- Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Department of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 51-59, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Dahai Luo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, EMB 03-07, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 636921.,NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, EMB 06-01, 59 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 636921.,School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551
| | - Andreas Heine
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University of Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University of Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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23
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Recent advancement in small molecules as HCV inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 60:116699. [PMID: 35278819 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.116699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has caused a considerable threat to human health. To date, no treatments are without side effects. The proteins and RNA associated with HCV have specific functions during the viral life cycle. The vulnerabilities to virus are associated with those proteins or RNA. Thus, targeting these proteins and RNA is an efficient strategy to develop anti-HCV therapeutics. The treatment for HCV-infected patients has been greatly improved after the approval of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). However, the cost of DAAs is unusually high, which adds to the economic burden on patients with chronic liver diseases. So far, many efforts have been devoted to the development of small molecules as novel HCV inhibitors. Investigations on the inhibitory activities of these small molecules have involved the target identification and the mechanism of action. In this mini-review, these small molecules divided into four kinds were elaborated, which focused on their targets and structural features. Furthermore, we raised the current challenges and promising prospects. This mini-review may facilitate the development of small molecules with improved activities targeting HCV based on the chemical scaffolds of HCV inhibitors.
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24
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Liu H, Iketani S, Zask A, Khanizeman N, Bednarova E, Forouhar F, Fowler B, Hong SJ, Mohri H, Nair MS, Huang Y, Tay NES, Lee S, Karan C, Resnick SJ, Quinn C, Li W, Shion H, Xia X, Daniels JD, Bartolo-Cruz M, Farina M, Rajbhandari P, Jurtschenko C, Lauber MA, McDonald T, Stokes ME, Hurst BL, Rovis T, Chavez A, Ho DD, Stockwell BR. Development of optimized drug-like small molecule inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease for treatment of COVID-19. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1891. [PMID: 35393402 PMCID: PMC8989888 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29413-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease is a critical drug target for small molecule COVID-19 therapy, given its likely druggability and essentiality in the viral maturation and replication cycle. Based on the conservation of 3CL protease substrate binding pockets across coronaviruses and using screening, we identified four structurally distinct lead compounds that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease. After evaluation of their binding specificity, cellular antiviral potency, metabolic stability, and water solubility, we prioritized the GC376 scaffold as being optimal for optimization. We identified multiple drug-like compounds with <10 nM potency for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 3CL and the ability to block SARS-CoV-2 replication in human cells, obtained co-crystal structures of the 3CL protease in complex with these compounds, and determined that they have pan-coronavirus activity. We selected one compound, termed coronastat, as an optimized lead and characterized it in pharmacokinetic and safety studies in vivo. Coronastat represents a new candidate for a small molecule protease inhibitor for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection for eliminating pandemics involving coronaviruses. Small molecule drugs promise to remain a valuable tool in controlling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Here the authors describe optimized drug-like small molecule inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease for potential treatment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengrui Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Sho Iketani
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Arie Zask
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Nisha Khanizeman
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Eva Bednarova
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Farhad Forouhar
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Brandon Fowler
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Seo Jung Hong
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Hiroshi Mohri
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Manoj S Nair
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Yaoxing Huang
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Nicholas E S Tay
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Sumin Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Charles Karan
- Sulzberger Columbia Genome Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Samuel J Resnick
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Colette Quinn
- Waters Corporation, 34 Maple Street, Milford, MA, 01757, USA
| | - Wenjing Li
- Waters Corporation, 34 Maple Street, Milford, MA, 01757, USA
| | - Henry Shion
- Waters Corporation, 34 Maple Street, Milford, MA, 01757, USA
| | - Xin Xia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Jacob D Daniels
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | | | - Marcelo Farina
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Presha Rajbhandari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | | | | | - Thomas McDonald
- Waters Corporation, 34 Maple Street, Milford, MA, 01757, USA
| | - Michael E Stokes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Brett L Hurst
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Tomislav Rovis
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
| | - Alejandro Chavez
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - David D Ho
- Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Brent R Stockwell
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
