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Liang JJ, Pitsillou E, Lau HLY, Mccubbery CP, Gan H, Hung A, Karagiannis TC. Utilization of the EpiMed Coronabank Chemical Collection to identify potential SARS-CoV-2 antivirals: in silico studies targeting the nsp14 ExoN domain and PL pro naphthalene binding site. J Mol Graph Model 2024; 131:108803. [PMID: 38815531 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2024.108803] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome encodes 29 proteins including four structural, 16 nonstructural (nsps), and nine accessory proteins (https://epimedlab.org/sars-cov-2-proteome/). Many of these proteins contain potential targetable sites for the development of antivirals. Despite the widespread use of vaccinations, the emergence of variants necessitates the investigation of new therapeutics and antivirals. Here, the EpiMed Coronabank Chemical Collection (https://epimedlab.org/crl/) was utilized to investigate potential antivirals against the nsp14 exoribonuclease (ExoN) domain. Molecular docking was performed to evaluate the binding characteristics of our chemical library against the nsp14 ExoN site. Based on the initial screen, trisjuglone, ararobinol, corilagin, and naphthofluorescein were identified as potential lead compounds. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were subsequently performed, with the results highlighting the stability of the lead compounds in the nsp14 ExoN site. Protein-RNA docking revealed the potential for the lead compounds to disrupt the interaction with RNA when bound to the ExoN site. Moreover, hypericin, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and rutin were previously identified as lead compounds targeting the papain-like protease (PLpro) naphthalene binding site. Through performing MD simulations, the stability and interactions of lead compounds with PLpro were further examined. Overall, given the critical role of the exonuclease activity of nsp14 in ensuring viral fidelity and the multifunctional role of PLpro in viral pathobiology and replication, these nsps represent important targets for antiviral drug development. Our databases can be utilized for in silico studies, such as the ones performed here, and this approach can be applied to other potentially druggable SARS-CoV-2 protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia J Liang
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia; Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Program, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Eleni Pitsillou
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Hannah L Y Lau
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Cian P Mccubbery
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Hockxuen Gan
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Andrew Hung
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Tom C Karagiannis
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Program, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3004, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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2
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Rahebi P, Aryapour H. Reconstruction of the unbinding pathways of new inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease using molecular dynamics simulation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:7501-7514. [PMID: 37505097 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2240424] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Developing novel antiviral drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease is imperative as the vaccines may not offer absolute protection. PLpro plays a crucial role in the viral life cycle, making it an attractive target for drug development. Several PLpro inhibitors have been developed, and their 3D structures in complex with PLpro are available. In this work, we employed Supervised Molecular Dynamics (SuMD), a specific Unbiased Molecular Dynamics (UMD) method, to investigate unbinding pathways of the novel inhibitors of PLpro (PDB IDs: 7LBR, 7RZC, 7SDR and 7E35) and GRL0617 (PDB ID: 7JRN) as a reference. We conducted three simulations for each ligand and achieved unbinding events in the nanosecond timescale in all simulations. We found that unbinding events are commonly affected by altering the conformation of the BL2 loop, which is caused by the natural fluctuations of the loop that are required to trap the substrate and throw out the product. BL2 loop is crucial for keeping the ligand and unbinding and acts as a double-edged sword. Any inhibitor designed to be effective must prevent the loop's natural fluctuations. We perceived that increasing ligands interactions with the binding pocket interior and the BL2 loop will help prevent natural fluctuation of the BL2 loop, Although the interactions with the binding pocket's inner side are more critical than the BL2 loop. These findings may be helpful in developing more potent inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouya Rahebi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Hassan Aryapour
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran
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3
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Ciardullo G, Orlando C, Russo N, Marchese E, Galano A, Marino T, Prejanò M. On the dual role of (+)-catechin as primary antioxidant and inhibitor of viral proteases. Comput Biol Med 2024; 180:108953. [PMID: 39089115 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108953] [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: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
Natural antioxidants have become the subject of many investigations due to the role that they play in the reduction of oxidative stress. Their main scavenging mechanisms concern the direct inactivation of free radicals and the coordination of metal ions involved in Fenton-like reactions. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to non-covalent inhibition of enzymes involved in different diseases by the antioxidants. Here, a computational investigation on the primary antioxidant power of (+)-catechin against the •OOH radical has been performed in both lipid-like and aqueous environments, taking into account the relevant species present in the simulated acid-base equilibria at the physiological pH. Hydrogen Atom Transfer (HAT), Single Electron Transfer (SET), and Radical Adduct Formation (RAF) mechanisms were studied, and relative rate constants were estimated. The potential inhibitory activity of the (+)-catechin towards the most important proteases from SARS-CoV-2, 3C-like (Mpro) and papain-like (PLpro) proteases was also investigated by MD simulations to provide deeper atomistic insights on the binding sites. Based on the antioxidant and antiviral properties also unravelled by comparison with other molecules having similar chemical scaffold, our results propose that (+)-CTc satisfies can explicate a dual action as antioxidant and antiviral in particular versus Mpro from SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Ciardullo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Rende, (CS), Italy
| | - Carla Orlando
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Rende, (CS), Italy
| | - Nino Russo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Rende, (CS), Italy
| | - Emanuela Marchese
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Rende, (CS), Italy
| | - Annia Galano
- Departamento de Química, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, 09310, Mexico
| | - Tiziana Marino
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Rende, (CS), Italy.
| | - Mario Prejanò
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università Della Calabria, Rende, (CS), Italy
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Velma G, Shen Z, Holberg C, Fu J, Soleymani F, Cooper L, Ramos OL, Indukuri D, Musku SR, Rychetsky P, Slilaty S, Li Z, Ratia K, Rong L, Schenten D, Xiong R, J Thatcher GR. Non-Covalent Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease (PLpro): In Vitro and In Vivo Antiviral Activity. J Med Chem 2024; 67:13681-13702. [PMID: 39102360 PMCID: PMC11345844 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro), essential for viral processing and immune response disruption, is a promising target for treating acute infection of SARS-CoV-2. To date, there have been no reports of PLpro inhibitors with both submicromolar potency and animal model efficacy. To address the challenge of PLpro's featureless active site, a noncovalent inhibitor library with over 50 new analogs was developed, targeting the PLpro active site by modulating the BL2-loop and engaging the BL2-groove. Notably, compounds 42 and 10 exhibited strong antiviral effects and were further analyzed pharmacokinetically. 10, in particular, showed a significant lung accumulation, up to 12.9-fold greater than plasma exposure, and was effective in a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as against several SARS-CoV-2 variants. These findings highlight the potential of 10 as an in vivo chemical probe for studying PLpro inhibition in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganga
Reddy Velma
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Zhengnan Shen
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Cameron Holberg
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Jiqiang Fu
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Farinaz Soleymani
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Colleges of Science and Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Laura Cooper
- Department
of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University
of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago 60612, Illinois, United States
| | - Omar Lozano Ramos
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Divakar Indukuri
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Soumya Reddy Musku
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Pavel Rychetsky
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Steve Slilaty
- Sunshine
Biopharma Inc, 333 Las Olas Way, CU4 Suite 433, Fort Lauderdale 33301, Florida, United States
| | - Zuomei Li
- Sunshine
Biopharma Inc, 333 Las Olas Way, CU4 Suite 433, Fort Lauderdale 33301, Florida, United States
| | - Kiira Ratia
- Research
Resources Center, University of Illinois
at Chicago (UIC), Chicago 60612, Illinois, United States
| | - Lijun Rong
- Department
of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University
of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago 60612, Illinois, United States
| | - Dominik Schenten
- Department
of Immunology, College of Medicine, University
of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Rui Xiong
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Gregory R. J Thatcher
- Department
of Pharmacology & Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Colleges of Science and Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
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5
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Gaiya DD, Muhammad A, Musa JS, Auta R, Dadah AJ, Bello RO, Hassan M, Eke SS, Odihi RI, Sankey M. In silico analysis of balsaminol as anti-viral agents targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease, spike receptor binding domain and papain-like protease receptors. In Silico Pharmacol 2024; 12:75. [PMID: 39155972 PMCID: PMC11329488 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-024-00241-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-derived phytochemicals from medicinal plants are becoming increasingly attractive natural sources of antimicrobial and antiviral agents due to their therapeutic value, mechanism of action, level of toxicity and bioavailability. The continued emergence of more immune-evasive strains and the rate of resistance to current antiviral drugs have created a need to identify new antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2. This study investigated the antiviral potential of balsaminol, a bioactive compound from Momordica balsamina, and its inhibitory activities against SARS-CoV-2 receptor proteins. In this study, three Food and Drug Administration (FDA) COVID-19 approved drugs namely; nirmatrelvir, ritonavir and remdesivir were used as positive control. Molecular docking was performed to determine the predominant binding mode (most negative Gibbs free energy of binding/ΔG) and inhibitory activity of balsaminol against SARS-CoV-2 receptor proteins. The pharmacokinetics, toxicity, physicochemical and drug-like properties of balsaminol were evaluated to determine its potential as an active oral drug candidate as well as its non-toxicity in humans. The results show that balsaminol E has the highest binding affinity to the SARS CoV-2 papain-like protease (7CMD) with a free binding energy of - 8.7 kcal/mol, followed by balsaminol A interacting with the spike receptor binding domain (6VW1) with - 8.5 kcal/mol and balsaminol C had a binding energy of - 8.1 kcal/mol with the main protease (6LU7) comparable to the standard drugs namely ritonavir, nirmatrelvir and remdesivir. However, the ADMET and drug-like profile of balsaminol F favours it as a better potential drug candidate and inhibitor of the docked SARS-CoV-2 receptor proteins. Further preclinical studies are therefore recommended. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00241-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Danladi Gaiya
- Biology Unit, Air Force Institute of Technology, Nigerian Air Force Base, P.M.B 2104, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Aliyu Muhammad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1045, Samaru Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Joy Sim Musa
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1045, Samaru Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Richard Auta
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kaduna State University, Tafawa Balewa Way, P.M.B. 2339, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Anthony John Dadah
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kaduna State University, Tafawa Balewa Way, P.M.B. 2339, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | | | - Madinat Hassan
- Biology Unit, Air Force Institute of Technology, Nigerian Air Force Base, P.M.B 2104, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Samuel Sunday Eke
- Biology Unit, Air Force Institute of Technology, Nigerian Air Force Base, P.M.B 2104, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Rebecca Imoo Odihi
- Department of Biological Science, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria
| | - Musa Sankey
- Department of Chemistry, Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kaduna, Nigeria
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Ulzurrun E, Grande-Pérez A, del Hoyo D, Guevara C, Gil C, Sorzano CO, Campillo NE. Unlocking the puzzle: non-defining mutations in SARS-CoV-2 proteome may affect vaccine effectiveness. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1386596. [PMID: 39228849 PMCID: PMC11369981 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1386596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction SARS-CoV-2 variants are defined by specific genome-wide mutations compared to the Wuhan genome. However, non-clade-defining mutations may also impact protein structure and function, potentially leading to reduced vaccine effectiveness. Our objective is to identify mutations across the entire viral genome rather than focus on individual mutations that may be associated with vaccine failure and to examine the physicochemical properties of the resulting amino acid changes. Materials and methods Whole-genome consensus sequences of SARS-CoV-2 from COVID-19 patients were retrieved from the GISAID database. Analysis focused on Dataset_1 (7,154 genomes from Italy) and Dataset_2 (8,819 sequences from Spain). Bioinformatic tools identified amino acid changes resulting from codon mutations with frequencies of 10% or higher, and sequences were organized into sets based on identical amino acid combinations. Results Non-defining mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genomes belonging to clades 21 L (Omicron), 22B/22E (Omicron), 22F/23A (Omicron) and 21J (Delta) were associated with vaccine failure. Four sets of sequences from Dataset_1 were significantly linked to low vaccine coverage: one from clade 21L with mutations L3201F (ORF1a), A27- (S) and G30- (N); two sets shared by clades 22B and 22E with changes A27- (S), I68- (S), R346T (S) and G30- (N); and one set shared by clades 22F and 23A containing changes A27- (S), F486P (S) and G30- (N). Booster doses showed a slight improvement in protection against Omicron clades. Regarding 21J (Delta) two sets of sequences from Dataset_2 exhibited the combination of non-clade mutations P2046L (ORF1a), P2287S (ORF1a), L829I (ORF1b), T95I (S), Y145H (S), R158- (S) and Q9L (N), that was associated with vaccine failure. Discussion Vaccine coverage associations appear to be influenced by the mutations harbored by marketed vaccines. An analysis of the physicochemical properties of amino acid revealed that primarily hydrophobic and polar amino acid substitutions occurred. Our results suggest that non-defining mutations across the proteome of SARS-CoV-2 variants could affect the extent of protection of the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, alteration of the physicochemical characteristics of viral amino acids could potentially disrupt protein structure or function or both.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Ulzurrun
- Center for Biological Research Margarita Salas, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- National Center for Biotechnology, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Grande-Pérez
- Department of Cellular Biology, Genetics, and Physiology, University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Daniel del Hoyo
- National Center for Biotechnology, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cesar Guevara
- Mechatronics and Interactive Systems - MIST Research Center, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Carmen Gil
- Center for Biological Research Margarita Salas, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Oscar Sorzano
- National Center for Biotechnology, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria E. Campillo
- Center for Biological Research Margarita Salas, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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7
