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Ivachtchenko AV, Khvat AV, Shkil DO. Development and Prospects of Furin Inhibitors for Therapeutic Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9199. [PMID: 39273149 PMCID: PMC11394684 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Furin, a serine protease enzyme located in the Golgi apparatus of animal cells, plays a crucial role in cleaving precursor proteins into their mature, active forms. It is ubiquitously expressed across various tissues, including the brain, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, and reproductive organs. Since its discovery in 1990, furin has been recognized as a significant therapeutic target, leading to the active development of furin inhibitors for potential use in antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, and other therapeutic applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the progress in the development and characterization of furin inhibitors, encompassing peptides, linear and macrocyclic peptidomimetics, and non-peptide compounds, highlighting their potential in the treatment of both infectious and non-infectious diseases.
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Carranza-Aranda AS, Diaz-Palomera CD, Lepe-Reynoso E, Santerre A, Muñoz-Valle JF, Viera-Segura O. Evaluation of Potential Furin Protease Inhibitory Properties of Pioglitazone, Rosiglitazone, and Pirfenidone: An In Silico Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approach. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:8665-8684. [PMID: 39194728 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46080511] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Furin (Fur) is a member of the protease convertase family; its expression is crucial for cleaving and maturing many proteins. Fur also represents a therapeutic target in cancer, autoimmune diseases, and viral infections. Pioglitazone (PGZ) and rosiglitazone (RGZ) are thiazolidinediones prescribed to type 2 diabetes patients and are structurally similar to the known Fur inhibitors naphthofluorescein (NPF) and pirfenidone (PFD). Thus, this study used molecular docking and molecular dynamics to assess and compare the affinities and the molecular interactions of these four ligands with the Fur active site (FurAct) and the recently described Fur allosteric site (FurAll). The 7QXZ Fur structure was used for molecular dockings, and for the best pose complexes, molecular dynamics were run for 100 ns. The best affinities of the ligand/FurAct and ligand/FurAll complexes were with NPF, PGZ, and RGZ, while PFD presented the lowest affinity. Asp154 was the central residue involved in FurAct complex formation, while Glu488 and Asn310 were the central residues involved in FurAll complex formation. This study shows the potential of RGZ, PGZ, and PFD as Fur competitive (FurAct) and non-competitive (FurAll) inhibitors. Therefore, they are candidates for repurposing in response to future emerging diseases through the modulation of Fur activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahtziri Socorro Carranza-Aranda
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Carlos Daniel Diaz-Palomera
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Lepe-Reynoso
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Anne Santerre
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45221, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - José Francisco Muñoz-Valle
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Oliver Viera-Segura
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
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Ertan-Bolelli T, Bolelli K, Elçi SD, Belen-Apak FB. Promising Drug Fondaparinux for the Treatment of COVID-19: an In Silico Analysis of Low Molecular Weight Heparin, Direct Oral Anticoagulant, and Antiplatelet Drug Interactions with Host Protease Furin. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2024; 38:425-432. [PMID: 36401727 PMCID: PMC9676724 DOI: 10.1007/s10557-022-07406-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE As of July 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected over 555 million worldwide confirmed cases and caused more than 6.3 million deaths. The studies showed that the D-dimer levels were increased in non-survivors compared to survivors and heparin treatment has begun to be administered to the patients in severe clinics. As we knew that the entrance of SARS-CoV-2 to the host cell needs to be facilitated by host proteases; we published our hypothesis that heparin as a serine protease inhibitor may block the interaction between spike protein receptor-binding domain and host proteases. In our study, we aimed to investigate the interactions between not only heparins but also other antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs including fondaparinux. METHODS In this study, docking studies were carried out to evaluate the interactions between low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) (enoxaparin, dalteparin, tinzaparin), direct oral anticoagulant, and antiplatelet drugs with host proteases. Molecular docking studies were performed by using Schrödinger molecular modeling software. 3D structures of the ligands were obtained from the 2D structures by assigning the OPLS-2005 force field using the Maestro 12.7. The 3D crystal structure of the furin complexed with an inhibitor, 2,5-dideoksistreptamin derivative, was extracted from the Protein Data Bank (PDB ID: 5MIM). Docking studies were carried out using the Grid-based Ligand Docking with Energetics module of the Schrödinger Software. RESULTS The docking studies revealed that fondaparinux was the most relevant molecule to interact with furin with a docking score of - 12.74. It showed better interaction than the natural ligand of furin with an increased score compared to the docking score of - 8.155 of the natural ligand. AnaGA*IsA structure representing LMWH structure has shown a docking score of - 11.562 which was also better than the score of the natural ligand of furin. CONCLUSION Our findings have shown that LMWHs and fondaparinux can be used for their possible antiviral effects in COVID-19 patients. Our results have shown that in accordance with heparin and LMWH, fondaparinux can also be a candidate for "drug repurposing" in COVID-19 therapy, not only because of their anticoagulant but also possible antiviral effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tugba Ertan-Bolelli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, 06560 Ankara, Turkey
- Bolelli Lab LLC, Stone Mountain, GA 30083 USA
| | - Kayhan Bolelli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, 06560 Ankara, Turkey
- Bolelli Lab LLC, Stone Mountain, GA 30083 USA
- LumiLabs, Ulus, Ankara, 06610 Turkey
| | | | - F. Burcu Belen-Apak
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical Faculty, Baskent University, Sehit Temel Kuguluoglu Street No 24, 06490 Bahcelievler/Ankara, Turkey
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4
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Lange RW, Bloch K, Heindl MR, Wollenhaupt J, Weiss MS, Brandstetter H, Klebe G, Falcone FH, Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Dahms SO, Steinmetzer T. Fragment-Based Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Aminoisoindole-Derived Furin Inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2024; 19:e202400057. [PMID: 38385828 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202400057] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
A 1H-isoindol-3-amine was identified as suitable P1 group for the proprotein convertase furin using a crystallographic screening with a set of 20 fragments known to occupy the S1 pocket of trypsin-like serine proteases. Its binding mode is very similar to that observed for the P1 group of benzamidine-derived peptidic furin inhibitors suggesting an aminomethyl substitution of this fragment to obtain a couplable P1 residue for the synthesis of substrate-analogue furin inhibitors. The obtained inhibitors possess a slightly improved picomolar inhibitory potency compared to their benzamidine-derived analogues. The crystal structures of two inhibitors in complex with furin revealed that the new P1 group is perfectly suited for incorporation in peptidic furin inhibitors. Selected inhibitors were tested for antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and a furin-dependent influenza A virus (SC35M/H7N7) in A549 human lung cells and demonstrated an efficient inhibition of virus activation and replication at low micromolar or even submicromolar concentrations. First results suggest that the Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor GPCR-X2 could be a potential off-target for certain benzamidine-derived furin inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman W Lange
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6-10, D-35032, Marburg, Germany Phone
| | - Konstantin Bloch
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, Marburg, Germany
| | - Miriam Ruth Heindl
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jan Wollenhaupt
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manfred S Weiss
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans Brandstetter
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria Phone
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6-10, D-35032, Marburg, Germany Phone
| | - Franco H Falcone
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Sven O Dahms
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6-10, D-35032, Marburg, Germany Phone
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria Phone
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6-10, D-35032, Marburg, Germany Phone
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5
