1
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Al Adem K, Ferreira JC, Villanueva AJ, Fadl S, El-Sadaany F, Masmoudi I, Gidiya Y, Gurudza T, Cardoso THS, Saksena NK, Rabeh WM. 3-chymotrypsin-like protease in SARS-CoV-2. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20231395. [PMID: 39036877 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses constitute a significant threat to the human population. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, SARS-CoV-2, is a highly pathogenic human coronavirus that has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It has led to a global viral outbreak with an exceptional spread and a high death toll, highlighting the need for effective antiviral strategies. 3-Chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), the main protease in SARS-CoV-2, plays an indispensable role in the SARS-CoV-2 viral life cycle by cleaving the viral polyprotein to produce 11 individual non-structural proteins necessary for viral replication. 3CLpro is one of two proteases that function to produce new viral particles. It is a highly conserved cysteine protease with identical structural folds in all known human coronaviruses. Inhibitors binding with high affinity to 3CLpro will prevent the cleavage of viral polyproteins, thus impeding viral replication. Multiple strategies have been implemented to screen for inhibitors against 3CLpro, including peptide-like and small molecule inhibitors that covalently and non-covalently bind the active site, respectively. In addition, allosteric sites of 3CLpro have been identified to screen for small molecules that could make non-competitive inhibitors of 3CLpro. In essence, this review serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the structural intricacies and functional dynamics of 3CLpro, emphasizing key findings that elucidate its role as the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. Notably, the review is a critical resource in recognizing the advancements in identifying and developing 3CLpro inhibitors as effective antiviral strategies against COVID-19, some of which are already approved for clinical use in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenana Al Adem
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Juliana C Ferreira
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Adrian J Villanueva
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Samar Fadl
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Farah El-Sadaany
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Imen Masmoudi
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yugmee Gidiya
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tariro Gurudza
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Thyago H S Cardoso
- OMICS Centre of Excellence, G42 Healthcare, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nitin K Saksena
- Victoria University, Footscray Campus, Melbourne, VIC. Australia
| | - Wael M Rabeh
- Science Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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2
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Kovalevsky A, Aniana A, Coates L, Ghirlando R, Nashed NT, Louis JM. Visualizing the Active Site Oxyanion Loop Transition Upon Ensitrelvir Binding and Transient Dimerization of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168616. [PMID: 38762033 PMCID: PMC11182712 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168616] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
N-terminal autoprocessing from its polyprotein precursor enables creating the mature-like stable dimer interface of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MPro), concomitant with the active site oxyanion loop equilibrium transitioning to the active conformation (E*) and onset of catalytic activity. Through mutagenesis of critical interface residues and evaluating noncovalent inhibitor (ensitrelvir, ESV) facilitated dimerization through its binding to MPro, we demonstrate that residues extending from Ser1 through Glu14 are critical for dimerization. Combined mutations G11A, E290A and R298A (MPro™) restrict dimerization even upon binding of ESV to monomeric MPro™ with an inhibitor dissociation constant of 7.4 ± 1.6 µM. Contrasting the covalent inhibitor NMV or GC373 binding to monomeric MPro, ESV binding enabled capturing the transition of the oxyanion loop conformations in the absence of a reactive warhead and independent of dimerization. Characterization of complexes by room-temperature X-ray crystallography reveals ESV bound to the E* state of monomeric MPro as well as an intermediate approaching the inactive state (E). It appears that the E* to E equilibrium shift occurs initially from G138-F140 residues, leading to the unwinding of the loop and formation of the 310-helix. Finally, we describe a transient dimer structure of the MPro precursor held together through interactions of residues A5-G11 with distinct states of the active sites, E and E*, likely representing an intermediate in the autoprocessing pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Kovalevsky
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
| | - Annie Aniana
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892-0520, USA
| | - Leighton Coates
- Second Target Station, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Rodolfo Ghirlando
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892-0520, USA
| | - Nashaat T Nashed
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892-0520, USA
| | - John M Louis
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892-0520, USA.
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3
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Zhu Y, Meng J, Feng B, Zhao Y, Zang Y, Lu L, Su M, Yang Q, Zhang Q, Feng L, Zhao J, Shao M, Ma Y, Yang X, Yang H, Li J, Jiang X, Rao Z. De novo design of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors with characteristic binding modes. Structure 2024:S0969-2126(24)00217-X. [PMID: 38925121 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.05.019] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which spreads rapidly all over the world. The main protease (Mpro) is significant to the replication and transcription of viruses, making it an attractive drug target against coronaviruses. Here, we introduce a series of novel inhibitors which are designed de novo through structure-based drug design approach that have great potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Mproin vitro. High-resolution structures show that these inhibitors form covalent bonds with the catalytic cysteine through the novel dibromomethyl ketone (DBMK) as a reactive warhead. At the same time, the designed phenyl group beside the DBMK warhead inserts into the cleft between H41 and C145 through π-π stacking interaction, splitting the catalytic dyad and disrupting proton transfer. This unique binding model provides novel clues for the cysteine protease inhibitor development of SARS-CoV-2 as well as other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China
| | - Jiaolong Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Bo Feng
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yao Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China.
| | - Yi Zang
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Lingling Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Mingbo Su
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510005, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Lu Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Response, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jinyi Zhao
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Maolin Shao
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiuna Yang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Haitao Yang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jia Li
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China.
| | - Xuefeng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular & Process Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
| | - Zihe Rao
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Response, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Tianjin 300071, China; Laboratory of Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100091, China.
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4
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Hillebrand L, Liang XJ, Serafim RAM, Gehringer M. Emerging and Re-emerging Warheads for Targeted Covalent Inhibitors: An Update. J Med Chem 2024; 67:7668-7758. [PMID: 38711345 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Covalent inhibitors and other types of covalent modalities have seen a revival in the past two decades, with a variety of new targeted covalent drugs having been approved in recent years. A key feature of such molecules is an intrinsically reactive group, typically a weak electrophile, which enables the irreversible or reversible formation of a covalent bond with a specific amino acid of the target protein. This reactive group, often called the "warhead", is a critical determinant of the ligand's activity, selectivity, and general biological properties. In 2019, we summarized emerging and re-emerging warhead chemistries to target cysteine and other amino acids (Gehringer, M.; Laufer, S. A. J. Med. Chem. 2019, 62, 5673-5724; DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01153). Since then, the field has rapidly evolved. Here we discuss the progress on covalent warheads made since our last Perspective and their application in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Hillebrand
- Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Xiaojun Julia Liang
- Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided & Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ricardo A M Serafim
- Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Gehringer
- Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided & Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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5
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Pu LY, Li Z, Huang F, Li L, Ma Y, Ma M, Hu S, Wu Z. Efficient synthesis of novel colchicine-magnolol hybrids and evaluation of their inhibitory activity on key proteases of 2019-nCoV replication and acute lung injury. Nat Prod Res 2024; 38:1238-1247. [PMID: 36302171 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2022.2138870] [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: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV), is a life-threatening infectious condition. Acute lung injury is a common complication in patients with COVID-19. 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) of 2019-nCoV and neutrophil elastase are critical targets of COVID-19 and acute lung injury, respectively. Colchicine and magnolol are reported to exert inhibitory effects on inflammatory response, the severe comorbidity in both COVID-19 and acute lung injury. We thus designed and synthesized a series of novel colchicine-magnolol hybrids based on a two-step synthetic sequence. It was found that these novel hybrids provided unexpected inhibition on 3CLpro and neutrophil elastase, a bioactivity that colchicine and magnolol did not possess. These findings not only provide perquisites for further in vitro and in vivo investigation to confirm the therapeutic potentiality of novel colchicine-magnolol hybrids, but also suggest that the concurrent inhibition of 3CLpro and neutrophil elastase may enable novel colchicine-magnolol hybrids as effective multi-target drug compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhiyue Li
- Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Geriatrics, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feijuan Huang
- Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Geriatrics, Shenzhen, China
| | - Limin Li
- Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Geriatrics, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yucui Ma
- Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Geriatrics, Shenzhen, China
| | - Min Ma
- Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengquan Hu
- Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Geriatrics, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhengzhi Wu
- Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Geriatrics, Shenzhen, China
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6