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25
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Miao J, Yuan H, Rao J, Zou J, Yang K, Peng G, Cao S, Chen H, Song Y. Identification of a small compound that specifically inhibits Zika virus in vitro and in vivo by targeting the NS2B-NS3 protease. Antiviral Res 2022; 199:105255. [PMID: 35143853 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105255] [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: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) has rapid become a global threat, but no ZIKV-specific vaccines or drugs are currently available. In this study, inhibitors of ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease were screened from a library containing 4,452 compound fragments. One of the compounds, 6-bromo-1,2-naphthalenedione, exhibited high specific inhibition against ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease, but had no inhibitory effects against other viral proteases. A microscale thermophoresis (MST) assay confirmed that the compound bound to ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protein with a binding constant (Kd) of 12.26 μM. Indirect immunofluorescence assays, Western blots, and plaque assays indicated that the compound inhibited virus replication in cells. Virus titer was reduced by more than 75% when the compound was present at 1 μM. A time-of-addition assay showed that inhibition occurred at the virus replication stage, but not at the adsorption or invasion stages. The half cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) of the compound on HeLa, Vero, and BHK-21 cells were 445.44 μM, 123.87 μM, and 123.64 μM, respectively. In vivo tests using infected AG129 mice demonstrated that treatment with the compound reduced mortality by up to 60%. Mice treated with the compound showed a reduction in histopathological lesions in brain, testis, and ovary. Viral RNA, IL-1β, and IL-6 mRNA levels decreased significantly in these tissues. In summary, this study has identified a small compound with high and specific inhibitory effects on ZIKV. The compound can be used as a therapeutic agent and is also an ideal starting point for drug optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Honggen Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jingwei Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jiahui Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Kelu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Guiqing Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shengbo Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yunfeng Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; College of Animal Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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Cao W, Geng ZZ, Wang N, Pan Q, Guo S, Xu S, Zhou J, Liu WR. A Reversible Chemogenetic Switch for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells**. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202109550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenyue Cao
- Department of Hematology Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei China
- The Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory Department of Chemistry Texas A&M University College Station TX 77843-3255 USA
| | - Zhi Zachary Geng
- The Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory Department of Chemistry Texas A&M University College Station TX 77843-3255 USA
| | - Na Wang
- Department of Hematology Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei China
| | - Quan Pan
- The Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory Department of Chemistry Texas A&M University College Station TX 77843-3255 USA
| | - Shaodong Guo
- The Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory Department of Chemistry Texas A&M University College Station TX 77843-3255 USA
| | - Shiqing Xu
- The Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory Department of Chemistry Texas A&M University College Station TX 77843-3255 USA
| | - Jianfeng Zhou
- Department of Hematology Tongji Hospital Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan Hubei China
| | - Wenshe Ray Liu
- The Texas A&M Drug Discovery Laboratory Department of Chemistry Texas A&M University College Station TX 77843-3255 USA
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Translational Medical Sciences College of Medicine Texas A&M University Houston TX 77030 USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Texas A&M University Houston TX 77843 USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine College of Medicine Texas A&M University Houston TX 77843 USA
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27
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Liu W, Cao W, Geng ZZ, Wang N, Pan Q, Guo S, Zhou J, Xu S. A Recurring Chemogenetic Switch for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 61:e202109550. [PMID: 34783141 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202109550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
As a revolutionary cancer treatment, the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy suffers from complications such as cytokine release syndromes and T cell exhaustion. Their mitigation desires controllable activation of CAR-T cells that is achievable through regulatory display of CARs. By embedding the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease (HCV-NS3) between the single-chain variable fragment (scFv) and the hinge domain, we showed that the display of anti-CD19 scFv on CAR-T cells was positively correlated to the presence of a clinical HCV-NS3 inhibitor asunaprevir (ASV). This novel CAR design that allows the display of anti-CD19 scFv in the presence of ASV and its removal in the absence of ASV creates a practically recurring chemical switch. We demonstrated that the intact CAR on T cells can be repeatedly turned on and off by controlling the presence of ASV in a dose dependent manner both in vitro and in vivo, which enables delicate modulation of CAR-T activation during cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshe Liu
- Texas A&M University, Department of Chemistry, Corner of Ross and Spence Streets, 77845, College Station, UNITED STATES
| | - Wenyue Cao
- Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology: Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Hemotology, CHINA
| | - Zhi Z Geng
- Texas A&M University, Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Corner of Spence and Ross Streets, 77843-3255, United States, College Station, UNITED STATES
| | - Na Wang
- Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology: Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Hemotology, UNITED STATES