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Liu X, Zheng M, Zhang H, Feng B, Li J, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Zhao N, Li C, Song N, Song B, Yang D, Chen J, Qi A, Zhao L, Luo C, Zang Y, Liu H, Li J, Zhang B, Zhou Y, Zheng J. Characterization and noncovalent inhibition of the K63-deubiquitinase activity of SARS-cov-2 PLpro. Antiviral Res 2024; 228:105944. [PMID: 38914283 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) could facilitate viral replication and host immune evasion by respectively hydrolyzing viral polyprotein and host ubiquitin conjugates, thereby rendering itself as an important antiviral target. Yet few noncovalent PLpro inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 have been reported with improved directed towards pathogenic deubiquitinating activities inhibition. Herein, we report that coronavirus PLpro proteases have distinctive substrate bias and are conserved to deubiquitylate K63-linked polyubiquitination, thereby attenuating host type I interferon response. We identify a noncovalent compound specifically optimized towards halting the K63-deubiquitinase activity of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro, but not other coronavirus (CoV) counterparts or host deubiquitinase. Contrasting with GRL-0617, a SARS-CoV-1 PLpro inhibitor, SIMM-036 is 50-fold and 7-fold (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50)) more potent to inhibit viral replication during SARS-CoV-2 infection and restore the host interferon-β (IFN-β) response in human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2)-HeLa cells, respectively. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis further reveals the importance of BL2 groove of PLpro, which could determine the selectivity of K63-deubiquitinase activity of the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Miao Zheng
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Hongqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Feng
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Ji Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Na Zhao
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Chaoqiang Li
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ning Song
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Bin Song
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Dongyuan Yang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jin Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ao Qi
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou, 310024, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Linxiang Zhao
- Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yi Zang
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jia Li
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou, 310024, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Shanghai Institute of Virology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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8
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Samrat SK, Kumar P, Liu Y, Chen K, Lee H, Li Z, Chen Y, Li H. An ISG15-Based High-Throughput Screening Assay for Identification and Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors Targeting Papain-like Protease. Viruses 2024; 16:1239. [PMID: 39205213 PMCID: PMC11359932 DOI: 10.3390/v16081239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Emergence of newer variants of SARS-CoV-2 underscores the need for effective antivirals to complement the vaccination program in managing COVID-19. The multi-functional papain-like protease (PLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is an essential viral protein that not only regulates the viral replication but also modulates the host immune system, making it a promising therapeutic target. To this end, we developed an in vitro interferon stimulating gene 15 (ISG15)-based Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay and screened the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Diversity Set VI compound library, which comprises 1584 small molecules. Subsequently, we assessed the PLpro enzymatic activity in the presence of screened molecules. We identified three potential PLpro inhibitors, namely, NSC338106, 651084, and 679525, with IC50 values in the range from 3.3 to 6.0 µM. These molecules demonstrated in vitro inhibition of the enzyme activity and exhibited antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, with EC50 values ranging from 0.4 to 4.6 µM. The molecular docking of all three small molecules to PLpro suggested their specificity towards the enzyme's active site. Overall, our study contributes promising prospects for further developing potential antivirals to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subodh Kumar Samrat
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, 1703 E Mabel St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, 1703 E Mabel St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Yuchen Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, 1703 E Mabel St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Ke Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, 1703 E Mabel St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Hyun Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Biophysics Core, Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Zhong Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, 1703 E Mabel St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Yin Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, 1703 E Mabel St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Hongmin Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, 1703 E Mabel St, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science & College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- The BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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9
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Bolinger AA, Li J, Xie X, Li H, Zhou J. Lessons learnt from broad-spectrum coronavirus antiviral drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024:1-19. [PMID: 39078037 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2385598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Highly pathogenic coronaviruses (CoVs), such as severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV), and the most recent SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, pose significant threats to human populations over the past two decades. These CoVs have caused a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to severe distress syndromes (ARDS), resulting in high morbidity and mortality. AREAS COVERED The accelerated advancements in antiviral drug discovery, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, have shed new light on the imperative to develop treatments effective against a broad spectrum of CoVs. This perspective discusses strategies and lessons learnt in targeting viral non-structural proteins, structural proteins, drug repurposing, and combinational approaches for the development of antivirals against CoVs. EXPERT OPINION Drawing lessons from the pandemic, it becomes evident that the absence of efficient broad-spectrum antiviral drugs increases the vulnerability of public health systems to the potential onslaught by highly pathogenic CoVs. The rapid and sustained spread of novel CoVs can have devastating consequences without effective and specifically targeted treatments. Prioritizing the effective development of broad-spectrum antivirals is imperative for bolstering the resilience of public health systems and mitigating the potential impact of future highly pathogenic CoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Bolinger
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Hongmin Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, The BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Jia Zhou
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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10
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Ibrahim PEGF, Zuccotto F, Zachariae U, Gilbert I, Bodkin M. Accurate prediction of dynamic protein-ligand binding using P-score ranking. J Comput Chem 2024; 45:1762-1778. [PMID: 38647338 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.27370] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Protein-ligand binding prediction typically relies on docking methodologies and associated scoring functions to propose the binding mode of a ligand in a biological target. Significant challenges are associated with this approach, including the flexibility of the protein-ligand system, solvent-mediated interactions, and associated entropy changes. In addition, scoring functions are only weakly accurate due to the short time required for calculating enthalpic and entropic binding interactions. The workflow described here attempts to address these limitations by combining supervised molecular dynamics with dynamical averaging quantum mechanics fragment molecular orbital. This combination significantly increased the ability to predict the experimental binding structure of protein-ligand complexes independent from the starting position of the ligands or the binding site conformation. We found that the predictive power could be enhanced by combining the residence time and interaction energies as descriptors in a novel scoring function named the P-score. This is illustrated using six different protein-ligand targets as case studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E G F Ibrahim
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Fabio Zuccotto
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Ulrich Zachariae
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Ian Gilbert
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Mike Bodkin
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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11
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Hangyu W, Panpan L, Jie S, Hongyan W, Linmiao W, Kangning H, Yichen S, Shuai W, Cheng W. Advancements in Antiviral Drug Development: Comprehensive Insights into Design Strategies and Mechanisms Targeting Key Viral Proteins. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 34:1376-1384. [PMID: 38934770 PMCID: PMC11294656 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2403.03008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Viral infectious diseases have always been a threat to human survival and quality of life, impeding the stability and progress of human society. As such, researchers have persistently focused on developing highly efficient, low-toxicity antiviral drugs, whether for acute or chronic infectious diseases. This article presents a comprehensive review of the design concepts behind virus-targeted drugs, examined through the lens of antiviral drug mechanisms. The intention is to provide a reference for the development of new, virus-targeted antiviral drugs and guide their clinical usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Hangyu
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Inflammatory Disease Research in Universities of Shandong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, P.R. China
| | - Li Panpan
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Inflammatory Disease Research in Universities of Shandong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, P.R. China
| | - Shen Jie
- School of Medical Laboratory, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, P.R. China
| | - Wang Hongyan
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Inflammatory Disease Research in Universities of Shandong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, P.R. China
| | - Wei Linmiao
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Inflammatory Disease Research in Universities of Shandong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, P.R. China
| | - Han Kangning
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Inflammatory Disease Research in Universities of Shandong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, P.R. China
| | - Shi Yichen
- School of Stomatology, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, P.R. China
| | - Wang Shuai
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, Inner Mongolia 010110, P.R. China
| | - Wang Cheng
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Inner Mongolia 010050, P.R. China
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases, Inner Mongolia 010110, P.R. China
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12
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Zhang W, Xiao L, Li D, Hu Y, Yu W. New Strategies for Responding to SARS-CoV-2: The Present and Future of Dual-Target Drugs. J Med Chem 2024; 67:11522-11542. [PMID: 38967785 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in millions of deaths, posing a serious threat to public health and safety. Rapid mutations of SARS-CoV-2 and complex interactions among multiple targets during infection pose a risk of expiry for small molecule inhibitors. This suggests that the traditional concept of "one bug, one drug" could be ineffective in dealing with the coronavirus. The dual-target drug strategy is expected to be the key to ending coronavirus infections. However, the lack of design method and improper combination of dual-targets poses obstacle to the discovery of new dual-target drugs. In this Perspective, we summarized the profiles concerning drug design methods, structure-activity relationships, and pharmacological parameters of dual-target drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. Importantly, we underscored how target combination and rational drug design illuminate the development of dual-target drugs for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lecheng Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Dianyang Li
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuxuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wenying Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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13
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Yaghi R, Andrews CL, Wylie DC, Iverson BL. High-Resolution Substrate Specificity Profiling of SARS-CoV-2 M pro; Comparison to SARS-CoV M pro. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1474-1483. [PMID: 38865301 PMCID: PMC11267570 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Mpro protease from COVID-19 cleaves the pp1a and pp2b polyproteins at 11 sites during viral maturation and is the target of Nirmatrelvir, one of the two components of the frontline treatment sold as Paxlovid. We used the YESS 2.0 platform, combining protease and substrate expression in the yeast endoplasmic reticulum with fluorescence-activated cell sorting and next-generation sequencing, to carry out the high-resolution substrate specificity profiling of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro as well as the related SARS-CoV Mpro from SARS 2003. Even at such a high level of resolution, the substrate specificity profiles of both enzymes are essentially identical. The population of cleaved substrates isolated in our sorts is so deep, the relative catalytic efficiencies of the different cleavage sites on the SARS-CoV-2 polyproteins pp1a and pp2b are qualitatively predicted. These results not only demonstrated the precise and reproducible nature of the YESS 2.0/NGS approach to protease substrate specificity profiling but also should be useful in the design of next generation SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors, and by analogy, SARS-CoV Mpro inhibitors as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha
M. Yaghi
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
of America
| | - Collin L. Andrews
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
of America
| | - Dennis C. Wylie
- Center
of Biomedical Research Support, University
of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States of America
| | - Brent L. Iverson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
of America
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14
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Filippova TA, Masamrekh RA, Khudoklinova YY, Shumyantseva VV, Kuzikov AV. The multifaceted role of proteases and modern analytical methods for investigation of their catalytic activity. Biochimie 2024; 222:169-194. [PMID: 38494106 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.03.006] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
We discuss the diverse functions of proteases in the context of their biotechnological and medical significance, as well as analytical approaches used to determine the functional activity of these enzymes. An insight into modern approaches to studying the kinetics and specificity of proteases, based on spectral (absorption, fluorescence), mass spectrometric, immunological, calorimetric, and electrochemical methods of analysis is given. We also examine in detail electrochemical systems for determining the activity and specificity of proteases. Particular attention is given to exploring innovative electrochemical systems based on the detection of the electrochemical oxidation signal of amino acid residues, thereby eliminating the need for extra redox labels in the process of peptide synthesis. In the review, we highlight the main prospects for the further development of electrochemical systems for the study of biotechnologically and medically significant proteases, which will enable the miniaturization of the analytical process for determining the catalytic activity of these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana A Filippova
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10 bld. 8, Pogodinskaya str., 119121, Moscow, Russia; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 1, Ostrovityanova Street, Moscow, 117513, Russia
| | - Rami A Masamrekh
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10 bld. 8, Pogodinskaya str., 119121, Moscow, Russia; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 1, Ostrovityanova Street, Moscow, 117513, Russia
| | - Yulia Yu Khudoklinova
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 1, Ostrovityanova Street, Moscow, 117513, Russia
| | - Victoria V Shumyantseva
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10 bld. 8, Pogodinskaya str., 119121, Moscow, Russia; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 1, Ostrovityanova Street, Moscow, 117513, Russia
| | - Alexey V Kuzikov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10 bld. 8, Pogodinskaya str., 119121, Moscow, Russia; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 1, Ostrovityanova Street, Moscow, 117513, Russia.