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Dhanalakshmi M, Das K, Pandya M, Shah S, Gadnayak A, Dave S, Das J. Artificial Neural Network-Based Study Predicts GS-441524 as a Potential Inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Activator Protein Furin: a Polypharmacology Approach. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2022; 194:4511-4529. [PMID: 35507249 PMCID: PMC9066385 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-022-03928-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Furin, a pro-protein convertase, plays a significant role as a biological scissor in bacterial, viral, and even mammalian substrates which in turn decides the fate of many viral and bacterial infections along with the numerous ailments caused by cancer, diabetes, inflammations, and neurological disorders. In the wake of the current pandemic caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, furin has become the center of attraction for researchers as the spike protein contains a polybasic furin cleavage site. In the present work, we have searched for novel inhibitors against this interesting human target from FDA-approved antiviral. To enhance the selection of new inhibitors, we employed Kohonen's artificial neural network-based self-organizing maps for ligand-based virtual screening. Promising results were obtained which can help in drug repurposing and network pharmacology studies can address the errors generated due to promiscuity/polypharmacology. We found 15 existing FDA antiviral drugs having the potential to inhibit furin. Among these, six compounds have targets on important human proteins (LDLR, FCGR1A, PCK1, TLR7, DNA, and PNP). The role of these 15 drugs inhibiting furin can be established by studying further on patients infected with number of viruses including SARS-CoV-2. Here we propose two promising candidate FDA drugs GS-441524 and Grazoprevir (MK-5172) for repurposing as inhibitors of furin. The best results were observed with GS-441524.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Dhanalakshmi
- Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University, Marudhamalai Rd, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kajari Das
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Basic Science and Humanities, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Medha Pandya
- The KPES Science College, Maharaja krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Sejal Shah
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
| | - Ayushman Gadnayak
- Centre for Genomics & Biomedical Informatics, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha "O" Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Sushma Dave
- Department of Applied Sciences, JIET, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
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Dahms SO, Schnapp G, Winter M, Büttner FH, Schlepütz M, Gnamm C, Pautsch A, Brandstetter H. Dichlorophenylpyridine-Based Molecules Inhibit Furin through an Induced-Fit Mechanism. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:816-821. [PMID: 35377598 PMCID: PMC9016704 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Inhibitors of the
proprotein convertase furin might serve as broad-spectrum
antiviral therapeutics. High cellular potency and antiviral activity
against acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have
been reported for (3,5-dichlorophenyl)pyridine-derived furin inhibitors.
Here we characterized the binding mechanism of this inhibitor class
using structural, biophysical, and biochemical methods. We established
a MALDI-TOF-MS-based furin activity assay, determined IC50 values, and solved X-ray structures of (3,5-dichlorophenyl)pyridine-derived
compounds in complex with furin. The inhibitors induced a substantial
conformational rearrangement of the active-site cleft by exposing
a central buried tryptophan residue. These changes formed an extended
hydrophobic surface patch where the 3,5-dichlorophenyl moiety of the
inhibitors was inserted into a newly formed binding pocket. Consistent
with these structural rearrangements, we observed slow off-rate binding
kinetics and strong structural stabilization in surface plasmon resonance
and differential scanning fluorimetry experiments, respectively. The
discovered furin conformation offers new opportunities for structure-based
drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven O. Dahms
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Straße 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Gisela Schnapp
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH& Co KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Martin Winter
- Department of Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH& Co KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Frank H. Büttner
- Department of Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH& Co KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Marco Schlepütz
- Department of I&R Research, R&D Project Management and Development Strategies, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH& Co KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Christian Gnamm
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH& Co KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Alexander Pautsch
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH& Co KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Hans Brandstetter
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Straße 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
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7
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Abstract
Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 sequence revealed a multibasic furin cleavage site at the S1/S2 boundary of the spike protein distinguishing this virus from SARS-CoV. Furin, the best-characterized member of the mammalian proprotein convertases, is an ubiquitously expressed single pass type 1 transmembrane protein. Cleavage of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by furin promotes viral entry into lung cells. While furin knockout is embryonically lethal, its knockout in differentiated somatic cells is not, thus furin provides an exciting therapeutic target for viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 and bacterial infections. Several peptide-based and small-molecule inhibitors of furin have been recently reported, and select cocrystal structures have been solved, paving the way for further optimization and selection of clinical candidates. This perspective highlights furin structure, substrates, recent inhibitors, and crystal structures with emphasis on furin's role in SARS-CoV-2 infection, where the current data strongly suggest its inhibition as a promising therapeutic intervention for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essam
Eldin A. Osman
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Alnawaz Rehemtulla
- Department
of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Nouri Neamati
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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8
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Devi KP, Pourkarim MR, Thijssen M, Sureda A, Khayatkashani M, Cismaru CA, Neagoe IB, Habtemariam S, Razmjouei S, Khayat Kashani HR. A perspective on the applications of furin inhibitors for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Pharmacol Rep 2022; 74:425-430. [PMID: 35031970 PMCID: PMC8760129 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-021-00344-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the world is facing a pandemic of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. Identifying key targets in the viral infection lifecycle is urgently needed for designing therapeutic strategies to combat the virus. Furin is a subtilisin-like proprotein convertase with diverse cellular functions. Emerging evidence suggests that furin plays a critical role in the activation and/or infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. In this perspective, we discuss the potential role of furin in the entry SARS-CoV-2 into host cells. Furthermore, we evaluate available peptide and non-peptide furin inhibitors and potential outcomes, including immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasi Pandima Devi
- Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University (Science Campus), Karaikudi, 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Mahmoud Reza Pourkarim
- Division of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Marijn Thijssen
- Division of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Antoni Sureda
- Research Group in Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, University of the Balearic Islands-IUNICS, Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Cosmin Andrei Cismaru
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Functional Sciences, Immunology and Allergology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioana Berindan Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- The Center for Advanced Medicine, Medfuture-"Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- The Department for Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta", Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Solomon Habtemariam
- Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories and Herbal Analysis Services UK, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham-Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Soha Razmjouei
- Department of Internal Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Semnan, Iran
| | - Hamid Reza Khayat Kashani
- Department of Neurosurgery, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 1617763141, Tehran, Iran.