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Brady DK, Gurijala AR, Huang L, Hussain AA, Lingan AL, Pembridge OG, Ratangee BA, Sealy TT, Vallone KT, Clements TP. A guide to COVID-19 antiviral therapeutics: a summary and perspective of the antiviral weapons against SARS-CoV-2 infection. FEBS J 2024; 291:1632-1662. [PMID: 36266238 PMCID: PMC9874604 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16662] [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: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Antiviral therapies are integral in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 (i.e. severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), the causative agent of COVID-19. Antiviral therapeutics can be divided into categories based on how they combat the virus, including viral entry into the host cell, viral replication, protein trafficking, post-translational processing, and immune response regulation. Drugs that target how the virus enters the cell include: Evusheld, REGEN-COV, bamlanivimab and etesevimab, bebtelovimab, sotrovimab, Arbidol, nitazoxanide, and chloroquine. Drugs that prevent the virus from replicating include: Paxlovid, remdesivir, molnupiravir, favipiravir, ribavirin, and Kaletra. Drugs that interfere with protein trafficking and post-translational processing include nitazoxanide and ivermectin. Lastly, drugs that target immune response regulation include interferons and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as dexamethasone. Antiviral therapies offer an alternative solution for those unable or unwilling to be vaccinated and are a vital weapon in the battle against the global pandemic. Learning more about these therapies helps raise awareness in the general population about the options available to them with respect to aiding in the reduction of the severity of COVID-19 infection. In this 'A Guide To' article, we provide an in-depth insight into the development of antiviral therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 and their ability to help fight COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drugan K. Brady
- Department of Biological SciencesVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Aashi R. Gurijala
- Department of Biological SciencesVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Liyu Huang
- Department of Biological SciencesVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Ali A. Hussain
- Department of Biological SciencesVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Audrey L. Lingan
- Department of Biological SciencesVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNUSA
| | | | - Brina A. Ratangee
- Department of Biological SciencesVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Tristan T. Sealy
- Department of Biological SciencesVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Kyle T. Vallone
- Department of Biological SciencesVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTNUSA
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7
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Kumar A, Vashisth H. Quantitative Assessment of Energetic Contributions of Residues in a SARS-CoV-2 Viral Enzyme/Nanobody Interface. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:2068-2076. [PMID: 38460144 PMCID: PMC10966652 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01933] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
The highly conserved protease enzyme from SARS-CoV-2 (MPro) is crucial for viral replication and is an attractive target for the design of novel inhibitory compounds. MPro is known to be conformationally flexible and has been stabilized in an extended conformation in a complex with a novel nanobody (NB2B4), which inhibits the dimerization of the enzyme via binding to an allosteric site. However, the energetic contributions of the nanobody residues stabilizing the MPro/nanobody interface remain unresolved. We probed these residues using all-atom MD simulations in combination with alchemical free energy calculations by studying the physical residue-residue interactions and discovered the role of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions in stabilizing the complex. Specifically, we found via mutational analysis that three interfacial nanobody residues (Y59, R106, and L109) contributed significantly, two residues (L107 and P110) contributed moderately, and two residues (H112 and T113) contributed minimally to the overall binding affinity of the nanobody. We also discovered that the nanobody affinity could be enhanced via a charge-reversal mutation (D62R) that alters the local interfacial electrostatic environment of this residue in the complex. These findings are potentially useful in designing novel synthetic nanobodies as allosteric inhibitors of MPro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Harish Vashisth
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, United States
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8
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Ghosh AK, Yadav M, Iddum S, Ghazi S, Lendy EK, Jayashankar U, Beechboard SN, Takamatsu Y, Hattori SI, Aamano M, Higashi-Kuwata N, Mitsuya H, Mesecar AD. Exploration of P1 and P4 modifications of nirmatrelvir: Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and X-ray structural studies of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116132. [PMID: 38335815 PMCID: PMC10964431 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
We report the synthesis, biological evaluation, and X-ray structural studies of a series of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors based upon the X-ray crystal structure of nirmatrelvir, an FDA approved drug that targets the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. The studies involved examination of various P4 moieties, P1 five- and six-membered lactam rings to improve potency. In particular, the six-membered P1 lactam ring analogs exhibited high SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitory activity. Several compounds effectively blocked SARS-CoV-2 replication in VeroE6 cells. One of these compounds maintained good antiviral activity against variants of concern including Delta and Omicron variants. A high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of an inhibitor bound to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro was determined to gain insight into the ligand-binding properties in the Mpro active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun K Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Monika Yadav
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Satyanarayana Iddum
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Somayeh Ghazi
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Emma K Lendy
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Uttara Jayashankar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Sydney N Beechboard
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Yuki Takamatsu
- Department of Refractory Viral Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichiro Hattori
- Department of Refractory Viral Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan
| | - Masayuki Aamano
- Department of Clinical Retrovirology, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, 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 Infectious Diseases, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan; Experimental Retrovirology Section, HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Andrew D Mesecar
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
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9
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Du S, Hu X, Menéndez-Arias L, Zhan P, Liu X. Target-based drug design strategies to overcome resistance to antiviral agents: opportunities and challenges. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 73:101053. [PMID: 38301487 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2024.101053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Viral infections have a major impact in human health. Ongoing viral transmission and escalating selective pressure have the potential to favor the emergence of vaccine- and antiviral drug-resistant viruses. Target-based approaches for the design of antiviral drugs can play a pivotal role in combating drug-resistant challenges. Drug design computational tools facilitate the discovery of novel drugs. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current drug design strategies employed in the field of antiviral drug resistance, illustrated through the description of a series of successful applications. These strategies include technologies that enhance compound-target affinity while minimizing interactions with mutated binding pockets. Furthermore, emerging approaches such as virtual screening, targeted protein/RNA degradation, and resistance analysis during drug design have been harnessed to curtail the emergence of drug resistance. Additionally, host targeting antiviral drugs offer a promising avenue for circumventing viral mutation. The widespread adoption of these refined drug design strategies will effectively address the prevailing challenge posed by antiviral drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqing Du
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Xueping Hu
- Institute of Frontier Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Luis Menéndez-Arias
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China; China-Belgium Collaborative Research Center for Innovative Antiviral Drugs of Shandong Province, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China; China-Belgium Collaborative Research Center for Innovative Antiviral Drugs of Shandong Province, 44 West Culture Road, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
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10
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Ashraf-Uz-Zaman M, Chua TK, Li X, Yao Y, Moku BK, Mishra CB, Avadhanula V, Piedra PA, Song Y. Design, Synthesis, X-ray Crystallography, and Biological Activities of Covalent, Non-Peptidic Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:715-731. [PMID: 38192109 PMCID: PMC10922772 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00565] [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] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has infected billions of people worldwide with flu-like symptoms since its emergence in 2019. It has caused deaths of several million people. The viral main protease (Mpro) is essential for SARS-CoV-2 replication and therefore a drug target. Several series of covalent inhibitors of Mpro were designed and synthesized. Structure-activity relationship studies show that (1) several chloroacetamide- and epoxide-based compounds targeting Cys145 are potent inhibitors with IC50 values as low as 0.49 μM and (2) Cys44 of Mpro is not nucleophilic for covalent inhibitor design. High-resolution X-ray studies revealed the protein-inhibitor interactions and mechanisms of inhibition. It is of interest that Cys145 preferably attacks the more hindered Cα atom of several epoxide inhibitors. Chloroacetamide inhibitor 13 and epoxide inhibitor 30 were found to inhibit cellular SARS-CoV-2 replication with an EC68 (half-log reduction of virus titer) of 3 and 5 μM. These compounds represent new pharmacological leads for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Ashraf-Uz-Zaman
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Teck Khiang Chua
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - 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
| | - Yuan Yao
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bala Krishna Moku
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chandra Bhushan Mishra
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vasanthi Avadhanula
- Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pedro A. Piedra
- Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, 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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11
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Tian L, Qiang T, Yang X, Gao Y, Zhai X, Kang K, Du C, Lu Q, Gao H, Zhang D, Xie X, Liang C. Development of de-novo coronavirus 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL pro) inhibitors since COVID-19 outbreak: A strategy to tackle challenges of persistent virus infection. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:115979. [PMID: 38048696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115979] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Although no longer a public health emergency of international concern, COVID-19 remains a persistent and critical health concern. The development of effective antiviral drugs could serve as the ultimate piece of the puzzle to curbing this global crisis. 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), with its substrate specificity mirroring that of the main picornavirus 3C protease and conserved across various coronaviruses, emerges as an ideal candidate for broad-spectrum antiviral drug development. Moreover, it holds the potential as a reliable contingency option to combat emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. In this light, the approved drugs, promising candidates, and de-novo small molecule therapeutics targeting 3CLpro since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 are discussed. Emphasizing the significance of diverse structural characteristics in inhibitors, be they peptidomimetic or nonpeptidic, with a shared mission to minimize the risk of cross-resistance. Moreover, the authors propose an innovative optimization strategy for 3CLpro reversible covalent PROTACs, optimizing pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to better prepare for potential future viral outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Tian
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Taotao Qiang
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China.