| | - Quan Pan
- Texas A&M University, Nutrition and food science, UNITED STATES
| | - Shaodong Guo
- Texas A&M University, Nutrition and food science, UNITED STATES
| | - Jianfeng Zhou
- Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology: Huazhong University of Science and Technology Tongji Medical College, Hemotology, CHINA
| | - Shiqing Xu
- Texas A&M University, Chemistry, UNITED STATES
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28
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Sagar S, Singh S, Mallareddy JR, Sonawane YA, Napoleon JV, Rana S, Contreras JI, Rajesh C, Ezell EL, Kizhake S, Garrison JC, Radhakrishnan P, Natarajan A. Structure activity relationship (SAR) study identifies a quinoxaline urea analog that modulates IKKβ phosphorylation for pancreatic cancer therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 222:113579. [PMID: 34098465 PMCID: PMC8373685 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Genetic models validated Inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF) kappa B kinase beta (IKKβ) as a therapeutic target for KRAS mutation associated pancreatic cancer. Phosphorylation of the activation loop serine residues (S177, S181) in IKKβ is a key event that drives tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α induced NF-κB mediated gene expression. Here we conducted structure activity relationship (SAR) study to improve potency and oral bioavailability of a quinoxaline analog 13-197 that was previously reported as a NFκB inhibitor for pancreatic cancer therapy. The SAR led to the identification of a novel quinoxaline urea analog 84 that reduced the levels of p-IKKβ in dose- and time-dependent studies. When compared to 13-197, analog 84 was ∼2.5-fold more potent in TNFα-induced NFκB inhibition and ∼4-fold more potent in inhibiting pancreatic cancer cell growth. Analog 84 exhibited ∼4.3-fold greater exposure (AUC0-∞) resulting in ∼5.7-fold increase in oral bioavailability (%F) when compared to 13-197. Importantly, oral administration of 84 by itself and in combination of gemcitabine reduced p-IKKβ levels and inhibited pancreatic tumor growth in a xenograft model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish Sagar
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Sarbjit Singh
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sandeep Rana
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Prakash Radhakrishnan
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Genetics Cell Biology and Anatomy, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Amarnath Natarajan
- Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Genetics Cell Biology and Anatomy, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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29
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Dražić T, Kühl N, Gottscheber N, Hacker CN, Klein CD. The spectrum between substrates and inhibitors: Pinpointing the binding mode of dengue protease ligands with modulated basicity and hydrophobicity. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 48:116412. [PMID: 34592636 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Peptides can be inhibitors and substrates of proteases. The present study describes the inhibitor- vs. substrate-like properties of peptidic ligands of dengue protease which were designed to provide insight into their binding modes. Of particular interest was the localization of the cleavable peptide bond and the placement of hydrophobic elements in the binding site. The findings provide clues for the design of covalent inhibitors in which electrophilic functional groups bind to the catalytic serine, and in addition for the development of inhibitors that are less basic than the natural substrate and therefore have an improved pharmacokinetic profile. We observed a tendency of basic elements to favor a substrate-like binding mode, whereas hydrophobic elements decrease or eliminate enzymatic cleavage. This indicates a necessity to include basic elements which closely mimic the natural substrates into covalent inhibitors, posing a challenge from the chemical and pharmacokinetic perspective. However, hydrophobic elements may offer opportunities to develop non-covalent inhibitors with a favorable ADME profile and potentially improved target-binding kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonko Dražić
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nikos Kühl
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nicole Gottscheber
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christina N Hacker
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian D Klein
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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Nageswara Rao D, Zephyr J, Henes M, Chan ET, Matthew AN, Hedger AK, Conway HL, Saeed M, Newton A, Petropoulos CJ, Huang W, Kurt Yilmaz N, Schiffer CA, Ali A. Discovery of Quinoxaline-Based P1-P3 Macrocyclic NS3/4A Protease Inhibitors with Potent Activity against Drug-Resistant Hepatitis C Virus Variants. J Med Chem 2021; 64:11972-11989. [PMID: 34405680 PMCID: PMC9228641 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00554] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The three pan-genotypic HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors (PIs) currently in clinical use-grazoprevir, glecaprevir, and voxilaprevir-are quinoxaline-based P2-P4 macrocycles and thus exhibit similar resistance profiles. Using our quinoxaline-based P1-P3 macrocyclic lead compounds as an alternative chemical scaffold, we explored structure-activity relationships (SARs) at the P2 and P4 positions to develop pan-genotypic PIs that avoid drug resistance. A structure-guided strategy was used to design and synthesize two series of compounds with different P2 quinoxalines in combination with diverse P4 groups of varying sizes and shapes, with and without fluorine substitutions. Our SAR data and cocrystal structures revealed the interplay between the P2 and P4 groups, which influenced inhibitor binding and the overall resistance profile. Optimizing inhibitor interactions in the S4 pocket led to PIs with excellent antiviral activity against clinically relevant PI-resistant HCV variants and genotype 3, providing potential pan-genotypic inhibitors with improved resistance profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desaboini Nageswara Rao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Jacqueto Zephyr
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Mina Henes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Elise T Chan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Ashley N Matthew