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15
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Li Y, Lu SM, Wang JL, Yao HP, Liang LG. Progress in SARS-CoV-2, diagnostic and clinical treatment of COVID-19. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33179. [PMID: 39021908 PMCID: PMC11253070 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19)is a global pandemic novel coronavirus infection disease caused by Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although rapid, large-scale testing plays an important role in patient management and slowing the spread of the disease. However, there has been no good and widely used drug treatment for infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Key findings Therefore, this review updates the body of knowledge on viral structure, infection routes, detection methods, and clinical treatment, with the aim of responding to the large-section caused by SARS-CoV-2. This paper focuses on the structure of SARS-CoV-2 viral protease, RNA polymerase, serine protease and main proteinase-like protease as well as targeted antiviral drugs. Conclusion In vitro or clinical trials have been carried out to provide deeper thinking for the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, vaccine development and treatment of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Si-Ming Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Clinical in Vitro Diagnostic Techniques, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Long Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hang-Ping Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li-Guo Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Centre for Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Patel DK, Kumar H, Sobhia ME. Exploring the binding dynamics of covalent inhibitors within active site of PL pro in SARS-CoV-2. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 112:108132. [PMID: 38959551 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
In the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 virus, the search for potent medications is paramount. With a focused investigation on the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) as a promising therapeutic target due to its pivotal role in viral replication and immune modulation, the catalytic triad of PLpro comprising Cys111, His272, and Asp286, highlights Cys111 as an intriguing nucleophilic center for potential covalent bonds with ligands. The detailed analysis of the binding site unveils crucial interactions with both hydrophobic and polar residues, demonstrating the structural insights of the cavity and deepening our understanding of its molecular landscape. The sequence of PLpro among variants of concern (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron) and the recent variant of interest, JN.1, remains conserved with no mutations at the active site. Moreover, a thorough exploration of apo, non-covalently bound, and covalently bound PLpro conformations exposes significant conformational changes in loop regions, offering invaluable insights into the intricate dynamics of ligand-protein complex formation. Employing strategic in silico medication repurposing, this study swiftly identifies potential molecules for target inhibition. Within the domain of covalent docking studies and molecular dynamics, using reported inhibitors and clinically tested molecules elucidate the formation of stable covalent bonds with the cysteine residue, laying a robust foundation for potential therapeutic applications. These details not only deepen our comprehension of PLpro inhibition but also play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamic landscape of COVID-19 treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepesh Kumar Patel
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Harish Kumar
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, Punjab 160062, India
| | - M Elizabeth Sobhia
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, Punjab 160062, India.
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17
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Sokolinskaya EL, Ivanova ON, Fedyakina IT, Ivanov AV, Lukyanov KA. Natural-Target-Mimicking Translocation-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro Protease Activity and Virus Infection in Living Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6635. [PMID: 38928340 PMCID: PMC11203561 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126635] [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: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Papain-like protease PLpro, a domain within a large polyfunctional protein, nsp3, plays key roles in the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2, being responsible for the first events of cleavage of a polyprotein into individual proteins (nsp1-4) as well as for the suppression of cellular immunity. Here, we developed a new genetically encoded fluorescent sensor, named PLpro-ERNuc, for detection of PLpro activity in living cells using a translocation-based readout. The sensor was designed as follows. A fragment of nsp3 protein was used to direct the sensor on the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, thus closely mimicking the natural target of PLpro. The fluorescent part included two bright fluorescent proteins-red mScarlet I and green mNeonGreen-separated by a linker with the PLpro cleavage site. A nuclear localization signal (NLS) was attached to ensure accumulation of mNeonGreen into the nucleus upon cleavage. We tested PLpro-ERNuc in a model of recombinant PLpro expressed in HeLa cells. The sensor demonstrated the expected cytoplasmic reticular network in the red and green channels in the absence of protease, and efficient translocation of the green signal into nuclei in the PLpro-expressing cells (14-fold increase in the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio). Then, we used PLpro-ERNuc in a model of Huh7.5 cells infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, where it showed robust ER-to-nucleus translocation of the green signal in the infected cells 24 h post infection. We believe that PLpro-ERNuc represents a useful tool for screening PLpro inhibitors as well as for monitoring virus spread in a culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena L. Sokolinskaya
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Olga N. Ivanova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (O.N.I.); (A.V.I.)
| | - Irina T. Fedyakina
- Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Ministry of Russia, 132098 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Alexander V. Ivanov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (O.N.I.); (A.V.I.)
| | - Konstantin A. Lukyanov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
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18
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Zeppilli D, Madabeni A, Nogara PA, Rocha JBT, Orian L. Reactivity of Zinc Fingers in Oxidizing Environments: Insight from Molecular Models Through Activation Strain Analysis. Chempluschem 2024:e202400252. [PMID: 38842473 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202400252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The reactivity of Zn2+ tetrahedral complexes with H2O2 was investigated in silico, as a first step in their disruption process. The substrates were chosen to represent the cores of three different zinc finger protein motifs, i. e., a Zn2+ ion coordinated to four cysteines (CCCC), to three cysteines and one histidine (CCCH), and to two cysteines and two histidines (CCHH). The cysteine and histidine ligands were further simplified to methyl thiolate and imidazole, respectively. H2O2 was chosen as an oxidizing agent due to its biological role as a metabolic product and species involved in signaling processes. The mechanism of oxidation of a coordinated cysteinate to sulfenate-κS and the trends for the different substrates were rationalized through activation strain analysis and energy decomposition analysis in the framework of scalar relativistic Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations at ZORA-M06/TZ2P ae // ZORA-BLYP-D3(BJ)/TZ2P. CCCC is oxidized most easily, an outcome explained considering both electrostatic and orbital interactions. The isomerization to sulfenate-κO was attempted to assess whether this step may affect the ligand dissociation; however, it was found to introduce a kinetic barrier without improving the energetics of the dissociation. Lastly, ligand exchange with free thiolates and selenolates was investigated as a trigger for ligand dissociation, possibly leading to metal ejection; molecular docking simulations also support this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Zeppilli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Madabeni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Pablo A Nogara
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecolar, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Sul-rio-grandense (IFSul), Av. Leonel de Moura Brizola, 2501, 96418-400, Bagé, RS, Brasil
| | - João B T Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecolar, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Laura Orian
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131, Padova, Italy
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19
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van Vliet VJE, De Silva A, Mark BL, Kikkert M. Viral deubiquitinating proteases and the promising strategies of their inhibition. Virus Res 2024; 344:199368. [PMID: 38588924 PMCID: PMC11025011 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Several viruses are now known to code for deubiquitinating proteases in their genomes. Ubiquitination is an essential post-translational modification of cellular substrates involved in many processes in the cell, including in innate immune signalling. This post-translational modification is regulated by the ubiquitin conjugation machinery, as well as various host deubiquitinating enzymes. The conjugation of ubiquitin chains to several innate immune related factors is often needed to induce downstream signalling, shaping the antiviral response. Viral deubiquitinating proteins, besides often having a primary function in the viral replication cycle by cleaving the viral polyprotein, are also able to cleave ubiquitin chains from such host substrates, in that way exerting a function in innate immune evasion. The presence of viral deubiquitinating enzymes has been firmly established for numerous animal-infecting viruses, such as some well-researched and clinically important nidoviruses, and their presence has now been confirmed in several plant viruses as well. Viral proteases in general have long been highlighted as promising drug targets, with a current focus on small molecule inhibitors. In this review, we will discuss the range of viral deubiquitinating proteases known to date, summarise the various avenues explored to inhibit such proteases and discuss novel strategies and models intended to inhibit and study these specific viral enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera J E van Vliet
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, South Holland, the Netherlands; The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Anuradha De Silva
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Brian L Mark
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Marjolein Kikkert
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LU-CID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, South Holland, the Netherlands.