| | - Xiuding Yang
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Yue Gao
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511436, PR China
| | - Xiaopei Zhai
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, PR China
| | - Kairui Kang
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Cong Du
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Qi Lu
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Hong Gao
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; Shaanxi Pioneer Biotech Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Dezhu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710025, PR China
| | - Xiaolin Xie
- Shaanxi Panlong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710025, PR China
| | - Chengyuan Liang
- Key Laboratory for Antiviral and Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria Research of Xi'an, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China; School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China.
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12
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Chakraborty C, Bhattacharya M, Alshammari A, Alharbi M, Albekairi TH, Zheng C. Exploring the structural and molecular interaction landscape of nirmatrelvir and Mpro complex: The study might assist in designing more potent antivirals targeting SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. J Infect Public Health 2023; 16:1961-1970. [PMID: 37883855 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.09.020] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several therapeutics have been developed and approved against SARS-CoV-2 occasionally; nirmatrelvir is one of them. The drug target of nirmatrelvir is Mpro, and therefore, it is necessary to comprehend the structural and molecular interaction of the Mpro-nirmatrelvir complex. METHODS Integrative bioinformatics, system biology, and statistical models were used to analyze the macromolecular complex. RESULTS Using two macromolecular complexes, the study illustrated the interactive residues, H-bonds, and interactive interfaces. It informed of six and nine H-bond formations for the first and second complex, respectively. The maximum bond length was observed as 3.33 Å. The ligand binding pocket's surface area and volume were noted as 303.485 Å2 and 295.456 Å3 for the first complex and 308.397 Å2 and 304.865 Å3 for the second complex. The structural proteome dynamics were evaluated by analyzing the complex's NMA mobility, eigenvalues, deformability, and B-factor. Conversely, a model was created to assess the therapeutic status of nirmatrelvir. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals the structural and molecular interaction landscape of Mpro-nirmatrelvir complex. The study will guide researchers in designing more broad-spectrum antiviral molecules mimicking nirmatrelvir, which assist in fighting against SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious viruses. It will also help to prepare for future epidemics or pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiranjib Chakraborty
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700126, India.
| | - Manojit Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, Fakir Mohan University, Vyasa Vihar, Balasore 756020, Odisha, India
| | - Abdulrahman Alshammari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Post Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Metab Alharbi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Post Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thamer H Albekairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Post Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chunfu Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoonose Prevention and Control at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Medical College, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, China; Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Infection Diseases, University of Calgary, Health Research Innovation Centre, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
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13
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Jash R, Prasanth DSNBK, Jash M, Suneetha A. Small molecules in the race of COVID-19 drug development. JOURNAL OF ASIAN NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH 2023; 25:1133-1154. [PMID: 37066495 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2023.2197595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is spreading worldwide, regardless of different continents, increasing the death toll to almost five million, with more than 300 million reported cases. Researchers have been fighting the greatest threats to human civilization. This report provides a glimpse of ongoing small-molecule research on COVID-19 drugs to save millions of lives, which may provide researchers with a better understanding of rigorously investigated therapeutic agents. This report emphasizes the chemical structures and mechanisms of activity along with drug target information for several small molecules, including marketable drugs and agents under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv Jash
- Department of Pharmacy, Sanaka Educational Trust Group of Institutions, Durgapur, West Bengal 713 212, India
| | - D S N B K Prasanth
- Department of Pharmacognosy, KVSR Siddhartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh 520 010, India
| | - Moumita Jash
- Department of Pharmacy, Sanaka Educational Trust Group of Institutions, Durgapur, West Bengal 713 212, India
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342037, India
| | - Achanti Suneetha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, KVSR Siddhartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh 520 010, India
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14
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Bianconi E, Gidari A, Souma M, Sabbatini S, Grifagni D, Bigiotti C, Schiaroli E, Comez L, Paciaroni A, Cantini F, Francisci D, Macchiarulo A. The hope and hype of ellagic acid and urolithins as ligands of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp5 and inhibitors of viral replication. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2251721. [PMID: 37638806 PMCID: PMC10464554 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2251721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-structural protein 5 (Nsp5) is a cysteine protease that plays a key role in SARS-CoV-2 replication, suppressing host protein synthesis and promoting immune evasion. The investigation of natural products as a potential strategy for Nsp5 inhibition is gaining attention as a means of developing antiviral agents. In this work, we have investigated the physicochemical properties and structure-activity relationships of ellagic acid and its gut metabolites, urolithins A-D, as ligands of Nsp5. Results allow us to identify urolithin D as promising ligand of Nsp5, with a dissociation constant in the nanomolar range of potency. Although urolithin D is able to bind to the catalytic cleft of Nsp5, the appraisal of its viral replication inhibition against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 assay highlights a lack of activity. While these results are discussed in the framework of the available literature reporting conflicting data on polyphenol antiviral activity, they provide new clues for natural products as potential viral protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Bianconi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Anna Gidari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maria Souma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Samuele Sabbatini
- Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Deborah Grifagni
- Centre for Magnetic Resonance, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Carlo Bigiotti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Schiaroli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Lucia Comez
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali-IOM, National Research Council-CNR, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Cantini
- Centre for Magnetic Resonance, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Daniela Francisci
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Antonio Macchiarulo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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15
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Feral A, Martin AR, Desfoux A, Amblard M, Vezenkov LL. Covalent-reversible peptide-based protease inhibitors. Design, synthesis, and clinical success stories. Amino Acids 2023; 55:1775-1800. [PMID: 37330416 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-023-03286-1] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulated human peptidases are implicated in a large variety of diseases such as cancer, hypertension, and neurodegeneration. Viral proteases for their part are crucial for the pathogens' maturation and assembly. Several decades of research were devoted to exploring these precious therapeutic targets, often addressing them with synthetic substrate-based inhibitors to elucidate their biological roles and develop medications. The rational design of peptide-based inhibitors offered a rapid pathway to obtain a variety of research tools and drug candidates. Non-covalent modifiers were historically the first choice for protease inhibition due to their reversible enzyme binding mode and thus presumably safer profile. However, in recent years, covalent-irreversible inhibitors are having a resurgence with dramatic increase of their related publications, preclinical and clinical trials, and FDA-approved drugs. Depending on the context, covalent modifiers could provide more effective and selective drug candidates, hence requiring lower doses, thereby limiting off-target effects. Additionally, such molecules seem more suitable to tackle the crucial issue of cancer and viral drug resistances. At the frontier of reversible and irreversible based inhibitors, a new drug class, the covalent-reversible peptide-based inhibitors, has emerged with the FDA approval of Bortezomib in 2003, shortly followed by 4 other listings to date. The highlight in the field is the breathtakingly fast development of the first oral COVID-19 medication, Nirmatrelvir. Covalent-reversible inhibitors can hipothetically provide the safety of the reversible modifiers combined with the high potency and specificity of their irreversible counterparts. Herein, we will present the main groups of covalent-reversible peptide-based inhibitors, focusing on their design, synthesis, and successful drug development programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Feral
- IBMM, University Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Muriel Amblard
- IBMM, University Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
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16