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Adam K Hedger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Hasahn L Conway
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, United States
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, United States
| | - Mohsan Saeed
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, United States
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, United States
| | - Alicia Newton
- Monogram Biosciences, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | | | - Wei Huang
- Monogram Biosciences, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Nese Kurt Yilmaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Celia A Schiffer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
| | - Akbar Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, United States
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31
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Voss S, Nitsche C. Targeting the protease of West Nile virus. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:1262-1272. [PMID: 34458734 PMCID: PMC8372202 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00080b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus infections can cause severe neurological symptoms. During the last 25 years, cases have been reported in Asia, North America, Africa, Europe and Australia (Kunjin). No West Nile virus vaccines or specific antiviral therapies are available to date. Various viral proteins and host-cell factors have been evaluated as potential drug targets. The viral protease NS2B-NS3 is among the most promising viral targets. It releases viral proteins from a non-functional polyprotein precursor, making it a critical factor of viral replication. Despite strong efforts, no protease inhibitors have reached clinical trials yet. Substrate-derived peptidomimetics have facilitated structural elucidations of the active protease state, while alternative compounds with increased drug-likeness have recently expanded drug discovery efforts beyond the active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saan Voss
- 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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32
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Skwarecki AS, Nowak MG, Milewska MJ. Amino Acid and Peptide-Based Antiviral Agents. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:3106-3135. [PMID: 34254457 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
A significant number of antiviral agents used in clinical practice are amino acids, short peptides, or peptidomimetics. Among them, several HIV protease inhibitors (e. g. lopinavir, atazanavir), HCV protease inhibitors (e. g. grazoprevir, glecaprevir), and HCV NS5A protein inhibitors have contributed to a significant decrease in mortality from AIDS and hepatitis. However, there is an ongoing need for the discovery of new antiviral agents and the development of existing drugs; amino acids, both proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic in nature, serve as convenient building blocks for this purpose. The synthesis of non-proteinogenic amino acid components of antiviral agents could be challenging due to the need for enantiomerically or diastereomerically pure products. Herein, we present a concise review of antiviral agents whose structures are based on amino acids of both natural and unnatural origin. Special attention is paid to the synthetic aspects of non-proteinogenic amino acid components of those agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej S Skwarecki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry and BioTechMed Center, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Gabriela Narutowicza Street, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Michał G Nowak
- Department of Organic Chemistry and BioTechMed Center, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Gabriela Narutowicza Street, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Maria J Milewska
- Department of Organic Chemistry and BioTechMed Center, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Gabriela Narutowicza Street, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
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Dabrowska A, Milewska A, Ner-Kluza J, Suder P, Pyrc K. Mass Spectrometry versus Conventional Techniques of Protein Detection: Zika Virus NS3 Protease Activity towards Cellular Proteins. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26123732. [PMID: 34207340 PMCID: PMC8234618 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mass spectrometry (MS) used in proteomic approaches is able to detect hundreds of proteins in a single assay. Although undeniable high analytical power of MS, data acquired sometimes lead to confusing results, especially during a search of very selective, unique interactions in complex biological matrices. Here, we would like to show an example of such confusing data, providing an extensive discussion on the observed phenomenon. Our investigations focus on the interaction between the Zika virus NS3 protease, which is essential for virus replication. This enzyme is known for helping to remodel the microenvironment of the infected cells. Several reports show that this protease can process cellular substrates and thereby modify cellular pathways that are important for the virus. Herein, we explored some of the targets of NS3, clearly shown by proteomic techniques, as processed during infection. Unfortunately, we could not confirm the biological relevance of protein targets for viral infections detected by MS. Thus, although mass spectrometry is highly sensitive and useful in many instances, also being able to show directions where cell/virus interaction occurs, we believe that deep recognition of their biological role is essential to receive complete insight into the investigated process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Dabrowska
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; (A.D.); (A.M.)
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Milewska
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; (A.D.); (A.M.)
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Joanna Ner-Kluza
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Piotr Suder
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland;
- Correspondence: (P.S.); (K.P.); Tel.: +48-12-617-50-83 (P.S.); +48-12-664-61-21 (K.P.)
| | - Krzysztof Pyrc
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; (A.D.); (A.M.)
- Correspondence: (P.S.); (K.P.); Tel.: +48-12-617-50-83 (P.S.); +48-12-664-61-21 (K.P.)