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9
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Dahms SO, Haider T, Klebe G, Steinmetzer T, Brandstetter H. OFF-State-Specific Inhibition of the Proprotein Convertase Furin. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:1692-1700. [PMID: 34415722 PMCID: PMC8453481 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
![]()
The pro-protein convertase
furin is a highly specific serine protease
involved in the proteolytic maturation of many proteins in the secretory
pathway. It also activates surface proteins of many viruses including
the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Furin inhibitors effectively suppress viral replication and thus are
promising antiviral therapeutics with broad application potential.
Polybasic substrate-like ligands typically trigger conformational
changes shifting furin’s active site cleft from the OFF-state
to the ON-state. Here, we solved the X-ray structures of furin in
complex with four different arginine mimetic compounds with reduced
basicity. These guanylhydrazone-based inhibitor complexes showed for
the first time an active site-directed binding mode to furin’s
OFF-state conformation. The compounds undergo unique interactions
within the S1 pocket, largely different compared to substrate-like
ligands. A second binding site was identified at the S4/S5 pocket
of furin. Crystallography-based titration experiments confirmed the
S1 site as the primary binding pocket. We also tested the proprotein
convertases PC5/6 and PC7 for inhibition by guanylhydrazones and found
an up to 7-fold lower potency for PC7. Interestingly, the observed
differences in the Ki values correlated
with the sequence conservation of the PCs at the allosteric sodium
binding site. Therefore, OFF-state-specific targeting of furin can
serve as a valuable strategy for structure-based development of PC-selective
small-molecule inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven O. Dahms
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Tanja Haider
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Hans Brandstetter
- Department of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
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10
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Khodajou-Masouleh H, Shahangian SS, Rasti B. Reinforcing our defense or weakening the enemy? A comparative overview of defensive and offensive strategies developed to confront COVID-19. Drug Metab Rev 2021; 53:508-541. [PMID: 33980089 DOI: 10.1080/03602532.2021.1928686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Developing effective strategies to confront coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become one of the greatest concerns of the scientific community. In addition to the vast number of global mortalities due to COVID-19, since its outbreak, almost every aspect of human lives has changed one way or another. In the present review, various defensive and offensive strategies developed to confront COVID-19 are illustrated. The Administration of immune-boosting micronutrients/agents, as well as the inhibition of the activity of incompetent gatekeepers, including some host cell receptors (e.g. ACE2) and proteases (e.g. TMPRSS2), are some efficient defensive strategies. Antibody/phage therapies and specifically vaccines also play a prominent role in the enhancement of host defense against COVID-19. Nanotechnology, however, can considerably weaken the virulence of SARS-CoV-2, utilizing fake cellular locks (compounds mimicking cell receptors) to block the viral keys (spike proteins). Generally, two strategies are developed to interfere with the binding of spike proteins to the host cell receptors, either utilizing fake cellular locks to block the viral keys or utilizing fake viral keys to block the cellular locks. Due to their evolutionary conserved nature, viral enzymes, including 3CLpro, PLpro, RdRp, and helicase are highly potential targets for drug repurposing strategy. Thus, various steps of viral replication/transcription can effectively be blocked by their inhibition, leading to the elimination of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, RNA decoy and CRISPR technologies likely offer the best offensive strategies after viral entry into the host cells, inhibiting the viral replication/assembly in the infected cells and substantially reducing the quantity of viral progeny.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S Shirin Shahangian
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Behnam Rasti
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Lahijan, Guilan, Iran
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11
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Hasan A, Paray BA, Hussain A, Qadir FA, Attar F, Aziz FM, Sharifi M, Derakhshankhah H, Rasti B, Mehrabi M, Shahpasand K, Saboury AA, Falahati M. A review on the cleavage priming of the spike protein on coronavirus by angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 and furin. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 39:3025-3033. [PMID: 32274964 PMCID: PMC7189411 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1754293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The widespread antigenic changes lead to the emergence of a new type of coronavirus (CoV) called as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 that is immunologically different from the previous circulating species. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) is one of the most important receptors on the cell membrane of the host cells (HCs) which its interaction with spike protein (SP) with a furin-cleavage site results in the SARS-CoV-2 invasion. Hence, in this review, we presented an overview on the interaction of ACE-2 and furin with SP. As several kinds of CoVs, from various genera, have at their S1/S2 binding site a preserved site, we further surveyed the role of furin cleavage site (FCS) on the life cycle of the CoV. Furthermore, we discussed that the small molecular inhibitors can limit the interaction of ACE-2 and furin with SP and can be used as potential therapeutic platforms to combat the spreading CoV epidemic. Finally, some ongoing challenges and future prospects for the development of potential drugs to promote targeting specific activities of the CoV were reviewed. In conclusion, this review may pave the way for providing useful information about different compounds involved in improving the effectiveness of CoV vaccine or drugs with minimum toxicity against human health.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwarul Hasan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Bilal Ahamad Paray
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arif Hussain
- School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Fikry Ali Qadir
- Department of Biology, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Farnoosh Attar
- Faculty of Food Industry and Agriculture, Department of Biology, Standard Research Institute (SRI), Karaj, Iran
| | | | - Majid Sharifi
- Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran;
| | - Hossein Derakhshankhah
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Behnam Rasti
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Lahijan, Guilan, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Mehrabi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Lahijan, Guilan, Iran
| | - Koorosh Shahpasand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology (RI-SCBT), Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Saboury
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Falahati
- Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran;
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12
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Ginex T, Garaigorta U, Ramírez D, Castro V, Nozal V, Maestro I, García-Cárceles J, Campillo NE, Martinez A, Gastaminza P, Gil C. Host-Directed FDA-Approved Drugs with Antiviral Activity against SARS-CoV-2 Identified by Hierarchical In Silico/In Vitro Screening Methods. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14040332. [PMID: 33917313 PMCID: PMC8067418 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The unprecedent situation generated by the COVID-19 global emergency has prompted us to actively work to fight against this pandemic by searching for repurposable agents among FDA approved drugs to shed light into immediate opportunities for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. In the attempt to proceed toward a proper rationalization of the search for new antivirals among approved drugs, we carried out a hierarchical in silico/in vitro protocol which successfully combines virtual and biological screening to speed up the identification of host-directed therapies against COVID-19 in an effective way. To this end a multi-target virtual screening approach focused on host-based targets related to viral entry, followed by the experimental evaluation of the antiviral activity of selected compounds, has been carried out. As a result, five different potentially repurposable drugs interfering with viral entry—cepharantine, clofazimine, metergoline, imatinib and efloxate—have been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Ginex
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.G.); (V.N.); (I.M.); (J.G.-C.); (N.E.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Urtzi Garaigorta
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSIC, Calle Darwin 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (U.G.); (V.C.)
| | - David Ramírez
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Llano Subercaseaux 2801—piso 6, Santiago 7500912, Chile;
| | - Victoria Castro
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSIC, Calle Darwin 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (U.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Vanesa Nozal
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.G.); (V.N.); (I.M.); (J.G.-C.); (N.E.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Inés Maestro
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.G.); (V.N.); (I.M.); (J.G.-C.); (N.E.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Javier García-Cárceles
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.G.); (V.N.); (I.M.); (J.G.-C.); (N.E.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Nuria E. Campillo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.G.); (V.N.); (I.M.); (J.G.-C.); (N.E.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Ana Martinez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.G.); (V.N.); (I.M.); (J.G.-C.); (N.E.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Pablo Gastaminza
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSIC, Calle Darwin 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (U.G.); (V.C.)