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20
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Verma VK, Yadav R, Beevi SS, Mohod AS, Mancharla S, Damodar N, Darapuneni RC, Reddy SG, Upendram P, Salt MN, Kulkarni P, Sahu S, Bollineni BR. Differential host responses to COVID-19: Unraveling the complexity. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 109:116281. [PMID: 38537507 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116281] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
These diverse outcomes of Covid-19 are influenced by various factors including age, gender, underlying health conditions, immune responses, viral variants, external factors, and overall quality of life. Demographic analysis of patients aged 0-18 years experienced mild to moderate cases, above 55 years with co-morbidities, were more severely affected.COVID-19 incidence was higher in males (58 %) & (42 %) in females. The reduced expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) in severe and critical patients is a crucial determinant. This reduced TLR expression is primarily attributed to the dominance of the PLpro viral protein of COVID-19. Disease enrichment analysis highlights the long-term impact of COVID-19, which can lead to post-recovery complications such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiac diseases, and brain ischemia in Covid-19 patients. In conclusion, a comprehensive strategy targeting key factors like PLpro, TLR, and inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-6 could offer an effective approach to mitigate the devastating effects of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Kumar Verma
- KIMS Foundation and Research Centre, KIMS Hospital, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India.
| | - Rahul Yadav
- KIMS Foundation and Research Centre, KIMS Hospital, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Syed Sultan Beevi
- KIMS Foundation and Research Centre, KIMS Hospital, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India.
| | - Annie S Mohod
- KIMS Foundation and Research Centre, KIMS Hospital, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Shravya Mancharla
- KIMS Foundation and Research Centre, KIMS Hospital, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Neha Damodar
- KIMS Foundation and Research Centre, KIMS Hospital, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
| | | | - Sukurtha Gopal Reddy
- Diagnostics Division, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Pavani Upendram
- Department of Genetics, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Mohammad Nawaz Salt
- Department of Pulmonology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Praveen Kulkarni
- Department of Internal Medicine, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sambit Sahu
- Department of Critical care, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Bhaskar Rao Bollineni
- KIMS Foundation and Research Centre, KIMS Hospital, Minister Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
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21
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Holmes J, Islam SM, Milligan KA. Exploring Cannabinoids as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease: Insights from Computational Analysis and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Viruses 2024; 16:878. [PMID: 38932170 PMCID: PMC11209085 DOI: 10.3390/v16060878] [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: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered a global COVID-19 pandemic, challenging healthcare systems worldwide. Effective therapeutic strategies against this novel coronavirus remain limited, underscoring the urgent need for innovative approaches. The present research investigates the potential of cannabis compounds as therapeutic agents against SARS-CoV-2 through their interaction with the virus's papain-like protease (PLpro) protein, a crucial element in viral replication and immune evasion. Computational methods, including molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, were employed to screen cannabis compounds against PLpro and analyze their binding mechanisms and interaction patterns. The results showed cannabinoids with binding affinities ranging from -6.1 kcal/mol to -4.6 kcal/mol, forming interactions with PLpro. Notably, Cannabigerolic and Cannabidiolic acids exhibited strong binding contacts with critical residues in PLpro's active region, indicating their potential as viral replication inhibitors. MD simulations revealed the dynamic behavior of cannabinoid-PLpro complexes, highlighting stable binding conformations and conformational changes over time. These findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying cannabis interaction with SARS-CoV-2 PLpro, aiding in the rational design of antiviral therapies. Future research will focus on experimental validation, optimizing binding affinity and selectivity, and preclinical assessments to develop effective treatments against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shahidul M. Islam
- Department of Chemistry, Delaware State University, 1200 N. DuPont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901, USA; (J.H.); (K.A.M.)
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22
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Liu X, Sun S, Liu J, Dang Q, Gao Y, Fang L, Min W. Isolation, Virtual Screening, and Evaluation of Hazelnut-Derived Immunoactive Peptides for the Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:11561-11576. [PMID: 38739709 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to validate the activity of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.)-derived immunoactive peptides inhibiting the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 and further unveil their interaction mechanism using in vitro assays, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and binding free energy calculations. In general, the enzymatic hydrolysis components, especially molecular weight < 3 kDa, possess good immune activity as measured by the proliferation ability of mouse splenic lymphocytes and phagocytic activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages. Over 866 unique peptide sequences were isolated, purified, and then identified by nanohigh-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (NANO-HPLC-MS/MS) from hazelnut protein hydrolysates, but Trp-Trp-Asn-Leu-Asn (WWNLN) and Trp-Ala-Val-Leu-Lys (WAVLK) in particular are found to increase the cell viability and phagocytic capacity of RAW264.7 macrophages as well as promote the secretion of the cytokines nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay elucidated that WWNLN and WAVLK exhibit excellent inhibitory potency against Mpro, with IC50 values of 6.695 and 16.750 μM, respectively. Classical all-atom MD simulations show that hydrogen bonds play a pivotal role in stabilizing the complex conformation and protein-peptide interaction. Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area (MM/GBSA) calculation indicates that WWNLN has a lower binding free energy with Mpro than WAVLK. Furthermore, adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions illustrate favorable drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic properties of WWNLN compared to WAVLK. This study provides a new understanding of the immunomodulatory activity of hazelnut hydrolysates and sheds light on peptide inhibitors targeting Mpro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Shuo Sun
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Jiale Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Qiao Dang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Yawen Gao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Li Fang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
| | - Weihong Min
- College of Food Science and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory of Wheat and Corn Deep Processing, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, Jilin, P. R. China
- College of Food and Health, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, P. R. China
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23
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Sabadini G, Mellado M, Morales C, Mella J. Arylamines QSAR-Based Design and Molecular Dynamics of New Phenylthiophene and Benzimidazole Derivatives with Affinity for the C111, Y268, and H73 Sites of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro Enzyme. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:606. [PMID: 38794177 PMCID: PMC11124164 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
A non-structural SARS-CoV-2 protein, PLpro, is involved in post-translational modifications in cells, allowing the evasion of antiviral immune response mechanisms. In this study, potential PLpro inhibitory drugs were designed using QSAR, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics. A combined QSAR equation with physicochemical and Free-Wilson descriptors was formulated. The r2, q2, and r2test values were 0.833, 0.770, and 0.721, respectively. From the equation, it was found that the presence of an aromatic ring and a basic nitrogen atom is crucial for obtaining good antiviral activity. Then, a series of structures for the binding sites of C111, Y268, and H73 of PLpro were created. The best compounds were found to exhibit pIC50 values of 9.124 and docking scoring values of -14 kcal/mol. The stability of the compounds in the cavities was confirmed by molecular dynamics studies. A high number of stable contacts and good interactions over time were exhibited by the aryl-thiophenes Pred14 and Pred15, making them potential antiviral candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Sabadini
- Instituto de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1111, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile;
| | - Marco Mellado
- Instituto de Investigación y Postgrado, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Central de Chile, Santiago 8330507, Chile
| | - César Morales
- Laboratorio de Materiales Funcionales, Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada (CIBQA), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Bernardo OHiggins, General Gana 1702, Santiago 8320000, Chile;
| | - Jaime Mella
- Instituto de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1111, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile;
- Centro de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación de Productos Bioactivos (CInBIO), Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1111, Valparaíso 2360102, Chile
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24
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M L SP, Kumari S, Martinek TA, M ES. De novo design of potential peptide analogs against the main protease of Omicron variant using in silico studies. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:14006-14017. [PMID: 38683190 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp01199f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 and its variants are crossing the immunity barrier induced through vaccination. Recent Omicron sub-variants are highly transmissible and have a low mortality rate. Despite the low severity of Omicron variants, these new variants are known to cause acute post-infectious syndromes. Nowadays, novel strategies to develop new potential inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 and other Omicron variants have gained prominence. For viral replication and survival the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 plays a vital role. Peptide-like inhibitors that mimic the substrate peptide have already proved to be effective in inhibiting the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our systematic canonical amino acid point mutation analysis on the native peptide has revealed various ways to improve the native peptide of the main protease. Multi mutation analysis has led us to identify and design potent peptide-analog inhibitors that act against the Mpro of the Omicron sub-variants. Our in-depth analysis of all-atom molecular dynamics studies has paved the way to characterize the atomistic behavior of Mpro in Omicron variants. Our goal is to develop potent peptide-analogs that could be therapeutically effective against Omicron and its sub-variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanly Paul M L
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Analysis, University of Szeged, Eotvos u. 6, G-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Sonia Kumari
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector-67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali 160062, India.
| | - Tamás A Martinek
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Elizabeth Sobhia M
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector-67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali 160062, India.
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25
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Choudhary S, Nehul S, Singh A, Panda PK, Kumar P, Sharma GK, Tomar S. Unraveling antiviral efficacy of multifunctional immunomodulatory triterpenoids against SARS-COV-2 targeting main protease and papain-like protease. IUBMB Life 2024; 76:228-241. [PMID: 38059400 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2793] [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: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be over, but its variants continue to emerge, and patients with mild symptoms having long COVID is still under investigation. SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to elevated cytokine levels and suppressed immune responses set off cytokine storm, fatal systemic inflammation, tissue damage, and multi-organ failure. Thus, drug molecules targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus-specific proteins or capable of suppressing the host inflammatory responses to viral infection would provide an effective antiviral therapy against emerging variants of concern. Evolutionarily conserved papain-like protease (PLpro) and main protease (Mpro) play an indispensable role in the virus life cycle and immune evasion. Direct-acting antivirals targeting both these viral proteases represent an attractive antiviral strategy that is also expected to reduce viral inflammation. The present study has evaluated the antiviral and anti-inflammatory potential of natural triterpenoids: azadirachtin, withanolide_A, and isoginkgetin. These molecules inhibit the Mpro and PLpro proteolytic activities with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) values ranging from 1.42 to 32.7 μM. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) analysis validated the binding of these compounds to Mpro and PLpro. As expected, the two compounds, withanolide_A and azadirachtin, exhibit potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in cell-based assays, with half-maximum effective concentration (EC50) values of 21.73 and 31.19 μM, respectively. The anti-inflammatory roles of azadirachtin and withanolide_A when assessed using HEK293T cells, were found to significantly reduce the levels of CXCL10, TNFα, IL6, and IL8 cytokines, which are elevated in severe cases of COVID-19. Interestingly, azadirachtin and withanolide_A were also found to rescue the decreased type-I interferon response (IFN-α1). The results of this study clearly highlight the role of triterpenoids as effective antiviral molecules that target SARS-CoV-2-specific enzymes and also host immune pathways involved in virus-mediated inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Choudhary
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
| | - Sanketkumar Nehul
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
| | - Ankur Singh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
| | - Prasan Kumar Panda
- Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Infectious diseases), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, India
| | - Pravindra Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
| | - Gaurav Kumar Sharma
- Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis (CADRAD), Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shailly Tomar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
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26
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Wang X, Zhu Y, Zhao Q, Lu W, Xu Y, Hu H, Lu X. Chemical Space Profiling of SARS-CoV-2 PL pro Using DNA-Encoded Focused Libraries. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:555-564. [PMID: 38628804 PMCID: PMC11017295 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.4c00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology is gaining attention for its rapid construction and deconvolution capabilities. Our study explored a novel strategy using rational DELs tailored for the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease, which revealed new fragments. Structural changes post-DEL screening mimic traditional medicinal chemistry lead optimization. We unveiled unique aromatic structures offering an alternative optimization path. Notably, we identified superior binding fragments targeting the BL2 groove. Derivative 16 emerged as the most promising by exhibiting IC50 values of 0.25 μM. Derivative 6, which features an aromatic fragment capped with a naphthalene moiety, showed IC50 values of 2.91 μM. Molecular modeling revealed hydrogen bond interactions with Lys157 residue and potential covalent interactions with nearby amino acid residues. This research underscored DEL's potential for fragment-based drug discovery against SARS-CoV-2 protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Ying Zhu
- School
of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Qingyi Zhao
- School
of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Lu
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
| | - Yechun Xu
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
- School
of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Hangchen Hu
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
- School
of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced
Study, University of Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Xiaojie Lu
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai
Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
- School
of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University
of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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27
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Steiner S, Kratzel A, Barut GT, Lang RM, Aguiar Moreira E, Thomann L, Kelly JN, Thiel V. SARS-CoV-2 biology and host interactions. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:206-225. [PMID: 38225365 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-01003-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
The zoonotic emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the ensuing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have profoundly affected our society. The rapid spread and continuous evolution of new SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to threaten global public health. Recent scientific advances have dissected many of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in coronavirus infections, and large-scale screens have uncovered novel host-cell factors that are vitally important for the virus life cycle. In this Review, we provide an updated summary of the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, gene function and virus-host interactions, including recent landmark findings on general aspects of coronavirus biology and newly discovered host factors necessary for virus replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvio Steiner
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Annika Kratzel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - G Tuba Barut
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Reto M Lang
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Etori Aguiar Moreira
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Thomann
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jenna N Kelly
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Bern and Mittelhäusern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany.