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Hisada T, Kitanosono T, Yamashita Y, Kobayashi S. Zeolite Catalysis Enables Efficient Pyrazinone Synthesis in Water. BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 2021. [DOI: 10.1246/bcsj.20210112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Hisada
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Taku Kitanosono
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yamashita
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Shū Kobayashi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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35
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Miroshnychenko KV, Shestopalova AV. Combined use of the hepatitis C drugs and amentoflavone could interfere with binding of the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2: the results of a molecular simulation study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:8672-8686. [PMID: 33896392 PMCID: PMC8074653 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1914168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The worldwide rapid spread of the COVID-19 disease necessitates the search for fast and effective treatments. The repurposing of existing drugs seems to be the best solution in this situation. In this study, the molecular docking method was used to test 248 drugs against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, which is responsible for viral entry into the host cell. Among the top-ranked ligands are drugs that are used for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments (paritaprevir, ledipasvir, simeprevir) and a natural biflavonoid amentoflavone. The binding sites of the HCV drugs and amentoflavone are different. Therefore, the ternary complexes of the HCV drug, amentoflavone, and RBD can be created. For the 5 top-ranked ligands, the validating molecular dynamics simulations of binary and ternary complexes with RBD were performed. According to the MMPBSA-binding free energies, the HCV drugs ledipasvir and paritaprevir (in a neutral form) are the most efficient binders of the RBD when used in combination with amentoflavone.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna V. Shestopalova
- O. Ya. Usikov Institute for Radiophysics and Electronics of NAS of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine
- V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
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36
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Lu L, Su S, Yang H, Jiang S. Antivirals with common targets against highly pathogenic viruses. Cell 2021; 184:1604-1620. [PMID: 33740455 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Historically, emerging viruses appear constantly and have cost millions of human lives. Currently, climate change and intense globalization have created favorable conditions for viral transmission. Therefore, effective antivirals, especially those targeting the conserved protein in multiple unrelated viruses, such as the compounds targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, are urgently needed to combat more emerging and re-emerging viruses in the future. Here we reviewed the development of antivirals with common targets, including those against the same protein across viruses, or the same viral function, to provide clues for development of antivirals for future epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shan Su
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Haitao Yang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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37
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Li HC, Yang CH, Lo SY. Hepatitis C Viral Replication Complex. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030520. [PMID: 33809897 PMCID: PMC8004249 DOI: 10.3390/v13030520] [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: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The life cycle of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be divided into several stages, including viral entry, protein translation, RNA replication, viral assembly, and release. HCV genomic RNA replication occurs in the replication organelles (RO) and is tightly linked to ER membrane alterations containing replication complexes (proteins NS3 to NS5B). The amplification of HCV genomic RNA could be regulated by the RO biogenesis, the viral RNA structure (i.e., cis-acting replication elements), and both viral and cellular proteins. Studies on HCV replication have led to the development of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) targeting the replication complex. This review article summarizes the viral and cellular factors involved in regulating HCV genomic RNA replication and the DAAs that inhibit HCV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Chun Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan;
| | - Chee-Hing Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan;
| | - Shih-Yen Lo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien 97004, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-3-8565301 (ext. 2322)
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Boonma T, Nutho B, Darai N, Rungrotmongkol T, Nunthaboot N. Exploring of paritaprevir and glecaprevir resistance due to A156T mutation of HCV NS3/4A protease: molecular dynamics simulation study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:5283-5294. [PMID: 33430709 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1869587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A serine protease is a promising drug target for the discovery of anti-HCV drugs. However, its amino acid mutations, particularly A156T, commonly lead to rapid emergence of drug resistance. Paritaprevir and glecaprevir, the newly FDA-approved HCV drugs, exhibit distinct resistance profiles against the A156T mutation of HCV NS3/4A serine protease. To illustrate their different molecular resistance mechanisms, molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations were carried out on the two compounds complexed with both wild-type (WT) and A156T variants of HCV NS3/4A protease. QM/MM-GBSA-based binding free energy calculations revealed that the binding affinities of paritaprevir and glecaprevir towards A156T NS3/4A were significantly reduced by ∼4 kcal/mol with respect to their WT complexes, which were in line with the experimental resistance folds. Moreover, the relatively weak intermolecular interactions with amino acids such as H57, R155, and T156 of NS3 protein, the steric effect and the destabilized protein binding surface, which is caused by the loss of salt bridge between R123 and D168, are the main contributions for the higher fold-loss in potency of glecaprevir due to A156T mutation. An insight into the difference of molecular mechanism of drug resistance against the A156T substitution among the two classes of serine protease inhibitors could be useful for further optimization of new generation HCV NS3/4A inhibitors with enhanced inhibitory potency.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thitiya Boonma