- Correspondence: (P.G.); (C.G.)
| | - Carmen Gil
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (T.G.); (V.N.); (I.M.); (J.G.-C.); (N.E.C.); (A.M.)
- Correspondence: (P.G.); (C.G.)
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13
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Waman VP, Sen N, Varadi M, Daina A, Wodak SJ, Zoete V, Velankar S, Orengo C. The impact of structural bioinformatics tools and resources on SARS-CoV-2 research and therapeutic strategies. Brief Bioinform 2021; 22:742-768. [PMID: 33348379 PMCID: PMC7799268 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbaa362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of COVID-19, the ongoing global pandemic. It has posed a worldwide challenge to human health as no effective treatment is currently available to combat the disease. Its severity has led to unprecedented collaborative initiatives for therapeutic solutions against COVID-19. Studies resorting to structure-based drug design for COVID-19 are plethoric and show good promise. Structural biology provides key insights into 3D structures, critical residues/mutations in SARS-CoV-2 proteins, implicated in infectivity, molecular recognition and susceptibility to a broad range of host species. The detailed understanding of viral proteins and their complexes with host receptors and candidate epitope/lead compounds is the key to developing a structure-guided therapeutic design. Since the discovery of SARS-CoV-2, several structures of its proteins have been determined experimentally at an unprecedented speed and deposited in the Protein Data Bank. Further, specialized structural bioinformatics tools and resources have been developed for theoretical models, data on protein dynamics from computer simulations, impact of variants/mutations and molecular therapeutics. Here, we provide an overview of ongoing efforts on developing structural bioinformatics tools and resources for COVID-19 research. We also discuss the impact of these resources and structure-based studies, to understand various aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and therapeutic development. These include (i) understanding differences between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, leading to increased infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, (ii) deciphering key residues in the SARS-CoV-2 involved in receptor-antibody recognition, (iii) analysis of variants in host proteins that affect host susceptibility to infection and (iv) analyses facilitating structure-based drug and vaccine design against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Antoine Daina
- Molecular Modeling Group at SIB, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
| | | | - Vincent Zoete
- Department of Fundamental Oncology at the University of Lausanne and Group leader at SIB
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14
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Lewandowska-Goch MA, Kwiatkowska A, Łepek T, Ly K, Navals P, Gagnon H, Dory YL, Prahl A, Day R. Design and Structure-Activity Relationship of a Potent Furin Inhibitor Derived from Influenza Hemagglutinin. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:365-372. [PMID: 33738063 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Furin plays an important role in various pathological states, especially in bacterial and viral infections. A detailed understanding of the structural requirements for inhibitors targeting this enzyme is crucial to develop new therapeutic strategies in infectious diseases, including an urgent unmet need for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previously, we have identified a potent furin inhibitor, peptide Ac-RARRRKKRT-NH 2 (CF1), based on the highly pathogenic avian influenza hemagglutinin. The goal of this study was to determine how its N-terminal part (the P8-P5 positions) affects its activity profile. To do so, the positional-scanning libraries of individual peptides modified at the selected positions with natural amino acids were generated. Subsequently, the best substitutions were combined together and/or replaced by unnatural residues to expand our investigations. The results reveal that the affinity of CF1 can be improved (2-2.5-fold) by substituting its P5 position with the small hydrophobic residues (Ile or Val) or a basic Lys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika A. Lewandowska-Goch
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Kwiatkowska
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Teresa Łepek
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Kévin Ly
- PhenoSwitch Bioscience Inc., 975 rue Léon-Trépanier, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1G 5J6, Canada
| | - Pauline Navals
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Hugo Gagnon
- PhenoSwitch Bioscience Inc., 975 rue Léon-Trépanier, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1G 5J6, Canada
| | - Yves L. Dory
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
| | - Adam Prahl
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Robert Day
- Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
- Département de Chirurgie/Urologie, Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
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15
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Milanović ŽB, Antonijević MR, Amić AD, Avdović EH, Dimić DS, Milenković DA, Marković ZS. Inhibitory activity of quercetin, its metabolite, and standard antiviral drugs towards enzymes essential for SARS-CoV-2: the role of acid-base equilibria. RSC Adv 2021; 11:2838-2847. [PMID: 35424215 PMCID: PMC8693803 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra09632f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The recently declared global pandemic of a new human coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which causes respiratory tract disease COVID-19, has reached worldwide resonance and global efforts are being made to look for possible cures. Sophisticated molecular docking software, as well as available protein sequence and structure information, offer the ability to test the inhibition of two important targets of SARS-CoV-2, furin (FUR) enzyme, and spike glycoprotein, or spike protein (SP), that are key to host cell adhesion and hijacking. The potential inhibitory effect and mechanism of action of acid-base forms of different antiviral drugs, dominant at physiological pH, chloroquine (CQ), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and cinanserin (CIN), which have been shown to be effective in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 virus, is reported with the special emphasis on their relative abundances. On the other hand, the potential inhibitory effect of the dominant acid-base forms of quercetin (Q) and its oxidative metabolite 2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2,4,6-trihydroxy-3(2H) benzofuranone (BZF), which are constituents of traditional food products believed to exhibit antiviral effects, was also examined. The undertaken study includes the determination of the major energy contributions to the binding energy as well as in-depth analysis of amino acid residues at the active pocket and possible interactions. The approach that we propose here may be an additional strategy for combating the deadly virus by preventing the first step of the virus replication cycle. Preliminary research has shown that the investigated compounds exert an inhibitory effect against the SARS-CoV-2 furin enzyme and spiked glycoprotein through different acid-base forms. These investigations may be helpful in creating potential therapeutic agents in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. On the other hand, the results we predicted in this computational study may be the basis for new experimental in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Žiko B Milanović
- University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry 12 Radoja Domanovića 34000 Kragujevac Serbia
| | - Marko R Antonijević
- University of Kragujevac, Institute for Information Technologies, Department of Science Jovana Civijića bb 34000 Kragujevac Serbia
| | - Ana D Amić
- Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Chemistry Ulica cara Hadrijana 8/A Osijek Croatia
| | - Edina H Avdović
- University of Kragujevac, Institute for Information Technologies, Department of Science Jovana Civijića bb 34000 Kragujevac Serbia
| | - Dušan S Dimić
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Physical Chemistry Studentski trg 12-16 11000 Belgrade Serbia
| | - Dejan A Milenković
- University of Kragujevac, Institute for Information Technologies, Department of Science Jovana Civijića bb 34000 Kragujevac Serbia
| | - Zoran S Marković
- University of Kragujevac, Institute for Information Technologies, Department of Science Jovana Civijića bb 34000 Kragujevac Serbia
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16