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Catapano L, Long F, Yamashita K, Nicholls RA, Steiner RA, Murshudov GN. Neutron crystallographic refinement with REFMAC5 from the CCP4 suite. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2023; 79:1056-1070. [PMID: 37921806 PMCID: PMC7615533 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798323008793] [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: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen (H) atoms are abundant in macromolecules and often play critical roles in enzyme catalysis, ligand-recognition processes and protein-protein interactions. However, their direct visualization by diffraction techniques is challenging. Macromolecular X-ray crystallography affords the localization of only the most ordered H atoms at (sub-)atomic resolution (around 1.2 Å or higher). However, many H atoms of biochemical significance remain undetectable by this method. In contrast, neutron diffraction methods enable the visualization of most H atoms, typically in the form of deuterium (2H) atoms, at much more common resolution values (better than 2.5 Å). Thus, neutron crystallography, although technically demanding, is often the method of choice when direct information on protonation states is sought. REFMAC5 from the Collaborative Computational Project No. 4 (CCP4) is a program for the refinement of macromolecular models against X-ray crystallographic and cryo-EM data. This contribution describes its extension to include the refinement of structural models obtained from neutron crystallographic data. Stereochemical restraints with accurate bond distances between H atoms and their parent atom nuclei are now part of the CCP4 Monomer Library, the source of prior chemical information used in the refinement. One new feature for neutron data analysis in REFMAC5 is refinement of the protium/deuterium (1H/2H) fraction. This parameter describes the relative 1H/2H contribution to neutron scattering for hydrogen isotopes. The newly developed REFMAC5 algorithms were tested by performing the (re-)refinement of several entries available in the PDB and of one novel structure (FutA) using either (i) neutron data only or (ii) neutron data supplemented by external restraints to a reference X-ray crystallographic structure. Re-refinement with REFMAC5 afforded models characterized by R-factor values that are consistent with, and in some cases better than, the originally deposited values. The use of external reference structure restraints during refinement has been observed to be a valuable strategy, especially for structures at medium-low resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucrezia Catapano
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- Structural Studies, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Fei Long
- Structural Studies, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Keitaro Yamashita
- Structural Studies, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A. Nicholls
- Structural Studies, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto A. Steiner
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Garib N. Murshudov
- Structural Studies, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
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17
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Li X, Song Y. Structure and function of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 main proteases and their inhibition: A comprehensive review. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 260:115772. [PMID: 37659195 PMCID: PMC10529944 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) identified in 2003 infected ∼8000 people in 26 countries with 800 deaths, which was soon contained and eradicated by syndromic surveillance and enhanced quarantine. A closely related coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 identified in 2019, has been dramatically more contagious and catastrophic. It has infected and caused various flu-like symptoms of billions of people in >200 countries, including >6 million people died of or with the virus. Despite the availability of several vaccines and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2, finding new therapeutics is needed because of viral evolution and a possible emerging coronavirus in the future. The main protease (Mpro) of these coronaviruses plays important roles in their life cycle and is essential for the viral replication. This article represents a comprehensive review of the function, structure and inhibition of SARS-CoV and -CoV-2 Mpro, including structure-activity relationships, protein-inhibitor interactions and clinical trial status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Yongcheng Song
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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18
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Aniana A, Nashed NT, Ghirlando R, Coates L, Kneller DW, Kovalevsky A, Louis JM. Insights into the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 main protease autocatalytic maturation from model precursors. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1159. [PMID: 37957287 PMCID: PMC10643566 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05469-8] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A critical step for SARS-CoV-2 assembly and maturation involves the autoactivation of the main protease (MProWT) from precursor polyproteins. Upon expression, a model precursor of MProWT mediates its own release at its termini rapidly to yield a mature dimer. A construct with an E290A mutation within MPro exhibits time dependent autoprocessing of the accumulated precursor at the N-terminal nsp4/nsp5 site followed by the C-terminal nsp5/nsp6 cleavage. In contrast, a precursor containing E290A and R298A mutations (MProM) displays cleavage only at the nsp4/nsp5 site to yield an intermediate monomeric product, which is cleaved at the nsp5/nsp6 site only by MProWT. MProM and the catalytic domain (MPro1-199) fused to the truncated nsp4 region also show time-dependent conversion in vitro to produce MProM and MPro1-199, respectively. The reactions follow first-order kinetics indicating that the nsp4/nsp5 cleavage occurs via an intramolecular mechanism. These results support a mechanism involving an N-terminal intramolecular cleavage leading to an increase in the dimer population and followed by an intermolecular cleavage at the C-terminus. Thus, targeting the predominantly monomeric MPro precursor for inhibition may lead to the identification of potent drugs for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Aniana
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892-0520, USA
| | - Nashaat T Nashed
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892-0520, USA
| | - Rodolfo Ghirlando
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892-0520, USA
| | - Leighton Coates
- Second Target Station, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Daniel W Kneller
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
- New England Biolabs, 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938-2723, USA
| | - Andrey Kovalevsky
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
| | - John M Louis
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, 20892-0520, USA.
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19
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Jiang X, Su H, Shang W, Zhou F, Zhang Y, Zhao W, Zhang Q, Xie H, Jiang L, Nie T, Yang F, Xiong M, Huang X, Li M, Chen P, Peng S, Xiao G, Jiang H, Tang R, Zhang L, Shen J, Xu Y. Structure-based development and preclinical evaluation of the SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease inhibitor simnotrelvir. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6463. [PMID: 37833261 PMCID: PMC10575921 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42102-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The persistent pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants accentuates the great demand for developing effective therapeutic agents. Here, we report the development of an orally bioavailable SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease (3CLpro) inhibitor, namely simnotrelvir, and its preclinical evaluation, which lay the foundation for clinical trials studies as well as the conditional approval of simnotrelvir in combination with ritonavir for the treatment of COVID-19. The structure-based optimization of boceprevir, an approved HCV protease inhibitor, leads to identification of simnotrelvir that covalently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro with an enthalpy-driven thermodynamic binding signature. Multiple enzymatic assays reveal that simnotrelvir is a potent pan-CoV 3CLpro inhibitor but has high selectivity. It effectively blocks replications of SARS-CoV-2 variants in cell-based assays and exhibits good pharmacokinetic and safety profiles in male and female rats and monkeys, leading to robust oral efficacy in a male mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 Delta infection in which it not only significantly reduces lung viral loads but also eliminates the virus from brains. The discovery of simnotrelvir thereby highlights the utility of structure-based development of marked protease inhibitors for providing a small molecule therapeutic effectively combatting human coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangrui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Haixia Su
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Weijuan Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, 210023, Nanjing, China
- Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 200000, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenfeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiumeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Hang Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 200000, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianqing Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Feipu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Muya Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxing Huang
- Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 200000, Shanghai, China
| | - Minjun Li
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Shaoping Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, 210023, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Gengfu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Hualiang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Renhong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, 210023, Nanjing, China.
- Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 200000, Shanghai, China.
| | - Leike Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei jiangxia Laboratory, 430200, Wuhan, China.
| | - Jingshan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
| | - Yechun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310024, Hangzhou, China.