- Supramolecular Chemistry Research Unit and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand.,Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH‒CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand
| | - Bodee Nutho
- Center of Excellence in Computational Chemistry (CECC), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nitchakan Darai
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Structural and Computational Biology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nadtanet Nunthaboot
- Supramolecular Chemistry Research Unit and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand.,Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH‒CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand
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Capasso C, Nocentini A, Supuran CT. Protease inhibitors targeting the main protease and papain-like protease of coronaviruses. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2020; 31:309-324. [PMID: 33246378 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1857726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The two cysteine proteases from the coronaviruses, which produced deadly outbreaks in the last two decades, SARS CoV-1/2, and MERS, the main protease (Mpro) and the papain-like protease (PLP) are conserved among the three pathogens and started to be considered as exciting drug targets for developing antivirals. AREAS COVERED We review the drug design landscape in the scientific and patent literature to design peptidomimetic and non-peptidomimetic protease inhibitors (PIs) targeting these proteins. EXPERT OPINION The X-ray crystal structures of some of these proteases, alone and in complex with various inhibitors, were crucial for the discovery of effective such compounds, some of which also showed considerable antiviral activity and are considered preclinical candidates to fight these emerging infections, which in the case of Covid-19 already provoked an unprecedented worldwide pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemente Capasso
- Department of Biology, Agriculture and Food Sciences, CNR, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessio Nocentini
- Dipartimento Neurofarba, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche e Nutraceutiche, Università Degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- Dipartimento Neurofarba, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche e Nutraceutiche, Università Degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
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Sahebnasagh A, Avan R, Saghafi F, Mojtahedzadeh M, Sadremomtaz A, Arasteh O, Tanzifi A, Faramarzi F, Negarandeh R, Safdari M, Khataminia M, Rezai Ghaleno H, Habtemariam S, Khoshi A. Pharmacological treatments of COVID-19. Pharmacol Rep 2020; 72:1446-1478. [PMID: 32816200 PMCID: PMC7439639 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-020-00152-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The viral infection due to the new coronavirus or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was reported for the first time in December 2019, was named by the World Health Organization (WHO) as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2), because of the very similar genome and also its related symptoms to SARS-CoV1. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with significant mortality, morbidity, and socioeconomic impact is considered by the WHO as a global public health emergency. Since there is no specific treatment available for SARS-CoV2 infection, and or COVID-19, several clinical and sub-clinical studies are currently undertaken to find a gold-standard therapeutic regimen with high efficacy and low side effect. Based on the published scientific evidence published to date, we summarized herein the effects of different potential therapies and up-to-date clinical trials. The review is intended to help readers aware of potentially effective COVID-19 treatment and provide useful references for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeleh Sahebnasagh
- Clinical Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Razieh Avan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Faculty of Pharmacy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Saghafi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mojataba Mojtahedzadeh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Sadremomtaz
- XB20 Drug Design, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Omid Arasteh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Asal Tanzifi
- Sepanta Faragene Azma Research Laboratory. Co. LTD., Gorgan, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Faramarzi
- Clinical Pharmacy Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Negarandeh
- Student Research Committee, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Safdari
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Masoud Khataminia
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Rezai Ghaleno
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Solomon Habtemariam
- Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories and Herbal Analysis Services, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham-Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB UK
| | - Amirhosein Khoshi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Arkan roadway, Bojnurd, Iran
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Popielec A, Ostrowska N, Wojciechowska M, Feig M, Trylska J. Crowded environment affects the activity and inhibition of the NS3/4A protease. Biochimie 2020; 176:169-180. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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On the cutting edge: protease-based methods for sensing and controlling cell biology. Nat Methods 2020; 17:885-896. [PMID: 32661424 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-020-0891-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Sequence-specific proteases have proven to be versatile building blocks for tools that report or control cellular function. Reporting methods link protease activity to biochemical signals, whereas control methods rely on engineering proteases to respond to exogenous inputs such as light or chemicals. In turn, proteases have inherent control abilities, as their native functions are to release, activate or destroy proteins by cleavage, with the irreversibility of proteolysis allowing sustained downstream effects. As a result, protease-based synthetic circuits have been created for diverse uses such as reporting cellular signaling, tuning protein expression, controlling viral replication and detecting cancer states. Here, we comprehensively review the development and application of protease-based methods for reporting and controlling cellular function in eukaryotes.