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Mariano G, Farthing RJ, Lale-Farjat SLM, Bergeron JRC. Structural Characterization of SARS-CoV-2: Where We Are, and Where We Need to Be. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:605236. [PMID: 33392262 PMCID: PMC7773825 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.605236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly spread in humans in almost every country, causing the disease COVID-19. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, research efforts have been strongly directed towards obtaining a full understanding of the biology of the viral infection, in order to develop a vaccine and therapeutic approaches. In particular, structural studies have allowed to comprehend the molecular basis underlying the role of many of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins, and to make rapid progress towards treatment and preventive therapeutics. Despite the great advances that have been provided by these studies, many knowledge gaps on the biology and molecular basis of SARS-CoV-2 infection still remain. Filling these gaps will be the key to tackle this pandemic, through development of effective treatments and specific vaccination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Mariano
- Microbes in Health and Disease Theme, Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca J. Farthing
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Julien R. C. Bergeron
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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17
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Gioia M, Ciaccio C, Calligari P, De Simone G, Sbardella D, Tundo G, Fasciglione GF, Di Masi A, Di Pierro D, Bocedi A, Ascenzi P, Coletta M. Role of proteolytic enzymes in the COVID-19 infection and promising therapeutic approaches. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 182:114225. [PMID: 32956643 PMCID: PMC7501082 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In the Fall of 2019 a sudden and dramatic outbreak of a pulmonary disease (Coronavirus Disease COVID-19), due to a new Coronavirus strain (i.e., SARS-CoV-2), emerged in the continental Chinese area of Wuhan and quickly diffused throughout the world, causing up to now several hundreds of thousand deaths. As for common viral infections, the crucial event for the viral life cycle is the entry of genetic material inside the host cell, realized by the spike protein of the virus through its binding to host receptors and its activation by host proteases; this is followed by translation of the viral RNA into a polyprotein, exploiting the host cell machinery. The production of individual mature viral proteins is pivotal for replication and release of new virions. Several proteolytic enzymes either of the host and of the virus act in a concerted fashion to regulate and coordinate specific steps of the viral replication and assembly, such as (i) the entry of the virus, (ii) the maturation of the polyprotein and (iii) the assembly of the secreted virions for further diffusion. Therefore, proteases involved in these three steps are important targets, envisaging that molecules which interfere with their activity are promising therapeutic compounds. In this review, we will survey what is known up to now on the role of specific proteolytic enzymes in these three steps and of most promising compounds designed to impair this vicious cycle.
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Key Words
- covid-19, coronavirus disease – 19
- sars-cov, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- sars-cov-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome – 2
- mers-cov, middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- orf, open reading frame
- plpro, papain-like protease
- mpro, main protease
- pp, polyprotein
- nsp, non structural protein
- rdrp, rna dependent rna polymerase
- hel, helicase
- s protein, spike protein
- tmprss2, trans-membrane protease serine protease-2
- tmprss4, trans-membrane protease serine protease-4
- hat, human airway trypsin-like protease
- tgn, trans-golgi network
- ace2, angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor-2
- rbd, receptor binding domain
- pc, pro-protein convertase
- hcov-oc43, human coronavirus-oc43
- mhv-a59, murine hepatitis virus – a59
- hiv, human immunodeficiency virus
- cmk, chloro-methyl-ketone
- dec, decanoyl
- phac, phenyl-acetyl
- ttsp, type ii transmembrane serine proteases family
- hpv, human papillomavirus
- hbv, hepatitis b virus
- evd, ebola virus disease
- zikv, zika virus
- jev, japanese encephalitis virus
- fpv, feline panleukopenia virus
- hpaiv, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
- cdv, canine distemper virus
- rsv, respiratory syncytial virus (rsv)
- a1at, alpha-1-anti trypsin
- aebsf, 4-(2-aminomethyl)-benzene sulphonyl fluoride
- bhh, bromhexine hydrochloride
- pcsk, pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin
- ampk, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase
- hcov-nl63, human coronavirus – nl63
- hcov-229e, human coronavirus – 229e
- hcov-hku1, human coronavirus – hku1
- 3cpro, 3chymotrypsin protease of rhinoviruses
- 3d-qsar, three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships
- fda, food and drug agency
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Gioia
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
| | - Chiara Ciaccio
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
| | - Paolo Calligari
- Department of Chemical and Technological Sciences, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Donato Di Pierro
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | - Alessio Bocedi
- Department of Chemical and Technological Sciences, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | - Paolo Ascenzi
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Roma, Italy,Interdepartmental Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Roma Tre University, Roma, Italy
| | - Massimo Coletta
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
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18
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Wu C, Zheng M, Yang Y, Gu X, Yang K, Li M, Liu Y, Zhang Q, Zhang P, Wang Y, Wang Q, Xu Y, Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Chen L, Li H. Furin: A Potential Therapeutic Target for COVID-19. iScience 2020; 23:101642. [PMID: 33043282 PMCID: PMC7534598 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 broke out in the end of December 2019 and is still spreading rapidly, which has been listed as an international concerning public health emergency. We found that the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 contains a furin cleavage site, which did not exist in any other betacoronavirus subtype B. Based on a series of analysis, we speculate that the presence of a redundant furin cut site in its Spike protein is responsible for SARS-CoV-2's stronger infectious nature than other coronaviruses, which leads to higher membrane fusion efficiency. Subsequently, a library of 4,000 compounds including approved drugs and natural products was screened against furin through structure-based virtual screening and then assayed for their inhibitory effects on furin activity. Among them, an anti-parasitic drug, diminazene, showed the highest inhibition effects on furin with an IC50 of 5.42 ± 0.11 μM, which might be used for the treatment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canrong Wu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji-Rongcheng Center for Biomedicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mengzhu Zheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji-Rongcheng Center for Biomedicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yueying Yang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xiaoxia Gu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji-Rongcheng Center for Biomedicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Kaiyin Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji-Rongcheng Center for Biomedicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mingxue Li
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Qingzhe Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji-Rongcheng Center for Biomedicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Qiqi Wang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yirong Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji-Rongcheng Center for Biomedicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yonghui Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji-Rongcheng Center for Biomedicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Lixia Chen
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Hua Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji-Rongcheng Center for Biomedicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
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19
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Haque SKM, Ashwaq O, Sarief A, Azad John Mohamed AK. A comprehensive review about SARS-CoV-2. Future Virol 2020; 15:625-648. [PMID: 33224265 PMCID: PMC7664148 DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2020-0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first identified in China, December 2019. Since then, it has spread the length and breadth of the world at an unprecedented, alarming rate. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2, which causes COVID-19, has much in common with its closest homologs, SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome-CoV. The virus-host interaction of SARS-CoV-2 uses the same receptor, ACE2, which is similar to that of SARS-CoV, which spreads through the respiratory tract. Patients with COVID-19 report symptoms including mild-to-severe fever, cough and fatigue; very few patients report gastrointestinal infections. There are no specific antiviral strategies. A few strong medications are under investigation, so we have to focus on proposals which ought to be taken to forestall this infection in a living host.