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20
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Duan Y, Wang H, Yuan Z, Yang H. Structural biology of SARS-CoV-2 M pro and drug discovery. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 82:102667. [PMID: 37544112 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Since its outbreak in late 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn enormous attention worldwide as a consequence of being the most disastrous infectious disease in the past century. As one of the most immediately druggable targets of SARS-CoV-2, the main protease (Mpro) has been studied thoroughly. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent advances in structural studies of Mpro, which provide new knowledge about Mpro in terms of its biological function, structural characteristics, substrate specificity, and autocleavage process. We examine the remarkable strides made in targeting Mpro for drug discovery during the pandemic. We summarize insights into the current understanding of the structural features of Mpro and the discovery of existing Mpro-targeting drugs, illuminating pathways for the future development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinkai Duan
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Haofeng Wang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenghong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences and Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Haitao Yang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
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21
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Singh G, Thomas J, Wadhawa S, Kashyap A, Rahaman SA, Borkotoky S, Datta A, Singh GK, Mishra I, Rai G, Satija J, Dubey VK, Modi G. Repurposing the in-house generated Alzheimer's disease targeting molecules through computational and preliminary in-vitro studies for the management of SARS-coronavirus-2. Mol Divers 2023:10.1007/s11030-023-10717-4. [PMID: 37749454 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-023-10717-4] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Covid-19 was declared a world pandemic. Recent studies demonstrated that Covid-19 impairs CNS activity by crossing the blood-brain barrier and ensuing cognitive impairment. In this study, we have utilized Covid-19 main protease (Mpro) as a biological target to repurpose our previously reported multifunctional compounds targeting Alzheimer's disease. Molecular docking, spatial orientation, molecular dynamics simulation, MM-GBSA energy calculation, and DFT studies were carried out with these molecules. Among all the compounds, F27, F44, and F56 exhibited higher binding energy (- 8.03, - 8.65, and - 8.68 kcal/mol, respectively) over the co-crystal ligand O6K (- 7.00 kcal/mol). In MD simulation, compounds F27, F44, and F56 could make a stable complex with Mpro target throughout the simulation. The compounds were synthesized following reported methods and subjected for cytotoxicity, and assessment of their capability to cross the blood-brain barrier in PAMPA assay, and antioxidant property evaluation through DPPH assay. The compounds F27, F44, and F56 exhibited cytocompatibility with the SiHA cell line and also displayed significant antioxidant properties with IC50 = 45.80 ± 0.27 μM, 44.42 ± 0.30 μM, and 42.74 ± 0.23 μM respectively. In the PAMPA assays, the permeability coefficient (Pe) value of F27, F44, and F56 lies in the acceptable range (Pe > 4). The results of the computational and preliminary in-vitro studies strongly corroborate the potential of F27, F44, and F56 as a lead for further optimization in treating the CNS complications associated with Covid-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gourav Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Jobin Thomas
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, India
| | - Sahil Wadhawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Anurag Kashyap
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Syed Ajijur Rahaman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Subhomoi Borkotoky
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, Invertis University, Bareilly, 243123, India
| | - Agnisha Datta
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Gireesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Science, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, Bihar, 824236, India
| | | | - Geeta Rai
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Jitendra Satija
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, India
| | - Vikash Kumar Dubey
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Gyan Modi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India.
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22
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Gammeltoft KA, Zhou Y, Ryberg LA, Pham LV, Binderup A, Hernandez CRD, Offersgaard A, Fahnøe U, Peters GHJ, Ramirez S, Bukh J, Gottwein JM. Substitutions in SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Selected by Protease Inhibitor Boceprevir Confer Resistance to Nirmatrelvir. Viruses 2023; 15:1970. [PMID: 37766376 PMCID: PMC10536901 DOI: 10.3390/v15091970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nirmatrelvir, which targets the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), is the first-in-line drug for prevention and treatment of severe COVID-19, and additional Mpro inhibitors are in development. However, the risk of resistance development threatens the future efficacy of such direct-acting antivirals. To gain knowledge on viral correlates of resistance to Mpro inhibitors, we selected resistant SARS-CoV-2 under treatment with the nirmatrelvir-related protease inhibitor boceprevir. SARS-CoV-2 selected during five escape experiments in VeroE6 cells showed cross-resistance to nirmatrelvir with up to 7.3-fold increased half-maximal effective concentration compared to original SARS-CoV-2, determined in concentration-response experiments. Sequence analysis revealed that escape viruses harbored Mpro substitutions L50F and A173V. For reverse genetic studies, these substitutions were introduced into a cell-culture-infectious SARS-CoV-2 clone. Infectivity titration and analysis of genetic stability of cell-culture-derived engineered SARS-CoV-2 mutants showed that L50F rescued the fitness cost conferred by A173V. In the concentration-response experiments, A173V was the main driver of resistance to boceprevir and nirmatrelvir. Structural analysis of Mpro suggested that A173V can cause resistance by making boceprevir and nirmatrelvir binding less favorable. This study contributes to a comprehensive overview of the resistance profile of the first-in-line COVID-19 treatment nirmatrelvir and can thus inform population monitoring and contribute to pandemic preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Anbro Gammeltoft
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yuyong Zhou
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Line Abildgaard Ryberg
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Long V. Pham
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alekxander Binderup
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlos Rene Duarte Hernandez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Offersgaard
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Santseharay Ramirez
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Judith Margarete Gottwein
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; (K.A.G.); (Y.Z.); (L.A.R.); (L.V.P.); (A.B.); (C.R.D.H.); (A.O.); (U.F.); (S.R.); (J.B.)
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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23
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Valipour M, Irannejad H, Keyvani H. An Overview on Anti-COVID-19 Drug Achievements and Challenges Ahead. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:1248-1265. [PMID: 37705590 PMCID: PMC10496143 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The appearance of several coronavirus pandemics/epidemics during the last two decades (SARS-CoV-1 in 2002, MERS-CoV in 2012, and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019) indicates that humanity will face increasing challenges from coronaviruses in the future. The emergence of new strains with similar transmission characteristics as SARS-CoV-2 and mortality rates similar to SARS-CoV-1 (∼10% mortality) or MERS-CoV (∼35% mortality) in the future is a terrifying possibility. Therefore, getting enough preparations to face such risks is an inevitable necessity. The present study aims to review the drug achievements and challenges in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 with a combined perspective derived from pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, and medicinal chemistry insights. Appreciating all the efforts made during the past few years, there is strong evidence that the desired results have not yet been achieved and research in this area should still be pursued seriously. By expressing some pessimistic possibilities and concluding that the drug discovery and pharmacotherapy of COVID-19 have not been successful so far, this short essay tries to draw the attention of responsible authorities to be more prepared against future coronavirus epidemics/pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Valipour
- Razi
Drug Research Center, Iran University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran 1134845764, Iran
| | - Hamid Irannejad
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 48157-33971, Iran
| | - Hossein Keyvani
- Department
of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University
of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1134845764, Iran
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24
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Citarella A, Dimasi A, Moi D, Passarella D, Scala A, Piperno A, Micale N. Recent Advances in SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors: From Nirmatrelvir to Future Perspectives. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1339. [PMID: 37759739 PMCID: PMC10647625 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) plays a pivotal role in the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is considered a highly conserved viral target. Disruption of the catalytic activity of Mpro produces a detrimental effect on the course of the infection, making this target one of the most attractive for the treatment of COVID-19. The current success of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor Nirmatrelvir, the first oral drug for the treatment of severe forms of COVID-19, has further focused the attention of researchers on this important viral target, making the search for new Mpro inhibitors a thriving and exciting field for the development of antiviral drugs active against SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Citarella
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Alessandro Dimasi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Davide Moi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, S.P. 8 CA, 09042 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Daniele Passarella
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.D.); (D.P.)
| | - Angela Scala
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.S.); (A.P.)
| | - Anna Piperno
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.S.); (A.P.)
| | - Nicola Micale
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (A.S.); (A.P.)