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Kühl N, Graf D, Bock J, Behnam MAM, Leuthold MM, Klein CD. A New Class of Dengue and West Nile Virus Protease Inhibitors with Submicromolar Activity in Reporter Gene DENV-2 Protease and Viral Replication Assays. J Med Chem 2020; 63:8179-8197. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Kühl
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dominik Graf
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Josephine Bock
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mira A. M. Behnam
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mila-Mareen Leuthold
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian D. Klein
- Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology IPMB, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Timm J, Kosovrasti K, Henes M, Leidner F, Hou S, Ali A, Kurt-Yilmaz N, Schiffer CA. Molecular and Structural Mechanism of Pan-Genotypic HCV NS3/4A Protease Inhibition by Glecaprevir. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:342-352. [PMID: 31868341 PMCID: PMC7747061 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus, causative agent of chronic viral hepatitis, infects 71 million people worldwide and is divided into seven genotypes and multiple subtypes with sequence identities between 68 to 82%. While older generation direct-acting antivirals had varying effectiveness against different genotypes, the newest NS3/4A protease inhibitors including glecaprevir (GLE) have pan-genotypic activity. The structural basis for pan-genotypic inhibition and effects of polymorphisms on inhibitor potency were not well-known due to lack of crystal structures of GLE-bound NS3/4A or genotypes other than 1. In this study, we determined the crystal structures of NS3/4A from genotypes 1a, 3a, 4a, and 5a in complex with GLE. Comparison with the highly similar grazoprevir indicated the mechanism of GLE's drastic improvement in potency. We found that, while GLE is highly potent against wild-type NS3/4A of all genotypes, specific resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) confer orders of magnitude loss in inhibition. Our crystal structures reveal molecular mechanisms behind pan-genotypic activity of GLE, including potency loss due to RASs at D168. Our structures permit for the first time analysis of changes due to polymorphisms among genotypes, providing insights into design principles that can aid future drug development and potentially can be extended to other proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Timm
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Klajdi Kosovrasti
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Mina Henes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Florian Leidner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Shurong Hou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Akbar Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nese Kurt-Yilmaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Celia A. Schiffer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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Ancuceanu R, Tamba B, Stoicescu CS, Dinu M. Use of QSAR Global Models and Molecular Docking for Developing New Inhibitors of c-src Tyrosine Kinase. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010019. [PMID: 31861445 PMCID: PMC6981969 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A prototype of a family of at least nine members, cellular Src tyrosine kinase is a therapeutically interesting target because its inhibition might be of interest not only in a number of malignancies, but also in a diverse array of conditions, from neurodegenerative pathologies to certain viral infections. Computational methods in drug discovery are considerably cheaper than conventional methods and offer opportunities of screening very large numbers of compounds in conditions that would be simply impossible within the wet lab experimental settings. We explored the use of global quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models and molecular ligand docking in the discovery of new c-src tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Using a dataset of 1038 compounds from ChEMBL database, we developed over 350 QSAR classification models. A total of 49 models with reasonably good performance were selected and the models were assembled by stacking with a simple majority vote and used for the virtual screening of over 100,000 compounds. A total of 744 compounds were predicted by at least 50% of the QSAR models as active, 147 compounds were within the applicability domain and predicted by at least 75% of the models to be active. The latter 147 compounds were submitted to molecular ligand docking using AutoDock Vina and LeDock, and 89 were predicted to be active based on the energy of binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ancuceanu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (R.A.); (M.D.)
| | - Bogdan Tamba
- Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), Grigore T. Popa, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Cristina Silvia Stoicescu
- Department of Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu”, 060021 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Mihaela Dinu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (R.A.); (M.D.)
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Boonma T, Nutho B, Rungrotmongkol T, Nunthaboot N. Understanding of the drug resistance mechanism of hepatitis C virus NS3/4A to paritaprevir due to D168N/Y mutations: A molecular dynamics simulation perspective. Comput Biol Chem 2019; 83:107154. [PMID: 31751885 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2019.107154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A protease is an attractive target for the development of antiviral therapy. However, the evolution of antiviral drug resistance is a major problem for treatment of HCV infected patients. Understanding of drug-resistance mechanisms at molecular level is therefore very important for the guidance of further design of antiviral drugs with high efficiency and specificity. Paritaprevir is a potent inhibitor against HCV NS3/4A protease genotype 1a. Unfortunately, this compound is highly susceptible to the substitution at D168 in the protease. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations of paritaprevir complexed with wild-type (WT) and two mutated strains (D168 N and D168Y) were carried out. Due to such mutations, the inhibitor-protein hydrogen bonding between them was weakened and the salt-bridge network among residues R123, R155 and D168 responsible for inhibitor binding was disrupted. Moreover, the per-residue free energy decomposition suggested that the main contributions from key residues such as Q80, V132, K136, G137 and R155 were lost in the D168 N/Y mutations. These lead to a lower binding affinity of paritaprevir for D168 N/Y variants of the HCV NS3/4A protease, consistent with the experimental data. This detailed information could be useful for further design of high potency anti-HCV NS3/4A inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thitiya Boonma
- Supramolecular Chemistry Research Unit and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44150, Thailand; Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH‒CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44150, Thailand
| | - Bodee Nutho
- Center of Excellence in Computational Chemistry (CECC), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Structural and Computational Biology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Ph.D. Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Nadtanet Nunthaboot
- Supramolecular Chemistry Research Unit and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44150, Thailand; Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH‒CIC), Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44150, Thailand.