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Affiliation(s)
- SK Manirul Haque
- Department of Chemical & Process Engineering Technology, Jubail Industrial College, P. O. Box 10099, Jubail Industrial City 31961, Saudi Arabia
| | - Omar Ashwaq
- Department of Chemical & Process Engineering Technology, Jubail Industrial College, P. O. Box 10099, Jubail Industrial City 31961, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulla Sarief
- Department of Chemical & Process Engineering Technology, Jubail Industrial College, P. O. Box 10099, Jubail Industrial City 31961, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdul Kalam Azad John Mohamed
- Department of Chemical & Process Engineering Technology, Jubail Industrial College, P. O. Box 10099, Jubail Industrial City 31961, Saudi Arabia
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20
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Cabezón E, Arechaga I. Drug Weaponry to Fight Against SARS-CoV-2. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:204. [PMID: 33195397 PMCID: PMC7477106 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The current outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused a large increase in mortality and morbidity associated with respiratory diseases. Huge efforts are currently ongoing to develop a vaccine against this virus. However, alternative approaches could be considered in the fight against this disease. Among other strategies, structural-based drug design could be an effective approach to generate specific molecules against SARS-CoV-2, thus reducing viral burden in infected patients. Here, in addition to this structural approach, we also revise several therapeutic strategies to fight against this viral threat. Furthermore, we report ACE-2 genetic polymorphic variants affecting residues involved in close contacts with SARS-CoV-2 that might be associated to different infection risks. These analyses could provide valuable information to predict the course of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ignacio Arechaga
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC), Universidad de Cantabria-CSIC, Santander, Spain
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21
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Vankadari N. Structure of Furin Protease Binding to SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein and Implications for Potential Targets and Virulence. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:6655-6663. [PMID: 32787225 PMCID: PMC7409919 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c01698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is an urgent global health emergency, and the presence of Furin site in the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein alters virulence and warrants further molecular, structural, and biophysical studies. Here we report the structure of Furin in complex with SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, demonstrating how Furin binds to the S1/S2 region of spike glycoprotein and eventually cleaves the viral protein using experimental functional studies, molecular dynamics, and docking. The structural studies underline the mechanism and mode of action of Furin, which is a key process in host cell entry and a hallmark of enhanced virulence. Our whole-exome sequencing analysis shows the genetic variants/alleles in Furin were found to alter the binding affinity for viral spike glycoprotein and could vary in infectivity in humans. Unravelling the mechanisms of Furin action, binding dynamics, and the genetic variants opens the growing arena of bona fide antibodies and development of potential therapeutics targeting the blockage of Furin cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Vankadari
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash
University, Victoria 3800,
Australia
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22
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Nemunaitis J, Stanbery L, Senzer N. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection: let the virus be its own demise. Future Virol 2020. [PMCID: PMC7249572 DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2020-0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
There has been a collaborative global effort to construct novel therapeutic and prophylactic approaches to SARS-CoV-2 management. Although vaccine development is crucial, acute management of newly infected patients, especially those with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, is a priority. Herein we describe the rationale and potential of repurposing a dual plasmid, Vigil (pbi-shRNAfurin-GM-CSF), now in Phase III cancer trials, for the treatment of and, in certain circumstances, enhancement of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2.
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23
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Braun E, Sauter D. Furin-mediated protein processing in infectious diseases and cancer. Clin Transl Immunology 2019; 8:e1073. [PMID: 31406574 PMCID: PMC6682551 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteolytic cleavage regulates numerous processes in health and disease. One key player is the ubiquitously expressed serine protease furin, which cleaves a plethora of proteins at polybasic recognition motifs. Mammalian substrates of furin include cytokines, hormones, growth factors and receptors. Thus, it is not surprising that aberrant furin activity is associated with a variety of disorders including cancer. Furthermore, the enzymatic activity of furin is exploited by numerous viral and bacterial pathogens, thereby enhancing their virulence and spread. In this review, we describe the physiological and pathophysiological substrates of furin and discuss how dysregulation of a simple proteolytic cleavage event may promote infectious diseases and cancer. One major focus is the role of furin in viral glycoprotein maturation and pathogenicity. We also outline cellular mechanisms regulating the expression and activation of furin and summarise current approaches that target this protease for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Braun
- Institute of Molecular VirologyUlm University Medical CenterUlmGermany
| | - Daniel Sauter
- Institute of Molecular VirologyUlm University Medical CenterUlmGermany
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24
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Löw K, Hardes K, Fedeli C, Seidah NG, Constam DB, Pasquato A, Steinmetzer T, Roulin A, Kunz S. A novel cell-based sensor detecting the activity of individual basic proprotein convertases. FEBS J 2019; 286:4597-4620. [PMID: 31276291 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The basic proprotein convertases (PCs) furin, PC1/3, PC2, PC5/6, PACE4, PC4, and PC7 are promising drug targets for human diseases. However, developing selective inhibitors remains challenging due to overlapping substrate recognition motifs and limited structural information. Classical drug screening approaches for basic PC inhibitors involve homogeneous biochemical assays using soluble recombinant enzymes combined with fluorogenic substrate peptides that may not accurately recapitulate the complex cellular context of the basic PC-substrate interaction. Herein we report basic PC sensor (BPCS), a novel cell-based molecular sensor that allows rapid screening of candidate inhibitors and their selectivity toward individual basic PCs within mammalian cells. BPCS consists of Gaussia luciferase linked to a sortilin-1 membrane anchor via a cleavage motif that allows efficient release of luciferase specifically if individual basic PCs are provided in the same membrane. Screening of selected candidate peptidomimetic inhibitors revealed that BPCS can readily distinguish between general and selective PC inhibitors in a high-throughput screening format. The robust and cost-effective assay format of BPCS makes it suitable to identify novel specific small-molecule inhibitors against basic PCs for therapeutic application. Its cell-based nature will allow screening for drug targets in addition to the catalytically active mature enzyme, including maturation, transport, and cellular factors that modulate the enzyme's activity. This broadened 'target range' will enhance the likelihood to identify novel small-molecule compounds that inhibit basic PCs in a direct or indirect manner and represents a conceptual advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Löw