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25
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Portelli S, Heaton R, Ascher DB. Identifying Innate Resistance Hotspots for SARS-CoV-2 Antivirals Using In Silico Protein Techniques. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1699. [PMID: 37761839 PMCID: PMC10531314 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The development and approval of antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 has further equipped clinicians with treatment strategies against the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing deaths post-infection. Extensive clinical use of antivirals, however, can impart additional selective pressure, leading to the emergence of antiviral resistance. While we have previously characterized possible effects of circulating SARS-CoV-2 missense mutations on proteome function and stability, their direct effects on the novel antivirals remains unexplored. To address this, we have computationally calculated the consequences of mutations in the antiviral targets: RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and main protease, on target stability and interactions with their antiviral, nucleic acids, and other proteins. By analyzing circulating variants prior to antiviral approval, this work highlighted the inherent resistance potential of different genome regions. Namely, within the main protease binding site, missense mutations imparted a lower fitness cost, while the opposite was noted for the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase binding site. This suggests that resistance to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir combination treatment is more likely to occur and proliferate than that to molnupiravir. These insights are crucial both clinically in drug stewardship, and preclinically in the identification of less mutable targets for novel therapeutic design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Portelli
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Ruby Heaton
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David B. Ascher
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
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26
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Kovalevsky A, Aniana A, Coates L, Bonnesen PV, Nashed NT, Louis JM. Contribution of the catalytic dyad of SARS-CoV-2 main protease to binding covalent and noncovalent inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2023:104886. [PMID: 37271339 PMCID: PMC10238122 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104886] [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: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The effect of mutations of the catalytic dyad residues of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MProWT) on the thermodynamics of binding of covalent inhibitors comprising nitrile [nirmatrelvir (NMV), NBH2], aldehyde (GC373) and ketone (BBH1) warheads to MPro is examined together with room temperature X-ray crystallography. When lacking the nucleophilic C145, NMV binding is ∼400-fold weaker corresponding to 3.5 kcal/mol and 13.3 °C decreases in free energy (ΔG) and thermal stability (Tm), respectively, relative to MProWT. The H41A mutation results in a 20-fold increase in the dissociation constant (Kd), and 1.7 kcal/mol and 1.4 °C decreases in ΔG and Tm, respectively. Increasing the pH from 7.2 to 8.2 enhances NMV binding to MProH41A, whereas no significant change is observed in binding to MProWT. Structures of the four inhibitor complexes with MPro1-304/C145A show that the active site geometries of the complexes are nearly identical to that of MProWT with the nucleophilic sulfur of C145 positioned to react with the nitrile or the carbonyl carbon. These results support a two-step mechanism for the formation of the covalent complex involving an initial non-covalent binding followed by a nucleophilic attack by the thiolate anion of C145 on the warhead carbon. Noncovalent inhibitor ensitrelvir (ESV) exhibits a binding affinity to MProWT that is similar to NMV but differs in its thermodynamic signature from NMV. The binding of ESV to MProC145A also results in a significant, but smaller, increase in Kd and decrease in ΔG and Tm, relative to NMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Kovalevsky
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
| | - Annie Aniana
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892-0520, USA
| | - Leighton Coates
- Second Target Station, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Peter V Bonnesen
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Nashaat T Nashed
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892-0520, USA
| | - John M Louis
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892-0520, USA.
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27
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Maltarollo VG, da Silva EB, Kronenberger T, Sena Andrade MM, de Lima Marques GV, Cândido Oliveira NJ, Santos LH, Oliveira Rezende Júnior CD, Cassiano Martinho AC, Skinner D, Fajtová P, M Fernandes TH, Silveira Dos Santos ED, Rodrigues Gazolla PA, Martins de Souza AP, da Silva ML, Dos Santos FS, Lavorato SN, Oliveira Bretas AC, Carvalho DT, Franco LL, Luedtke S, Giardini MA, Poso A, Dias LC, Podust LM, Alves RJ, McKerrow J, Andrade SF, Teixeira RR, Siqueira-Neto JL, O'Donoghue A, de Oliveira RB, Ferreira RS. Structure-based discovery of thiosemicarbazones as SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:959-985. [PMID: 37435731 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0034] [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] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Discovery of novel SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitors using a structure-based drug discovery strategy. Materials & methods: Virtual screening employing covalent and noncovalent docking was performed to discover Mpro inhibitors, which were subsequently evaluated in biochemical and cellular assays. Results: 91 virtual hits were selected for biochemical assays, and four were confirmed as reversible inhibitors of SARS CoV-2 Mpro with IC50 values of 0.4-3 μM. They were also shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-1 Mpro and human cathepsin L. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated the stability of the Mpro inhibitor complexes and the interaction of ligands at the subsites. Conclusion: This approach led to the discovery of novel thiosemicarbazones as potent SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius Gonçalves Maltarollo
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Elany Barbosa da Silva
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided & Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', University of Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, 70211, Finland
| | - Marina Mol Sena Andrade
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Gabriel V de Lima Marques
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Nereu J Cândido Oliveira
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Lucianna H Santos
- Department of Biochemistry & Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Celso de Oliveira Rezende Júnior
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-902, Brazil
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Ana C Cassiano Martinho
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-902, Brazil
| | - Danielle Skinner
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Thaís H M Fernandes
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Departamento de Produção de Matéria-Prima, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
| | - Eduardo da Silveira Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Departamento de Produção de Matéria-Prima, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
| | - Poliana A Rodrigues Gazolla
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Ana P Martins de Souza
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Milene Lopes da Silva
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Fabíola S Dos Santos
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Stefânia N Lavorato
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
- Centro das Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, 47810-047, Brazil
| | - Ana C Oliveira Bretas
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Diogo Teixeira Carvalho
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Lucas Lopardi Franco
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Stephanie Luedtke
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Miriam A Giardini
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Antti Poso
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided & Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', University of Tübingen, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, 70211, Finland
| | - Luiz C Dias
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Larissa M Podust
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Ricardo J Alves
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - James McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Saulo F Andrade
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
- Pharmaceutical Synthesis Group (PHARSG), Departamento de Produção de Matéria-Prima, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90160-093, Brazil
| | - Róbson R Teixeira
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Jair L Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Anthony O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0657, USA
| | - Renata B de Oliveira
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Rafaela S Ferreira
- Department of Biochemistry & Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
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Yang H, You M, Shu X, Zhen J, Zhu M, Fu T, Zhang Y, Jiang X, Zhang L, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Su H, Zhang Q, Shen J. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of peptidomimetic benzothiazolyl ketones as 3CL pro inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 257:115512. [PMID: 37253309 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A series of peptidomimetic compounds containing benzothiazolyl ketone and [2.2.1] azabicyclic ring was designed, synthesized and evaluated in the hope of obtaining potent oral 3CLpro inhibitors with improved pharmacokinetic properties. Among the target compounds, 11b had the best enzymatic potency (IC50 = 0.110 μM) and 11e had the best microsomal stability (t1/2 > 120 min) and good enzyme activity (IC50 = 0.868 μM). Therefore, compounds 11b and 11e were chosen for further evaluation of pharmacokinetics in ICR mice. The results exhibited that the AUC(0-t) of 11e was 5143 h*ng/mL following single-dose oral administration of 20 mg/kg, and the F was 67.98%. Further structural modification was made to obtain compounds 11g-11j based on 11e. Among them, 11j exhibited the best enzyme inhibition activity against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro (IC50 = 1.646 μM), the AUC(0-t) was 32473 h*ng/mL (20 mg/kg, po), and the F was 48.1%. In addition, 11j displayed significant anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity (EC50 = 0.18 μM) and low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 50 μM) in Vero E6 cells. All of the above results suggested that compound 11j was a promising lead compound in the development of oral 3CLpro inhibitors and deserved further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanxi Yang
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexuedadao Road, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Mengyuan You
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiaoyang Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
| | - Jingyao Zhen
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Mengwei Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, An Hui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong, 226133, China
| | - Tiantian Fu
- College of Pharmacy, An Hui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong, 226133, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiangrui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Leike Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, 430200, China
| | - Yechun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yumin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China.
| | - Haixia Su
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Qiumeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Jingshan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
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Zhu M, Fu T, You M, Cao J, Yang H, Chen X, Zhang Q, Xu Y, Jiang X, Zhang L, Su H, Zhang Y, Shen J. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of covalent peptidomimetic 3CL protease inhibitors containing nitrile moiety. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 87:117316. [PMID: 37187077 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, a series of peptidomimetic SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitors with new P2 and P4 positions were synthesized and evaluated. Among these compounds, 1a and 2b exhibited obvious 3CLpro inhibitory activities with IC50 of 18.06 nM and 22.42 nM, respectively. 1a and 2b also showed excellent antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro with EC50 of 313.0 nM and 170.2 nM, respectively, the antiviral activities of 1a and 2b were 2- and 4-fold better than that of nirmatrelvir, respectively. In vitro studies revealed that these two compounds had no significant cytotoxicity. Further metabolic stability tests and pharmacokinetic studies showed that the metabolic stability of 1a and 2b in liver microsomes was significantly improved, and 2b had similar pharmacokinetic parameters to that of nirmatrelvir in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengwei Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, An Hui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Tiantian Fu
- College of Pharmacy, An Hui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China
| | - Mengyuan You
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Junyuan Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Hanxi Yang
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xinyao Chen
- Yangtze Delta Drug Advanced Research Institute and Yangtze Delta Pharmaceutical College, Nantong 226133, China; Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Qiumeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yechun Xu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiangrui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Leike Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan 430200, China.