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Recent Developments in Peptidyl Diaryl Phoshonates as Inhibitors and Activity-Based Probes for Serine Proteases. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2019; 12:ph12020086. [PMID: 31185654 PMCID: PMC6631691 DOI: 10.3390/ph12020086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This review presents current achievements in peptidyl diaryl phosphonates as covalent, specific mechanism-based inhibitors of serine proteases. Along three decades diaryl phosphonates have emerged as invaluable tools in fundamental and applicative studies involving these hydrolases. Such an impact has been promoted by advantageous features that characterize the phosphonate compounds and their use. First, the synthesis is versatile and allows comprehensive structural modification and diversification. Accordingly, reactivity and specificity of these bioactive molecules can be easily controlled by appropriate adjustments of the side chains and the leaving groups. Secondly, the phosphonates target exclusively serine proteases and leave other oxygen and sulfur nucleophiles intact. Synthetic accessibility, lack of toxicity, and promising pharmacokinetic properties make them good drug candidates. In consequence, the utility of peptidyl diaryl phosphonates continuously increases and involves novel enzymatic targets and innovative aspects of application. For example, conjugation of the structures of specific inhibitors with reporter groups has become a convenient approach to construct activity-based molecular probes capable of monitoring location and distribution of serine proteases.
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Antiviral Drug Discovery: Norovirus Proteases and Development of Inhibitors. Viruses 2019; 11:v11020197. [PMID: 30823509 PMCID: PMC6410195 DOI: 10.3390/v11020197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteases are a major enzyme group playing important roles in a wide variety of biological processes in life forms ranging from viruses to mammalians. The aberrant activity of proteases can lead to various diseases; consequently, host proteases have been the focus of intense investigation as potential therapeutic targets. A wide range of viruses encode proteases which play an essential role in viral replication and, therefore, constitute attractive targets for the development of antiviral therapeutics. There are numerous examples of successful drug development targeting cellular and viral proteases, including antivirals against human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus. Most FDA-approved antiviral agents are peptidomimetics and macrocyclic compounds that interact with the active site of a targeted protease. Norovirus proteases are cysteine proteases that contain a chymotrypsin-like fold in their 3D structures. This review focuses on our group’s efforts related to the development of norovirus protease inhibitors as potential anti-norovirus therapeutics. These protease inhibitors are rationally designed transition-state inhibitors encompassing dipeptidyl, tripeptidyl and macrocyclic compounds. Highly effective inhibitors validated in X-ray co-crystallization, enzyme and cell-based assays, as well as an animal model, were generated by launching an optimization campaign utilizing the initial hit compounds. A prodrug approach was also explored to improve the pharmacokinetics (PK) of the identified inhibitors.
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Cunningham-Bryant D, Dieter EM, Foight GW, Rose JC, Loutey DE, Maly DJ. A Chemically Disrupted Proximity System for Controlling Dynamic Cellular Processes. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:3352-3355. [PMID: 30735038 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Chemical methods that allow the spatial proximity of proteins to be temporally modulated are powerful tools for studying biology and engineering synthetic cellular behaviors. Here, we describe a new chemically controlled method for rapidly disrupting the interaction between two basally colocalized protein binding partners. Our chemically disrupted proximity (CDP) system is based on the interaction between the hepatitis C virus protease (HCVp) NS3a and a genetically encoded peptide inhibitor. Using clinically approved antiviral inhibitors as chemical disrupters of the NS3a/peptide interaction, we demonstrate that our CDP system can be used to confer temporal control over diverse intracellular processes. This NS3a-based CDP system represents a new modality for engineering chemical control over intracellular protein function that is complementary to currently available techniques.
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