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Germany
| | - Chiara Fedeli
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nabil G Seidah
- Laboratory of Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, (Affiliated to the University of Montreal), Canada
| | - Daniel B Constam
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) SV ISREC, Switzerland
| | - Antonella Pasquato
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Kunz
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
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25
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Pearce KH, Overton LK, Gampe RT, Barrett GB, Taylor JD, McKee DD, Campobasso N, Nolte RT, Reid RA. BacMam production and crystal structure of nonglycosylated apo human furin at 1.89 Å resolution. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2019; 75:239-245. [PMID: 30950824 PMCID: PMC6450522 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x19001419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Furin, also called proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 3 (PCSK3), is a calcium-dependent serine endoprotease that processes a wide variety of proproteins involved in cell function and homeostasis. Dysregulation of furin has been implicated in numerous disease states, including cancer and fibrosis. Mammalian cell expression of the furin ectodomain typically produces a highly glycosylated, heterogeneous protein, which can make crystallographic studies difficult. Here, the expression and purification of nonglycosylated human furin using the BacMam technology and site-directed mutagenesis of the glycosylation sites is reported. Nonglycosylated furin produced using this system retains full proteolytic activity indistinguishable from that of the glycosylated protein. Importantly, the nonglycosylated furin protein reliably forms extremely durable apo crystals that diffract to high resolution. These crystals can be soaked with a wide variety of inhibitors to enable a structure-guided drug-discovery campaign.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth H. Pearce
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laurie K. Overton
- Platform Technology and Science, Department of Protein Cellular and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - Robert T. Gampe
- Platform Technology and Science, Department of Protein Cellular and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - George B. Barrett
- Platform Technology and Science, Department of Protein Cellular and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - J. David Taylor
- Platform Technology and Science, Department of Protein Cellular and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - David D. McKee
- Platform Technology and Science, Department of Protein Cellular and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - Nino Campobasso
- Platform Technology and Science, Department of Protein Cellular and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - Robert T. Nolte
- Platform Technology and Science, Department of Protein Cellular and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - Robert A. Reid
- Platform Technology and Science, Department of Protein Cellular and Structural Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
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26
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Shergalis A, Bankhead A, Luesakul U, Muangsin N, Neamati N. Current Challenges and Opportunities in Treating Glioblastoma. Pharmacol Rev 2018; 70:412-445. [PMID: 29669750 PMCID: PMC5907910 DOI: 10.1124/pr.117.014944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 495] [Impact Index Per Article: 82.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, has a high mortality rate despite extensive efforts to develop new treatments. GBM exhibits both intra- and intertumor heterogeneity, lending to resistance and eventual tumor recurrence. Large-scale genomic and proteomic analysis of GBM tumors has uncovered potential drug targets. Effective and “druggable” targets must be validated to embark on a robust medicinal chemistry campaign culminating in the discovery of clinical candidates. Here, we review recent developments in GBM drug discovery and delivery. To identify GBM drug targets, we performed extensive bioinformatics analysis using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas project. We discovered 20 genes, BOC, CLEC4GP1, ELOVL6, EREG, ESR2, FDCSP, FURIN, FUT8-AS1, GZMB, IRX3, LITAF, NDEL1, NKX3-1, PODNL1, PTPRN, QSOX1, SEMA4F, TH, VEGFC, and C20orf166AS1 that are overexpressed in a subpopulation of GBM patients and correlate with poor survival outcomes. Importantly, nine of these genes exhibit higher expression in GBM versus low-grade glioma and may be involved in disease progression. In this review, we discuss these proteins in the context of GBM disease progression. We also conducted computational multi-parameter optimization to assess the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of small molecules in clinical trials for GBM treatment. Drug delivery in the context of GBM is particularly challenging because the BBB hinders small molecule transport. Therefore, we discuss novel drug delivery methods, including nanoparticles and prodrugs. Given the aggressive nature of GBM and the complexity of targeting the central nervous system, effective treatment options are a major unmet medical need. Identification and validation of biomarkers and drug targets associated with GBM disease progression present an exciting opportunity to improve treatment of this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Shergalis
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, North Campus Research Complex, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.S., U.L., N.N.); Biostatistics Department and School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.B.); and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (U.L., N.M.)
| | - Armand Bankhead
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, North Campus Research Complex, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.S., U.L., N.N.); Biostatistics Department and School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.B.); and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (U.L., N.M.)
| | - Urarika Luesakul
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, North Campus Research Complex, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.S., U.L., N.N.); Biostatistics Department and School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.B.); and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (U.L., N.M.)
| | - Nongnuj Muangsin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, North Campus Research Complex, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.S., U.L., N.N.); Biostatistics Department and School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.B.); and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (U.L., N.M.)
| | - Nouri Neamati
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, North Campus Research Complex, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.S., U.L., N.N.); Biostatistics Department and School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (A.B.); and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (U.L., N.M.)