| | - Haixia Su
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Jingshan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
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Schaefer D, Cheng X. Recent Advances in Covalent Drug Discovery. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050663. [PMID: 37242447 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In spite of the increasing number of biologics license applications, the development of covalent inhibitors is still a growing field within drug discovery. The successful approval of some covalent protein kinase inhibitors, such as ibrutinib (BTK covalent inhibitor) and dacomitinib (EGFR covalent inhibitor), and the very recent discovery of covalent inhibitors for viral proteases, such as boceprevir, narlaprevir, and nirmatrelvir, represent a new milestone in covalent drug development. Generally, the formation of covalent bonds that target proteins can offer drugs diverse advantages in terms of target selectivity, drug resistance, and administration concentration. The most important factor for covalent inhibitors is the electrophile (warhead), which dictates selectivity, reactivity, and the type of protein binding (i.e., reversible or irreversible) and can be modified/optimized through rational designs. Furthermore, covalent inhibitors are becoming more and more common in proteolysis, targeting chimeras (PROTACs) for degrading proteins, including those that are currently considered to be 'undruggable'. The aim of this review is to highlight the current state of covalent inhibitor development, including a short historical overview and some examples of applications of PROTAC technologies and treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schaefer
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 15. R. 3.652, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Xinlai Cheng
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 15. R. 3.652, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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31
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Shi Y, Dong L, Ju Z, Li Q, Cui Y, Liu Y, He J, Ding X. Exploring potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpro non-covalent inhibitors through docking, pharmacophore profile matching, molecular dynamic simulation, and MM-GBSA. J Mol Model 2023; 29:138. [PMID: 37055578 PMCID: PMC10100623 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-023-05534-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT In the replication of SARS-CoV-2, the main protease (Mpro/3CLpro) is significant. It is conserved in a number of novel coronavirus variations, and no known human proteases share its cleavage sites. Therefore, 3CLpro is an ideal target. In the report, we screened five potential inhibitors (1543, 2308, 3717, 5606, and 9000) of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro through a workflow. The calculation of MM-GBSA binding free energy showed that three of the five potential inhibitors (1543, 2308, 5606) had similar inhibitor effects to X77 against Mpro of SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, the manuscript lays the groundwork for the design of Mpro inhibitors. METHODS In the virtual screening phase, we used structure-based virtual screening (Qvina2.1) and ligand-based virtual screening (AncPhore). In the molecular dynamic simulation part, we used the Amber14SB + GAFF force field to perform molecular dynamic simulation of the complex for 100 ns (Gromacs2021.5) and performed MM-GBSA binding free energy calculation according to the simulation trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfan Shi
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China.
- Joint Key Lab of Sichuan & Chongqing, Bioresource Res & Utilizat, Chongqing, China.
| | - Liting Dong
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhuang Ju
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
- Joint Key Lab of Sichuan & Chongqing, Bioresource Res & Utilizat, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiufu Li
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
- Joint Key Lab of Sichuan & Chongqing, Bioresource Res & Utilizat, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanru Cui
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
- Joint Key Lab of Sichuan & Chongqing, Bioresource Res & Utilizat, Chongqing, China
| | - Yiran Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
- Joint Key Lab of Sichuan & Chongqing, Bioresource Res & Utilizat, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiaoyu He
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
- Joint Key Lab of Sichuan & Chongqing, Bioresource Res & Utilizat, Chongqing, China
| | - Xianping Ding
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China.
- Joint Key Lab of Sichuan & Chongqing, Bioresource Res & Utilizat, Chongqing, China.
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Chandra G, Singh DV, Mahato GK, Patel S. Fluorine-a small magic bullet atom in the drug development: perspective to FDA approved and COVID-19 recommended drugs. CHEMICKE ZVESTI 2023; 77:1-22. [PMID: 37362786 PMCID: PMC10099028 DOI: 10.1007/s11696-023-02804-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
During the last twenty years, organic fluorination chemistry established itself as an important tool to get a biologically active compound. This belief can be supported by the fact that every year, we are getting fluorinated drugs in the market in extremely significant numbers. Last year, also ten fluorinated drugs have been approved by FDA and during the COVID-19 pandemic, fluorinated drugs played a very crucial role to control the disease and saved many lives. In this review, we surveyed all ten fluorinated drugs approved by FDA in 2021 and all fluorinated drugs which were directly-indirectly used during the COVID-19 period, and emphasis has been given particularly to their synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and development process. Out of ten approved drugs, one drug pylarify, a radioactive diagnostic agent for cancer was approved for use in positron emission tomography imaging. Also, very briefly outlined the significance of fluorinated drugs through their physical, and chemical properties and their effect on drug development. Graphical abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Girish Chandra
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Central University of South Bihar, SH-7, Gaya Panchanpur Road, Gaya, Bihar 824236 India
| | - Durg Vijay Singh
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Earth Biological and Environmental Sciences, Central University of South Bihar, SH-7, Gaya Panchanpur Road, Gaya, Bihar 824236 India
| | - Gopal Kumar Mahato
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Central University of South Bihar, SH-7, Gaya Panchanpur Road, Gaya, Bihar 824236 India
| | - Samridhi Patel
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Central University of South Bihar, SH-7, Gaya Panchanpur Road, Gaya, Bihar 824236 India
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33
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Sinha P, Yadav AK. In silico identification and molecular dynamic simulations of derivatives of 6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2-carboxamide against main protease 3CL pro of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection. J Mol Model 2023; 29:130. [PMID: 37017775 PMCID: PMC10074334 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-023-05535-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The unavailability of target-specific antiviral drugs for SARS-CoV-2 viral infection kindled the motivation to virtually design derivatives of 6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2-carboxamide as potential antiviral inhibitors against the concerned virus. The molecular docking and molecular dynamic results revealed that the reported derivatives have a potential to act as antiviral drug against SARS-CoV-2. The reported hit compounds can be considered for in vitro and in vivo analyses. METHODS Fragment-based drug designing was used to model the derivatives. Furthermore, DFT simulations were carried out using B3LYP/6-311G** basis set. Docking simulations were performed by using a combination of empirical free energy force field with a Lamarckian genetic algorithm under AutoDock 4.2. By the application of AMBER14 force field and SPCE water model, molecular dynamic simulations and MM-PBSA were calculated for 100 ns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashasti Sinha
- Department of Physics, School of Physical & Decision Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anil Kumar Yadav
- Department of Physics, School of Physical & Decision Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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34
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Kronenberger T, Laufer SA, Pillaiyar T. COVID-19 therapeutics: small-molecule drug development targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103579. [PMID: 37028502 PMCID: PMC10074736 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative factor behind the 2019 global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). The main protease, known as Mpro, is encoded by the viral genome and is essential for viral replication. It has also been an effective target for drug development. In this review, we discuss the rationale for inhibitors that specifically target SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Small molecules and peptidomimetic inhibitors are two types of inhibitor with various modes of action and we focus here on novel inhibitors that were only discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting their binding modes and structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thales Kronenberger
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tuebingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan A Laufer
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tuebingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thanigaimalai Pillaiyar
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tuebingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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35
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Moghadasi SA, Heilmann E, Khalil AM, Nnabuife C, Kearns FL, Ye C, Moraes SN, Costacurta F, Esler MA, Aihara H, von Laer D, Martinez-Sobrido L, Palzkill T, Amaro RE, Harris RS. Transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants with resistance to clinical protease inhibitors. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade8778. [PMID: 36989354 PMCID: PMC10058310 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade8778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines and drugs have helped reduce disease severity and blunt the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, ongoing virus transmission, continuous evolution, and increasing selective pressures have the potential to yield viral variants capable of resisting these interventions. Here, we investigate the susceptibility of natural variants of the main protease [Mpro; 3C-like protease (3CLpro)] of SARS-CoV-2 to protease inhibitors. Multiple single amino acid changes in Mpro confer resistance to nirmatrelvir (the active component of Paxlovid). An additional clinical-stage inhibitor, ensitrelvir (Xocova), shows a different resistance mutation profile. Importantly, phylogenetic analyses indicate that several of these resistant variants have pre-existed the introduction of these drugs into the human population and are capable of spreading. These results encourage the monitoring of resistance variants and the development of additional protease inhibitors and other antiviral drugs with different mechanisms of action and resistance profiles for combinatorial therapy.