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28
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Tan B, Zhang X, Ansari A, Jadhav P, Tan H, Li K, Chopra A, Ford A, Chi X, Ruiz FX, Arnold E, Deng X, Wang J. Design of a SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease inhibitor with antiviral efficacy in a mouse model. Science 2024; 383:1434-1440. [PMID: 38547259 DOI: 10.1126/science.adm9724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and drug-resistant mutants calls for additional oral antivirals. The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) is a promising but challenging drug target. We designed and synthesized 85 noncovalent PLpro inhibitors that bind to a recently discovered ubiquitin binding site and the known BL2 groove pocket near the S4 subsite. Leads inhibited PLpro with the inhibitory constant Ki values from 13.2 to 88.2 nanomolar. The co-crystal structures of PLpro with eight leads revealed their interaction modes. The in vivo lead Jun12682 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, including nirmatrelvir-resistant strains with EC50 from 0.44 to 2.02 micromolar. Oral treatment with Jun12682 improved survival and reduced lung viral loads and lesions in a SARS-CoV-2 infection mouse model, suggesting that PLpro inhibitors are promising oral SARS-CoV-2 antiviral candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Tan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Department Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Ahmadullah Ansari
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Prakash Jadhav
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Haozhou Tan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Kan Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ashima Chopra
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Alexandra Ford
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Xiang Chi
- Department Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Francesc Xavier Ruiz
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Eddy Arnold
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Xufang Deng
- Department Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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29
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Mendonça SC, Gomes BA, Campos MF, da Fonseca TS, Esteves MEA, Andriolo BV, Cheohen CFDAR, Constant LEC, da Silva Costa S, Calil PT, Tucci AR, de Oliveira TKF, Rosa ADS, Ferreira VNDS, Lima JNH, Miranda MD, da Costa LJ, da Silva ML, Scotti MT, Allonso D, Leitão GG, Leitão SG. Myrtucommulones and Related Acylphloroglucinols from Myrtaceae as a Promising Source of Multitarget SARS-CoV-2 Cycle Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:436. [PMID: 38675398 PMCID: PMC11054083 DOI: 10.3390/ph17040436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The LABEXTRACT plant extract bank, featuring diverse members of the Myrtaceae family from Brazilian hot spot regions, provides a promising avenue for bioprospection. Given the pivotal roles of the Spike protein and 3CLpro and PLpro proteases in SARS-CoV-2 infection, this study delves into the correlations between the Myrtaceae species from the Atlantic Forest and these targets, as well as an antiviral activity through both in vitro and in silico analyses. The results uncovered notable inhibitory effects, with Eugenia prasina and E. mosenii standing out, while E. mosenii proved to be multitarget, presenting inhibition values above 72% in the three targets analyzed. All extracts inhibited viral replication in Calu-3 cells (EC50 was lower than 8.3 µg·mL-1). Chemometric analyses, through LC-MS/MS, encompassing prediction models and molecular networking, identified potential active compounds, such as myrtucommulones, described in the literature for their antiviral activity. Docking analyses showed that one undescribed myrtucommulone (m/z 841 [M - H]-) had a higher fitness score when interacting with the targets of this study, including ACE2, Spike, PLpro and 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. Also, the study concludes that Myrtaceae extracts, particularly from E. mosenii and E. prasina, exhibit promising inhibitory effects against crucial stages in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Compounds like myrtucommulones emerge as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents, warranting further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simony Carvalho Mendonça
- Departamento de Produtos Naturais e Alimentos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (S.C.M.); (B.A.G.); (M.F.C.)
| | - Brendo Araujo Gomes
- Departamento de Produtos Naturais e Alimentos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (S.C.M.); (B.A.G.); (M.F.C.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia Vegetal e Bioprocessos, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mariana Freire Campos
- Departamento de Produtos Naturais e Alimentos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (S.C.M.); (B.A.G.); (M.F.C.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia Vegetal e Bioprocessos, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Thamirys Silva da Fonseca
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Maria Eduarda Alves Esteves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Computacional e Sistemas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (M.E.A.E.); (M.L.d.S.)
| | - Bruce Veiga Andriolo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia, Duque de Caxias 25250-020, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Caio Felipe de Araujo Ribas Cheohen
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Multicêntrico em Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Larissa Esteves Carvalho Constant
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, RJ, Brazil; (L.E.C.C.); (S.d.S.C.); (D.A.)
| | - Stephany da Silva Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, RJ, Brazil; (L.E.C.C.); (S.d.S.C.); (D.A.)
| | - Pedro Telles Calil
- Departamento de Virologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, RJ, Brazil; (P.T.C.); (L.J.d.C.)
| | - Amanda Resende Tucci
- Laboratory of Morphology and Viral Morphogenesis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil; (A.R.T.); (T.K.F.d.O.); (A.d.S.R.); (V.N.d.S.F.); (J.N.H.L.); (M.D.M.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil
| | - Thamara Kelcya Fonseca de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Morphology and Viral Morphogenesis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil; (A.R.T.); (T.K.F.d.O.); (A.d.S.R.); (V.N.d.S.F.); (J.N.H.L.); (M.D.M.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alice dos Santos Rosa
- Laboratory of Morphology and Viral Morphogenesis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil; (A.R.T.); (T.K.F.d.O.); (A.d.S.R.); (V.N.d.S.F.); (J.N.H.L.); (M.D.M.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vivian Neuza dos Santos Ferreira
- Laboratory of Morphology and Viral Morphogenesis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil; (A.R.T.); (T.K.F.d.O.); (A.d.S.R.); (V.N.d.S.F.); (J.N.H.L.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Julia Nilo Henrique Lima
- Laboratory of Morphology and Viral Morphogenesis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil; (A.R.T.); (T.K.F.d.O.); (A.d.S.R.); (V.N.d.S.F.); (J.N.H.L.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Milene Dias Miranda
- Laboratory of Morphology and Viral Morphogenesis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil; (A.R.T.); (T.K.F.d.O.); (A.d.S.R.); (V.N.d.S.F.); (J.N.H.L.); (M.D.M.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luciana Jesus da Costa
- Departamento de Virologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, RJ, Brazil; (P.T.C.); (L.J.d.C.)
| | - Manuela Leal da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Computacional e Sistemas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (M.E.A.E.); (M.L.d.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia, Duque de Caxias 25250-020, RJ, Brazil;
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Multicêntrico em Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa 58033-455, PB, Brazil;
| | - Diego Allonso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, RJ, Brazil; (L.E.C.C.); (S.d.S.C.); (D.A.)
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gilda Guimarães Leitão
- Instituto de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Suzana Guimarães Leitão
- Departamento de Produtos Naturais e Alimentos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (S.C.M.); (B.A.G.); (M.F.C.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia Vegetal e Bioprocessos, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil;
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Azzeri A, Mohamed NA, Wan Rosli SH, Abdul Samat MN, Rashid ZZ, Mohamad Jamali MA, Md Zoqratt MZH, Mohammad Nasir MA, Ranjit Singh HK, Azmi L. Unravelling the link between SARS-CoV-2 mutation frequencies, patient comorbidities, and structural dynamics. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0291892. [PMID: 38483913 PMCID: PMC10939192 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Genomic surveillance is crucial for tracking emergence and spread of novel variants of pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, to inform public health interventions and to enforce control measures. However, in some settings especially in low- and middle- income counties, where sequencing platforms are limited, only certain patients get to be selected for sequencing surveillance. Here, we show that patients with multiple comorbidities potentially harbour SARS-CoV-2 with higher mutation rates and thus deserve more attention for genomic surveillance. The relationship between the patient comorbidities, and type of amino acid mutations was assessed. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant tendency for mutations to occur within the ORF1a region for patients with higher number of comorbidities. Frequency analysis of the amino acid substitution within ORF1a showed that nsp3 P822L of the PLpro protease was one of the highest occurring mutations. Using molecular dynamics, we simulated that the P822L mutation in PLpro represents a system with lower Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) fluctuations, and consistent Radius of gyration (Rg), Solvent Accessible Surface Area (SASA) values-indicate a much stabler protein than the wildtype. The outcome of this study will help determine the relationship between the clinical status of a patient and the mutations of the infecting SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirah Azzeri
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Azmawati Mohamed
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Saarah Huurieyah Wan Rosli
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Muttaqillah Najihan Abdul Samat
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Zetti Zainol Rashid
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Muhammad Zarul Hanifah Md Zoqratt
- Fast Genomics Solutions, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Azamuddeen Mohammad Nasir
- Fast Genomics Solutions, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Harpreet Kaur Ranjit Singh
- Fast Genomics Solutions, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Liyana Azmi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
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Saquib Q, Bakheit AH, Ahmed S, Ansari SM, Al-Salem AM, Al-Khedhairy AA. Identification of Phytochemicals from Arabian Peninsula Medicinal Plants as Strong Binders to SARS-CoV-2 Proteases (3CL Pro and PL Pro) by Molecular Docking and Dynamic Simulation Studies. Molecules 2024; 29:998. [PMID: 38474509 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29050998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
We provide promising computational (in silico) data on phytochemicals (compounds 1-10) from Arabian Peninsula medicinal plants as strong binders, targeting 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLPro) and papain-like proteases (PLPro) of SARS-CoV-2. Compounds 1-10 followed the Lipinski rules of five (RO5) and ADMET analysis, exhibiting drug-like characters. Non-covalent (reversible) docking of compounds 1-10 demonstrated their binding with the catalytic dyad (CYS145 and HIS41) of 3CLPro and catalytic triad (CYS111, HIS272, and ASP286) of PLPro. Moreover, the implementation of the covalent (irreversible) docking protocol revealed that only compounds 7, 8, and 9 possess covalent warheads, which allowed the formation of the covalent bond with the catalytic dyad (CYS145) in 3CLPro and the catalytic triad (CYS111) in PLPro. Root-mean-square deviation (RMSD), root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF), and radius of gyration (Rg) analysis from molecular dynamic (MD) simulations revealed that complexation between ligands (compounds 7, 8, and 9) and 3CLPro and PLPro was stable, and there was less deviation of ligands. Overall, the in silico data on the inherent properties of the above phytochemicals unravel the fact that they can act as reversible inhibitors for 3CLPro and PLPro. Moreover, compounds 7, 8, and 9 also showed their novel properties to inhibit dual targets by irreversible inhibition, indicating their effectiveness for possibly developing future drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Nonetheless, to confirm the theoretical findings here, the effectiveness of the above compounds as inhibitors of 3CLPro and PLPro warrants future investigations using suitable in vitro and in vivo tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quaiser Saquib
- Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed H Bakheit
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarfaraz Ahmed
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sabiha M Ansari
- Botany & Microbiology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M Al-Salem
- Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz A Al-Khedhairy
- Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Akasov RA, Chepikova OE, Pallaeva TN, Gorokhovets NV, Siniavin AE, Gushchin VA, Savvateeva LV, Vinokurov IA, Khochenkov DA, Zamyatnin AA, Khaydukov EV. Evaluation of molecular mechanisms of riboflavin anti-COVID-19 action reveals anti-inflammatory efficacy rather than antiviral activity. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2024; 1868:130582. [PMID: 38340879 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is one of the most important water-soluble vitamins and a coenzyme involved in many biochemical processes. It has previously been shown that adjuvant therapy with flavin mononucleotide (a water-soluble form of riboflavin) correlates with normalization of clinically relevant immune markers in patients with COVID-19, but the mechanism of this effect remains unclear. Here, the antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of riboflavin were investigated to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the riboflavin-induced effects. METHODS Riboflavin was evaluated for recombinant SARS-CoV-2 PLpro inhibition in an enzyme kinetic assay and for direct inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells, as well as for anti-inflammatory activity in polysaccharide-induced inflammation models, including endothelial cells in vitro and acute lung inflammation in vivo. RESULTS For the first time, the ability of riboflavin at high concentrations (above 50 μM) to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protease in vitro was demonstrated; however, no inhibition of viral replication in Vero E6 cells in vitro was found. At the same time, riboflavin exerted a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect in the polysaccharide-induced inflammation model, both in vitro, preventing polysaccharide-induced cell death, and in vivo, reducing inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and normalizing lung histology. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that riboflavin reveals anti-inflammatory rather than antiviral activity for SARS-CoV-2 infection. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Riboflavin could be suggested as a promising compound for the therapy of inflammatory diseases of broad origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman A Akasov
- Federal Scientific Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119333, Russia; Institute of Molecular Theranostics, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia; Moscow State Pedagogical University, Moscow 119435, Russia.