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27
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Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Garten W, Klenk HD. The Antiviral Potential of Host Protease Inhibitors. ACTIVATION OF VIRUSES BY HOST PROTEASES 2018. [PMCID: PMC7122247 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75474-1_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The replication of numerous pathogenic viruses depends on host proteases, which therefore emerged as potential antiviral drug targets. In some cases, e.g., for influenza viruses, their function during the viral propagation cycle is relatively well understood, where they cleave and activate viral surface glycoproteins. For other viruses, e.g., Ebola virus, the function of host proteases during replication is still not clear. Host proteases may also contribute to the pathogenicity of virus infection by activating proinflammatory cytokines. For some coronaviruses, human proteases can also serve in a nonproteolytical fashion simply as receptors for virus entry. However, blocking of such protein-protein contacts is challenging, because receptor surfaces are often flat and difficult to address with small molecules. In contrast, many proteases possess well-defined binding pockets. Therefore, they can be considered as well-druggable targets, especially, if they are extracellularly active. The number of their experimental crystal structures is steadily increasing, which is an important prerequisite for a rational structure-based inhibitor design using computational chemistry tools in combination with classical medicinal chemistry approaches. Moreover, host proteases can be considered as stable targets, and their inhibition should prevent rapid resistance developments, which is often observed when addressing viral proteins. Otherwise, the inhibition of host proteases can also affect normal physiological processes leading to a higher probability of side effects and a narrow therapeutic window. Therefore, they should be preferably used in combination therapies with additional antiviral drugs. This strategy should provide a stronger antiviral efficacy, allow to use lower drug doses, and minimize side effects. Despite numerous experimental findings on their antiviral activity, no small-molecule inhibitors of host proteases have been approved for the treatment of virus infections, so far.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolfgang Garten
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany
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28
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Peng M, Swarbrick CMD, Chan KWK, Luo D, Zhang W, Lai X, Li G, Vasudevan SG. Luteolin escape mutants of dengue virus map to prM and NS2B and reveal viral plasticity during maturation. Antiviral Res 2018; 154:87-96. [PMID: 29665375 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
We previously showed that luteolin, a well-known plant-derived component found in the "heat clearing" class of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs, is an uncompetitive inhibitor (Ki 58.6 μM) of the host proprotein convertase furin, an endoprotease that is required for maturation of flaviviruses in the trans-Golgi compartment. Luteolin also weakly inhibited recombinant dengue virus NS2B/NS3 protease (Ki 140.36 μM) non-competitively. In order to further explore the mechanism of inhibition we isolated resistant mutants by continuous passaging of DENV2 in the presence of increasing concentrations of luteolin. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the luteolin-resistant escape mutants revealed nucleotide changes that lead to amino acid substitutions in the prM (T79R) and NS2B (I114M) genes. These mutations were introduced into a DENV2 infectious clone and tested for replication in Huh-7 cells. Interestingly we found that the replication kinetics of prM T19R-NS2B I114M double-mutant (DM) was similar to wild-type virus (WT). On the other hand the prM T79R single mutant (SM1) was attenuated and the NS2B I114M single mutant (SM2) showed enhanced replication. Time of drug addition assay with luteolin showed that the mutant viruses were able to produce more mature virions than WT in the order DM > SM2>SM1>WT. Exogenous addition of furin to purified immature WT or mutant viruses revealed that luteolin blocked the prM cleavage of WT and SM2 at a similar level. On the other hand the SM1 immature virus showed some cleavage while the DM immature virus revealed efficient furin cleavage of prM even in the presence of 50 μM luteolin. Our findings suggest that luteolin inhibition of furin may occur at host/pathogen interface that permits the virus to escape the suppression by mutating key residue that may lead to an altered interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhua Peng
- Program in Emerging Infectious Disease, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore; Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | | | - Kitti Wing-Ki Chan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Disease, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Dahai Luo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 636921, Singapore
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaoping Lai
- Mathematical Engineering Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Geng Li
- Center for Animal Experiment, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Subhash G Vasudevan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Disease, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
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29
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Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Garten W, Klenk HD. Characterization of Proprotein Convertases and Their Involvement in Virus Propagation. ACTIVATION OF VIRUSES BY HOST PROTEASES 2018. [PMCID: PMC7122180 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75474-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wolfgang Garten
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany
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30
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Dahms SO, Hardes K, Steinmetzer T, Than ME. X-ray Structures of the Proprotein Convertase Furin Bound with Substrate Analogue Inhibitors Reveal Substrate Specificity Determinants beyond the S4 Pocket. Biochemistry 2018; 57:925-934. [PMID: 29314830 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The proprotein convertase furin is a highly specific serine protease modifying and thereby activating proteins in the secretory pathway by proteolytic cleavage. Its substrates are involved in many diseases, including cancer and infections caused by bacteria and viruses. Understanding furin's substrate specificity is crucially important for the development of pharmacologically applicable inhibitors. Using protein X-ray crystallography, we investigated the extended substrate binding site of furin in complex with three peptide-derived inhibitors at up to 1.9 Å resolution. The structure of the protease bound with a hexapeptide inhibitor revealed molecular details of its S6 pocket, which remained completely unknown so far. The arginine residue at P6 induced an unexpected turnlike conformation of the inhibitor backbone, which is stabilized by intra- and intermolecular H-bonds. In addition, we confirmed the binding of arginine to the previously proposed S5 pocket (S51). An alternative S5 site (S52) could be utilized by shorter side chains as demonstrated for a 4-aminomethyl-phenylacetyl residue, which shows steric properties similar to those of a lysine side chain. Interestingly, we also observed binding of a peptide with citrulline at P4 substituting for the highly conserved arginine. The structural data might indicate an unusual protonation state of Asp264 maintaining the interaction with uncharged citrulline. The herein identified molecular interaction sites at P5 and P6 can be utilized to improve next-generation furin inhibitors. Our data will also help to predict furin substrates more precisely on the basis of the additional specificity determinants observed for P5 and P6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven O Dahms
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg , Billrothstrasse 11, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria.,Protein Crystallography Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) , Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Manuel E Than
- Protein Crystallography Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) , Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
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31
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Ivanova T, Hardes K, Kallis S, Dahms SO, Than ME, Künzel S, Böttcher-Friebertshäuser E, Lindberg I, Jiao GS, Bartenschlager R, Steinmetzer T. Optimization of Substrate-Analogue Furin Inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:1953-1968. [PMID: 29059503 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The proprotein convertase furin is a potential target for drug design, especially for the inhibition of furin-dependent virus replication. All effective synthetic furin inhibitors identified thus far are multibasic compounds; the highest potency was found for our previously developed inhibitor 4-(guanidinomethyl)phenylacetyl-Arg-Tle-Arg-4-amidinobenzylamide (MI-1148). An initial study in mice revealed a narrow therapeutic range for this tetrabasic compound, while significantly reduced toxicity was observed for some tribasic analogues. This suggests that the toxicity depends at least to some extent on the overall multibasic character of this inhibitor. Therefore, in a first approach, the C-terminal benzamidine of MI-1148 was replaced by less basic P1 residues. Despite decreased potency, a few compounds still inhibit furin in the low nanomolar range, but display negligible efficacy in cells. In a second approach, the P2 arginine was replaced by lysine; compared to MI-1148, this furin inhibitor has slightly decreased potency, but exhibits similar antiviral activity against West Nile and Dengue virus in cell culture and decreased toxicity in mice. These results provide a promising starting point for the development of efficacious and well-tolerated furin inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Ivanova
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kornelia Hardes
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Kallis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg Partner Site, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sven O Dahms
- Protein Crystallography Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Jena, Germany.,Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Billrothstrasse 11, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Manuel E Than
- Protein Crystallography Group, Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Künzel
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Hochschule Ansbach, Residenzstraße 8, 91522, Ansbach, Germany
| | | | - Iris Lindberg
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland Medical School, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Guan-Sheng Jiao
- Department of Chemistry, Hawaii Biotech, Inc., Honolulu, HI, USA.,MedChem ShortCut LLC, Pearl City, HI, USA
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg Partner Site, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
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