| | - Olga E Chepikova
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia; Research Center for Translational Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Tatiana N Pallaeva
- Federal Scientific Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119333, Russia; Research Center for Translational Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia
| | - Neonila V Gorokhovets
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Andrei E Siniavin
- Federal State Budget Institution "National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology Named after Honorary Academician N F Gamaleya" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow 123098, Russia; Department of Molecular Neuroimmune Signalling, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Gushchin
- Federal State Budget Institution "National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology Named after Honorary Academician N F Gamaleya" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow 123098, Russia; Department of Virology, Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Lyudmila V Savvateeva
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Ivan A Vinokurov
- Petrovsky National Research Center of Surgery, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Khochenkov
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow 115478, Russia; Togliatti State University, Togliatti 445020, Russia
| | - Andrey A Zamyatnin
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi 354340, Russia; Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119234, Russia; Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia
| | - Evgeny V Khaydukov
- Federal Scientific Research Center "Crystallography and Photonics" of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119333, Russia; Moscow State Pedagogical University, Moscow 119435, Russia
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Chan HTH, Brewitz L, Lukacik P, Strain-Damerell C, Walsh MA, Schofield CJ, Duarte F. Studies on the selectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease reveal the importance of the P2' proline of the viral polyprotein. RSC Chem Biol 2024; 5:117-130. [PMID: 38333195 PMCID: PMC10849127 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00128h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) is an antiviral drug target that catalyzes the hydrolysis of the viral polyproteins pp1a/1ab, so releasing the non-structural proteins (nsps) 1-3 that are essential for the coronavirus lifecycle. The LXGG↓X motif in pp1a/1ab is crucial for recognition and cleavage by PLpro. We describe molecular dynamics, docking, and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations to investigate how oligopeptide substrates derived from the viral polyprotein bind to PLpro. The results reveal how the substrate sequence affects the efficiency of PLpro-catalyzed hydrolysis. In particular, a proline at the P2' position promotes catalysis, as validated by residue substitutions and mass spectrometry-based analyses. Analysis of PLpro catalyzed hydrolysis of LXGG motif-containing oligopeptides derived from human proteins suggests that factors beyond the LXGG motif and the presence of a proline residue at P2' contribute to catalytic efficiency, possibly reflecting the promiscuity of PLpro. The results will help in identifying PLpro substrates and guiding inhibitor design.
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Affiliation(s)
- H T Henry Chan
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Lennart Brewitz
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - Martin A Walsh
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Fernanda Duarte
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
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Wang Q, Lu X, Jia R, Yan X, Wang J, Zhao L, Zhong R, Sun G. Recent advances in chemometric modelling of inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24209. [PMID: 38293468 PMCID: PMC10826659 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused great harm to all countries worldwide. This disease can be prevented by vaccination and managed using various treatment methods, including injections, oral medications, or aerosol therapies. However, the selection of suitable compounds for the research and development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs is a daunting task because of the vast databases of available compounds. The traditional process of drug research and development is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and costly. The application of chemometrics can significantly expedite drug R&D. This is particularly necessary and important for drug development against pandemic public emergency diseases, such as COVID-19. Through various chemometric techniques, such as quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modelling, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, compounds with inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 can be quickly screened, allowing researchers to focus on the few prioritised candidates. In addition, the ADMET properties of the screened candidate compounds should be further explored to promote the successful discovery of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. In this case, considerable time and economic costs can be saved while minimising the need for extensive animal experiments, in line with the 3R principles. This paper focuses on recent advances in chemometric modelling studies of COVID-19-related inhibitors, highlights current limitations, and outlines potential future directions for development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental and Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Xinyi Lu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental and Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Runqing Jia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Xinlong Yan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Translational Medicine Laboratory, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Lijiao Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental and Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Rugang Zhong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental and Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Guohui Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental and Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
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Kralj S, Jukič M, Bahun M, Kranjc L, Kolarič A, Hodošček M, Ulrih NP, Bren U. Identification of Triazolopyrimidinyl Scaffold SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease (PL pro) Inhibitor. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:169. [PMID: 38399230 PMCID: PMC10893172 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The global impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its companion disease, COVID-19, has reminded us of the importance of basic coronaviral research. In this study, a comprehensive approach using molecular docking, in vitro assays, and molecular dynamics simulations was applied to identify potential inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro), a key and underexplored viral enzyme target. A focused protease inhibitor library was initially created and molecular docking was performed using CmDock software (v0.2.0), resulting in the selection of hit compounds for in vitro testing on the isolated enzyme. Among them, compound 372 exhibited promising inhibitory properties against PLpro, with an IC50 value of 82 ± 34 μM. The compound also displayed a new triazolopyrimidinyl scaffold not yet represented within protease inhibitors. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated the favorable binding properties of compound 372. Structural analysis highlighted its key interactions with PLpro, and we stress its potential for further optimization. Moreover, besides compound 372 as a candidate for PLpro inhibitor development, this study elaborates on the PLpro binding site dynamics and provides a valuable contribution for further efforts in pan-coronaviral PLpro inhibitor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastjan Kralj
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova Ulica 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marko Jukič
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova Ulica 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška Ulica 8, SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia
- Institute of Enviormental Protection and Sensors, Beloruska Ulica 7, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Miha Bahun
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Luka Kranjc
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- National Institute of Biology, Večna Pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anja Kolarič
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova Ulica 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Milan Hodošček
- National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nataša Poklar Ulrih
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urban Bren
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova Ulica 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška Ulica 8, SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia
- Institute of Enviormental Protection and Sensors, Beloruska Ulica 7, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
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Bhattacharya P, Mandal A. Identification of amentoflavone as a potent SARS-CoV-2 M pro inhibitor: a combination of computational studies and in vitro biological evaluation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-19. [PMID: 38263736 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2304676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Small-molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro that block the active site pocket of the viral main protease have been considered potential therapeutics for the development of drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Here, we report the identification of amentoflavone (a biflavonoid) through docking-based virtual screening of a library comprised of 231 compounds consisting of flavonoids and isoflavonoids. The docking results were further substantiated through extensive analysis of the data obtained from all-atom 150 ns MD simulation. End-state effective free energy calculations using MM-PBSA calculations further suggested that (Ra)-amentoflavone (C3'-C8''-atropisomer) may show a greater binding affinity towards the Mpro than (Sa)-amentoflavone. In vitro cytotoxicity assay established that amentoflavone showed a high CC50 value indicating much lower toxicity. Further, potent inhibition of the Mpro by amentoflavone was established by studying the effect on HEK293T cells treated with SARS-CoV-2 Mpro expressing plasmid.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anirban Mandal
- Department of Microbiology, Mrinalini Datta Mahavidyapith, Kolkata, India
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Jadhav P, Huang B, Osipiuk J, Zhang X, Tan H, Tesar C, Endres M, Jedrzejczak R, Tan B, Deng X, Joachimiak A, Cai J, Wang J. Structure-based design of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:116011. [PMID: 38065031 PMCID: PMC11194760 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116011] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2, an RNA virus with high transmissibility and mutation rate. Given the paucity of orally bioavailable antiviral drugs to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is a critical need for additional antivirals with alternative mechanisms of action. Papain-like protease (PLpro) is one of the two SARS-CoV-2 encoded viral cysteine proteases essential for viral replication. PLpro cleaves at three sites of the viral polyproteins. In addition, PLpro antagonizes the host immune response upon viral infection by cleaving ISG15 and ubiquitin from host proteins. Therefore, PLpro is a validated antiviral drug target. In this study, we report the X-ray crystal structures of papain-like protease (PLpro) with two potent inhibitors, Jun9722 and Jun9843. Subsequently, we designed and synthesized several series of analogs to explore the structure-activity relationship, which led to the discovery of PLpro inhibitors with potent enzymatic inhibitory activity and antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Together, the lead compounds are promising drug candidates for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Jadhav
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
| | - Jerzy Osipiuk
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Department Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Haozhou Tan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Christine Tesar
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA; Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60667, USA
| | - Michael Endres
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA; Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60667, USA
| | - Robert Jedrzejczak
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA; Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60667, USA
| | - Bin Tan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Xufang Deng
- Department Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA; Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Andrzej Joachimiak
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, 60439, USA; Center for Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases, Consortium for Advanced Science and Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60667, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60367, USA.
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
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Harding SD, Armstrong JF, Faccenda E, Southan C, Alexander SH, Davenport AP, Spedding M, Davies JA. The IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY in 2024. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:D1438-D1449. [PMID: 37897341 PMCID: PMC10767925 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (GtoPdb; https://www.guidetopharmacology.org) is an open-access, expert-curated, online database that provides succinct overviews and key references for pharmacological targets and their recommended experimental ligands. It includes over 3039 protein targets and 12 163 ligand molecules, including approved drugs, small molecules, peptides and antibodies. Here, we report recent developments to the resource and describe expansion in content over the six database releases made during the last two years. The database update section of this paper focuses on two areas relating to important global health challenges. The first, SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19, remains a major concern and we describe our efforts to expand the database to include a new family of coronavirus proteins. The second area is antimicrobial resistance, for which we have extended our coverage of antibacterials in partnership with AntibioticDB, a collaboration that has continued through support from GARDP. We discuss other areas of curation and also focus on our external links to resources such as PubChem that bring important synergies to the resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Harding
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Jane F Armstrong
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Elena Faccenda
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Christopher Southan
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Stephen P H Alexander
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Anthony P Davenport
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | | | - Jamie A Davies
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
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Borba JRBDM, de Araújo LP, Veloso MP, da Silveira NJF. Applying the bioisosterism strategy to obtain lead compounds against SARS-CoV-2 cysteine proteases: An in-silico approach. J Comput Chem 2024; 45:35-46. [PMID: 37641955 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.27217] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 cysteine proteases are essential nonstructural proteins due to their role in the formation of the virus multiple enzyme replication-transcription complex. As a result, those functional proteins are extremely relevant targets in the development of a new drug candidate to fight COVID-19. Based on this fact and guided by the bioisosterism strategy, the present work has selected 126 out of 1050 ligands from DrugBank website. Subsequently, 831 chemical analogs containing bioisosteres, some of which became structurally simplified, were created using the MB-Isoster software, and molecular docking simulations were performed using AutoDock Vina. Finally, a study of physicochemical properties, along with pharmacokinetic profiles, was carried out through SwissADME and ADMETlab 2.0 platforms. The promising results obtained with the molecules encoded as DB00549_BI_005, DB04868_BI_003, DB11984_BI_002, DB12364_BI_006 and DB12805_BI_004 must be confirmed by molecular dynamics studies, followed by in vitro and in vivo empirical tests that ratify the advocated in-silico results.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Ricardo Bueno de Morais Borba
- João Ricardo Bueno de Morais Borba, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Computer Simulation - MolMod-CS, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas - UNIFAL-MG, Alfenas, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Pereira de Araújo
- Leonardo Pereira de Araújo, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Computer Simulation - MolMod-CS, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas - UNIFAL-MG, Alfenas, Brazil
| | - Marcia Paranho Veloso
- Marcia Paranho Veloso, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Computer Simulation - MolMod-CS, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas - UNIFAL-MG, Alfenas, Brazil
| | - Nelson José Freitas da Silveira
- Nelson José Freitas da Silveira, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Computer Simulation - MolMod-CS, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Alfenas - UNIFAL-MG, Alfenas, Brazil
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40
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Saha A, Pushpa, Moitra S, Basak D, Brahma S, Mondal D, Molla SH, Samadder A, Nandi S. Targeting Cysteine Proteases and their Inhibitors to Combat Trypanosomiasis. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2135-2169. [PMID: 37340748 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230619160509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosomiasis, caused by protozoan parasites of the Trypanosoma genus, remains a significant health burden in several regions of the world. Cysteine proteases play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Trypanosoma parasites and have emerged as potential therapeutic targets for the development of novel antiparasitic drugs. INTRODUCTION This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of cysteine proteases in trypanosomiasis and their potential as therapeutic targets. We discuss the biological significance of cysteine proteases in Trypanosoma parasites and their involvement in essential processes, such as host immune evasion, cell invasion, and nutrient acquisition. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies and research articles on the role of cysteine proteases and their inhibitors in trypanosomiasis. The selected studies were critically analyzed to extract key findings and provide a comprehensive overview of the topic. RESULTS Cysteine proteases, such as cruzipain, TbCatB and TbCatL, have been identified as promising therapeutic targets due to their essential roles in Trypanosoma pathogenesis. Several small molecule inhibitors and peptidomimetics have been developed to target these proteases and have shown promising activity in preclinical studies. CONCLUSION Targeting cysteine proteases and their inhibitors holds great potential for the development of novel antiparasitic drugs against trypanosomiasis. The identification of potent and selective cysteine protease inhibitors could significantly contribute to the combat against trypanosomiasis and improve the prospects for the treatment of this neglected tropical disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aloke Saha
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Pushpa
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Susmita Moitra
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Deblina Basak
- Endocrinology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Sayandeep Brahma
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Dipu Mondal
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Sabir Hossen Molla
- Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Asmita Samadder
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Lab., Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Sisir Nandi
- Global Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Affiliated to Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University), Kashipur, 244713, India
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Yi Y, Yu R, Xue H, Jin Z, Zhang M, Bao YO, Wang Z, Wei H, Qiao X, Yang H. Chrysin 7-O-β-D-glucuronide, a dual inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 3CL pro and PL pro, for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107039. [PMID: 37981073 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.107039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Given the advent of subvariants, there is an urgent need to develop novel drugs. The aim of this study was to find SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi targeting the proteases 3CLpro and PLpro. After screening 25 flavonoids, chrysin 7-O-β-D-glucuronide was found to be a potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 on Vero E6 cells, with half-maximal effective concentration of 8.72 µM. Surface plasmon resonance assay, site-directed mutagenesis and enzymatic activity measurements indicated that chrysin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide inhibits SARS-CoV-2 by binding to H41 of 3CLpro, and K157 and E167 of PLpro. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry analysis showed that chrysin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide changes the conformation of PLpro. Finally, chrysin 7-O-β-D-glucuronide was shown to have anti-inflammatory activity, mainly due to reduction of the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; Yunnan Baiyao International Medical Research Centre, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Rong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Heng Xue
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Centre for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengtong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang-Oujie Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zilong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongping Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Centre for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Centre for Biosafety Mega-Science, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
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Mia ME, Howlader M, Akter F, Hossain MM. Preclinical and Clinical Investigations of Potential Drugs and Vaccines for COVID-19 Therapy: A Comprehensive Review With Recent Update. CLINICAL PATHOLOGY (THOUSAND OAKS, VENTURA COUNTY, CALIF.) 2024; 17:2632010X241263054. [PMID: 39070952 PMCID: PMC11282570 DOI: 10.1177/2632010x241263054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic-led worldwide healthcare crisis necessitates prompt societal, ecological, and medical efforts to stop or reduce the rising number of fatalities. Numerous mRNA based vaccines and vaccines for viral vectors have been licensed for use in emergencies which showed 90% to 95% efficacy in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, safety issues, vaccine reluctance, and skepticism remain major concerns for making mass vaccination a successful approach to treat COVID-19. Hence, alternative therapeutics is needed for eradicating the global burden of COVID-19 from developed and low-resource countries. Repurposing current medications and drug candidates could be a more viable option for treating SARS-CoV-2 as these therapies have previously passed a number of significant checkpoints for drug development and patient care. Besides vaccines, this review focused on the potential usage of alternative therapeutic agents including antiviral, antiparasitic, and antibacterial drugs, protease inhibitors, neuraminidase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies that are currently undergoing preclinical and clinical investigations to assess their effectiveness and safety in the treatment of COVID-19. Among the repurposed drugs, remdesivir is considered as the most promising agent, while favipiravir, molnupiravir, paxlovid, and lopinavir/ritonavir exhibited improved therapeutic effects in terms of elimination of viruses. However, the outcomes of treatment with oseltamivir, umifenovir, disulfiram, teicoplanin, and ivermectin were not significant. It is noteworthy that combining multiple drugs as therapy showcases impressive effectiveness in managing individuals with COVID-19. Tocilizumab is presently employed for the treatment of patients who exhibit COVID-19-related pneumonia. Numerous antiviral drugs such as galidesivir, griffithsin, and thapsigargin are under clinical trials which could be promising for treating COVID-19 individuals with severe symptoms. Supportive treatment for patients of COVID-19 may involve the use of corticosteroids, convalescent plasma, stem cells, pooled antibodies, vitamins, and natural substances. This study provides an updated progress in SARS-CoV-2 medications and a crucial guide for inventing novel interventions against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Easin Mia
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Mithu Howlader
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Farzana Akter
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Murad Hossain
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
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Li X, Song Y. Targeting SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 3: Function, structure, inhibition, and perspective in drug discovery. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103832. [PMID: 37977285 PMCID: PMC10872262 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103832] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
As a highly contagious human pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected billions of people worldwide with more than 6 million deaths. With several effective vaccines and antiviral drugs now available, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic been brought under control. However, a new pathogenic coronavirus could emerge in the future, given the zoonotic nature of this virus. Natural evolution and drug-induced mutations of SARS-CoV-2 also require continued efforts for new anti-coronavirus drugs. Nonstructural protein (nsp) 3 of CoVs is a large, multifunctional protein, containing a papain-like protease (PLpro) and a macrodomain (Mac1), which are essential for viral replication. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the function, structure, and inhibition of SARS-CoV/-CoV-2 PLpro and Mac1. We also discuss advances in, and challenges to, the discovery of drugs against these targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Yongcheng Song
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Forrestall K, Pringle ES, Sands D, Duguay BA, Farewell B, Woldemariam T, Falzarano D, Pottie I, McCormick C, Darvesh S. A phenothiazine urea derivative broadly inhibits coronavirus replication via viral protease inhibition. Antiviral Res 2023; 220:105758. [PMID: 38008194 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105758] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus (CoV) replication requires efficient cleavage of viral polyproteins into an array of non-structural proteins involved in viral replication, organelle formation, viral RNA synthesis, and host shutoff. Human CoVs (HCoVs) encode two viral cysteine proteases, main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro), that mediate polyprotein cleavage. Using a structure-guided approach, a phenothiazine urea derivative that inhibits both SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and PLpro protease activity was identified. In silico docking studies also predicted the binding of the phenothiazine urea to the active sites of structurally similar Mpro and PLpro proteases from distantly related alphacoronavirus, HCoV-229 E (229 E), and the betacoronavirus, HCoV-OC43 (OC43). The lead phenothiazine urea derivative displayed broad antiviral activity against all three HCoVs tested in cellulo. It was further demonstrated that the compound inhibited 229 E and OC43 at an early stage of viral replication, with diminished formation of viral replication organelles, and the RNAs that are made within them, as expected following viral protease inhibition. These observations suggest that the phenothiazine urea derivative readily inhibits viral replication and may broadly inhibit proteases of diverse coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Forrestall
- Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine and Neurology) and Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Eric S Pringle
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Dane Sands
- Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine and Neurology) and Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Brett A Duguay
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Brett Farewell
- Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine and Neurology) and Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | | | - Darryl Falzarano
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), 120 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5E3; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5B4
| | - Ian Pottie
- Department of Chemistry & Physics, Mount Saint Vincent University, 166 Bedford Highway, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3M 2J6; Department of Chemistry, Saint Mary's University, 923 Robbie Street, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 3C3
| | - Craig McCormick
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Sultan Darvesh
- Department of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine and Neurology) and Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2; Department of Chemistry & Physics, Mount Saint Vincent University, 166 Bedford Highway, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3M 2J6.
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45
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Moghadasi SA, Moraes SN, Harris RS. Cellular Assays for Dynamic Quantification of Deubiquitinase Activity and Inhibition. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168316. [PMID: 37858708 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are proteolytic enzymes that catalyze the removal of ubiquitin from protein substrates. The critical role of DUBs in regulating protein ubiquitination makes them attractive drug targets in oncology, neurodegenerative disease, and antiviral development. Biochemical assays for quantifying DUB activity have enabled characterization of substrate preferences and discovery of small molecule inhibitors. However, assessing the efficacy of these inhibitors in cellular contexts to support clinical drug development has been limited by a lack of tractable cell-based assays. To address this gap, we developed a two-color flow cytometry-based assay that allows for sensitive quantification of DUB activity and inhibition in living cells. The utility of this system was demonstrated by quantifying the potency of GRL0617 against the viral DUB SARS-CoV-2 PLpro, identifying potential GRL0617 resistance mutations, and performing structure-function analysis of the vOTU domain from the recently emerged Yezo virus. In addition, the system was optimized for cellular DUBs by modifying a GFP-targeting nanobody to recruit USP7 and USP28 to benchmark a panel of reported inhibitors and assess inhibition kinetics. Together, these results demonstrate the utility of these assays for studying DUB biology in a cellular context with potential to aid in inhibitor discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Arad Moghadasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sofia N Moraes
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Reuben S Harris
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
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46
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Meng H, Zhou J, Wang M, Zheng M, Xing Y, Wang Y. SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease Negatively Regulates the NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway and Pyroptosis by Reducing the Oligomerization and Ubiquitination of ASC. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2799. [PMID: 38004809 PMCID: PMC10673202 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction of viruses with hosts is complex, especially so with the antiviral immune systems of hosts, and the underlying mechanisms remain perplexing. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 may result in cytokine syndrome in the later stages, reflecting the activation of the antiviral immune response. However, viruses also encode molecules to negatively regulate the antiviral immune systems of hosts to achieve immune evasion and benefit viral replication during the early stage of infection. It has been observed that the papain-like protease (PLP) encoded by coronavirus could negatively regulate the host's IFNβ innate immunity. In this study, we first found that eight inflammasome-related genes were downregulated in CD14+ monocytes from COVID-19 patients. Subsequently, we observed that SARS-CoV-2 PLP negatively regulated the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, inhibited the secretion of IL-1β, and decreased the caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis of human monocytes. The mechanisms for this may arise because PLP coimmunoprecipitates with ASC, reduces ASC ubiquitination, and inhibits ASC oligomerization and the formation of ASC specks. These findings suggest that PLP may inhibit strong immune defenses and provide the maximum advantage for viral replication. This research may allow us to better understand the flex function of CoV-encoding proteases and provide a new perspective on the innate immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Meng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100015, China
- Bioinformatics Center of Academy of Military Medicine Science, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Jianglin Zhou
- Bioinformatics Center of Academy of Military Medicine Science, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Mingyu Wang
- Bioinformatics Center of Academy of Military Medicine Science, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Mei Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Yaling Xing
- Bioinformatics Center of Academy of Military Medicine Science, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yajie Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100015, China
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47
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Ghosh AK, Shahabi D, Imhoff MEC, Kovela S, Sharma A, Hattori SI, Higashi-Kuwata N, Mitsuya H, Mesecar AD. SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) inhibitory and antiviral activity of small molecule derivatives for drug leads. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 96:129489. [PMID: 37770002 PMCID: PMC10842477 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
We report here the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of small molecule SARS-CoV-2 PLpro inhibitors. We compared the activity of selected compounds in both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 PLpro inhibitory and antiviral assays. We have synthesized and evaluated several new structural variants of previous leads against SARS-CoV-2 PLpro. The replacement of the carboxamide functionality with sulfonamide derivatives resulted in PLpro inhibitors with potent PLpro inhibitory and antiviral activity in VeroE6 cells similar to GRL0617. To obtain molecular insight, we created an optimized model of a potent sulfonamide derivative in the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun K Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA.
| | - Dana Shahabi
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | | | - Satish Kovela
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Ashish Sharma
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Shin-Ichiro Hattori
- Department of Refractory Viral Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8655 Japan
| | - Nobuyo Higashi-Kuwata
- Department of Refractory Viral Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8655 Japan
| | - Hiroaki Mitsuya
- Department of Refractory Viral Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8655 Japan; Department of Clinical Sciences, Kumamoto University Hospital, Kumamoto 860-8556 Japan; Experimental Retrovirology Section, HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Andrew D Mesecar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
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48
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Brewitz L, Henry Chan HT, Lukacik P, Strain-Damerell C, Walsh MA, Duarte F, Schofield CJ. Mass spectrometric assays monitoring the deubiquitinase activity of the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease inform on the basis of substrate selectivity and have utility for substrate identification. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 95:117498. [PMID: 37857256 PMCID: PMC10933793 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) and main protease (Mpro) are nucleophilic cysteine enzymes that catalyze hydrolysis of the viral polyproteins pp1a/1ab. By contrast with Mpro, PLpro is also a deubiquitinase (DUB) that accepts post-translationally modified human proteins as substrates. Here we report studies on the DUB activity of PLpro using synthetic Nε-lysine-branched oligopeptides as substrates that mimic post-translational protein modifications by ubiquitin (Ub) or Ub-like modifiers (UBLs), such as interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15). Mass spectrometry (MS)-based assays confirm the DUB activity of isolated recombinant PLpro. They reveal that the sequence of both the peptide fragment derived from the post-translationally modified protein and that derived from the UBL affects PLpro catalysis; the nature of substrate binding in the S sites appears to be more important for catalytic efficiency than binding in the S' sites. Importantly, the results reflect the reported cellular substrate selectivity of PLpro, i.e. human proteins conjugated to ISG15 are better substrates than those conjugated to Ub or other UBLs. The combined experimental and modelling results imply that PLpro catalysis is affected not only by the identity of the substrate residues binding in the S and S' sites, but also by the substrate fold and the conformational dynamics of the blocking loop 2 of the PLpro:substrate complex. Nε-Lysine-branched oligopeptides thus have potential to help the identification of PLpro substrates. More generally, the results imply that MS-based assays with Nε-lysine-branched oligopeptides have potential to monitor catalysis by human DUBs and hence to inform on their substrate preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Brewitz
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom; The Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - H T Henry Chan
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0FA Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0FA Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Martin A Walsh
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Didcot, United Kingdom; Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0FA Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Fernanda Duarte
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom; The Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom.
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49
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Sayaf AM, Ahmad H, Aslam MA, Ghani SA, Bano S, Yousafi Q, Suleman M, Khan A, Yeoh KK, Wei DQ. Pharmacotherapeutic Potential of Natural Products to Target the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro Using Molecular Screening and Simulation Approaches. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2023; 195:6959-6978. [PMID: 36961512 PMCID: PMC10037394 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-023-04466-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Because of the essential role of PLpro in the regulation of replication and dysregulation of the host immune sensing, it is considered a therapeutic target for novel drug development. To reduce the risk of immune evasion and vaccine effectiveness, small molecular therapeutics are the best complementary approach. Hence, we used a structure-based drug-designing approach to identify potential small molecular inhibitors for PLpro of SARS-CoV-2. Initial scoring and re-scoring of the best hits revealed that three compounds NPC320891 (2,2-Dihydroxyindene-1,3-Dione), NPC474594 (Isonarciclasine), and NPC474595 (7-Deoxyisonarciclasine) exhibit higher docking scores than the control GRL0617. Investigation of the binding modes revealed that alongside the essential contacts, i.e., Asp164, Glu167, Tyr264, and Gln269, these molecules also target Lys157 and Tyr268 residues in the active site. Moreover, molecular simulation demonstrated that the reported top hits also possess stable dynamics and structural packing. Furthermore, the residues' flexibility revealed that all the complexes demonstrated higher flexibility in the regions 120-140, 160-180, and 205-215. The 120-140 and 160-180 lie in the finger region of PLpro, which may open/close during the simulation to cover the active site and push the ligand inside. In addition, the total binding free energy was reported to be - 32.65 ± 0.17 kcal/mol for the GRL0617-PLpro, for the NPC320891-PLpro complex, the TBE was - 35.58 ± 0.14 kcal/mol, for the NPC474594-PLpro, the TBE was - 43.72 ± 0.22 kcal/mol, while for NPC474595-PLpro complex, the TBE was calculated to be - 41.61 ± 0.20 kcal/mol, respectively. Clustering of the protein's motion and FEL further revealed that in NPC474594 and NPC474595 complexes, the drug was seen to have moved inside the binding cavity along with the loop in the palm region harboring the catalytic triad, thus justifying the higher binding of these two molecules particularly. In conclusion, the overall results reflect favorable binding of the identified hits strongly than the control drug, thus demanding in vitro and in vivo validation for clinical purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abrar Mohammad Sayaf
- School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM George Town, Penang Malaysia
| | - Hassaan Ahmad
- Rawalpindi Medical University, Chamanzar Colony, Rawalpindi, Punjab 46000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ammar Aslam
- Rawalpindi Medical University, Chamanzar Colony, Rawalpindi, Punjab 46000, Pakistan
| | | | - Saira Bano
- Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Qudsia Yousafi
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad-Sahiwal Campus, Sahiwal, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Suleman
- Centre for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Swat, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan
| | - Abbas Khan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 People’s Republic of China
- Zhongjing Research and Industrialization, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Zhongguancun Scientific Park, Meixi, Nanyang, Henan 473006 People’s Republic of China
| | - Kar Kheng Yeoh
- School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM George Town, Penang Malaysia
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 People’s Republic of China
- Zhongjing Research and Industrialization, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Zhongguancun Scientific Park, Meixi, Nanyang, Henan 473006 People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Shanghai-Islamabad-Belgrade Joint Innovation Center On Antibacterial Resistances, Joint Laboratory of International Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030 People’s Republic of China
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Vanke Cloud City Phase I Building 8, Xili Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055 People’s Republic of China
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50
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Naz F, Khan I, Baammi S, Islam A. Investigation of the interactions of HSA and SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease against eugenol for novel COVID-19 drug discovery: spectroscopic and insilico study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:10161-10170. [PMID: 36636828 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2164062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus family consist of a member known as SARS-CoV-2, spread drastically in 2019 (Covid-19), affecting millions of people worldwide. Till date there is no clear-clinical therapy or drug, targeted to cure this serious disease. Researches are going on to prevent this corona virus. Here, we tried to explore a novel SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease as a potential inhibitor. Finally, eugenol was docked with this protease to find prime SARS-inhibitors. In silico studies revealed that eugenol binds to the active site of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease with appropriate binding. Moreover, the MD simulation for 100 ns and MMPBSA calculation reveals that eugenol possess potential phytotherapeutic properties against COVID-19. The interaction of eugenol with human serum albumin has been examined by using fluorescence, UV-vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism as well as computational techniques such as molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation and MMPBSA calculation. Overall investigation shows eugenol having good affinity for HSA Ka 6.80 × 106 M-1.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farheen Naz
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Imran Khan
- Department of Computer Science, Deanship of Educational Services, Qassim University, Buraidah, Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Soukayna Baammi
- African Genome Centre (AGC), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco
| | - Asimul Islam
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
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