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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
| | - Emmanuel Heilmann
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ahmed Magdy Khalil
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| | - Christina Nnabuife
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Fiona L. Kearns
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chengjin Ye
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
| | - Sofia N. Moraes
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | | | - Morgan A. Esler
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Hideki Aihara
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Dorothee von Laer
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Timothy Palzkill
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rommie E. Amaro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Reuben S. Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- 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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36
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Wang J, Do HN, Koirala K, Miao Y. Predicting Biomolecular Binding Kinetics: A Review. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:2135-2148. [PMID: 36989090 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular binding kinetics including the association (kon) and dissociation (koff) rates are critical parameters for therapeutic design of small-molecule drugs, peptides, and antibodies. Notably, the drug molecule residence time or dissociation rate has been shown to correlate with their efficacies better than binding affinities. A wide range of modeling approaches including quantitative structure-kinetic relationship models, Molecular Dynamics simulations, enhanced sampling, and Machine Learning has been developed to explore biomolecular binding and dissociation mechanisms and predict binding kinetic rates. Here, we review recent advances in computational modeling of biomolecular binding kinetics, with an outlook for future improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinan Wang
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Hung N Do
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Kushal Koirala
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - Yinglong Miao
- Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
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37
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Charles S, Edgar MP, Mahapatra RK. Artificial intelligence based virtual screening study for competitive and allosteric inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:15286-15304. [PMID: 36943715 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2188419] [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: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious and dangerous coronavirus that first appeared in late 2019 causing COVID-19, a pandemic of acute respiratory illnesses that is still a threat to health and the general public safety. We performed deep docking studies of 800 M unique compounds in both the active and allosteric sites of the SARS-COV-2 Main Protease (Mpro) and the 15 M and 13 M virtual hits obtained were further taken for conventional docking and molecular dynamic (MD) studies. The best XP Glide docking scores obtained were -14.242 and -12.059 kcal/mol by CHEMBL591669 and the highest binding affinities were -10.5 kcal/mol (from 444215) and -11.2 kcal/mol (from NPC95421) for active and allosteric sites, respectively. Some hits can bind both sites making them a great area of concern. Re-docking of 8 random allosteric complexes in the active site shows a significant reduction in docking scores with a t-test P value of 2.532 × 10-11 at 95% confidence. Some specific interactions have higher elevations in docking scores. MD studies on 15 complexes show that single-ligand systems are stable as compared to double-ligand systems, and the allosteric binders identified are shown to modulate the active site binding as evidenced by the changes in the interaction patterns and stability of ligands and active site residues. When an allosteric complex was docked to the second monomer to check for homodimer formation, the validated homodimer could not be re-established, further supporting the potential of the identified allosteric binders. These findings could be important in developing novel therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ssemuyiga Charles
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- Department of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mulumba Pius Edgar
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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38
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Joshi RP, Schultz KJ, Wilson JW, Kruel A, Varikoti RA, Kombala CJ, Kneller DW, Galanie S, Phillips G, Zhang Q, Coates L, Parvathareddy J, Surendranathan S, Kong Y, Clyde A, Ramanathan A, Jonsson CB, Brandvold KR, Zhou M, Head MS, Kovalevsky A, Kumar N. AI-Accelerated Design of Targeted Covalent Inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:1438-1453. [PMID: 36808989 PMCID: PMC9969887 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus are needed to complement vaccination efforts. Given the ongoing emergence of new variants, automated experimentation, and active learning based fast workflows for antiviral lead discovery remain critical to our ability to address the pandemic's evolution in a timely manner. While several such pipelines have been introduced to discover candidates with noncovalent interactions with the main protease (Mpro), here we developed a closed-loop artificial intelligence pipeline to design electrophilic warhead-based covalent candidates. This work introduces a deep learning-assisted automated computational workflow to introduce linkers and an electrophilic "warhead" to design covalent candidates and incorporates cutting-edge experimental techniques for validation. Using this process, promising candidates in the library were screened, and several potential hits were identified and tested experimentally using native mass spectrometry and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based screening assays. We identified four chloroacetamide-based covalent inhibitors of Mpro with micromolar affinities (KI of 5.27 μM) using our pipeline. Experimentally resolved binding modes for each compound were determined using room-temperature X-ray crystallography, which is consistent with the predicted poses. The induced conformational changes based on molecular dynamics simulations further suggest that the dynamics may be an important factor to further improve selectivity, thereby effectively lowering KI and reducing toxicity. These results demonstrate the utility of our modular and data-driven approach for potent and selective covalent inhibitor discovery and provide a platform to apply it to other emerging targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendra P. Joshi
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
99352, United States
| | - Katherine J. Schultz
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
99352, United States
| | - Jesse William Wilson
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
99352, United States
| | - Agustin Kruel
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
99352, United States
| | - Rohith Anand Varikoti
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
99352, United States
| | - Chathuri J. Kombala
- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Department of
Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Washington State University,
Spokane, Washington 99202, United States
| | - Daniel W. Kneller
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United
States
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
| | - Stephanie Galanie
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United
States
- Department of Process Research and Development,
Merck & Co., Inc., 126 E. Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, New
Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Gwyndalyn Phillips
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United
States
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
| | - Qiu Zhang
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United
States
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
| | - Leighton Coates
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
- Second Target Station, Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United
States
| | - Jyothi Parvathareddy
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, The
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38105,
United States
| | - Surekha Surendranathan
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, The
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38105,
United States
| | - Ying Kong
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, The
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38105,
United States
| | - Austin Clyde
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
- Data Science and Learning Division,
Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439,
United States
| | - Arvind Ramanathan
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
- Data Science and Learning Division,
Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439,
United States
| | - Colleen B. Jonsson
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, The
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38105,
United States
- Institute for the Study of Host-Pathogen Systems,
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis,
Tennessee 38103, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and
Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center,
Memphis, Tennessee 38103, United States
| | - Kristoffer R. Brandvold
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
99352, United States
- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Department of
Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Washington State University,
Spokane, Washington 99202, United States
| | - Mowei Zhou
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
99352, United States
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
| | - Martha S. Head
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
- Joint Institute for Biological Sciences,
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831,
United States
- Center for Research Acceleration by Digital
Innovation, Amgen Research, Thousand Oaks, California 91320,
United States
| | - Andrey Kovalevsky
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United
States
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
| | - Neeraj Kumar
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
99352, United States
- National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory,
US Department of Energy, Washington, District of Columbia
20585, United States
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39
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Sayed AM, Ibrahim AH, Tajuddeen N, Seibel J, Bodem J, Geiger N, Striffler K, Bringmann G, Abdelmohsen UR. Korupensamine A, but not its atropisomer, korupensamine B, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in vitro by targeting its main protease (M pro). Eur J Med Chem 2023; 251:115226. [PMID: 36893625 PMCID: PMC9972725 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
By combining docking and molecular dynamics simulations, we explored a library of 65 mostly axially chiral naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids and their analogues, with most different molecular architectures and structural analogues, for their activity against SARS-CoV-2. Although natural biaryls are often regarded without consideration of their axial chirality, they can bind to protein targets in an atroposelective manner. By combining docking results with steered molecular dynamics simulations, we identified one alkaloid, korupensamine A, that atropisomer-specifically inhibited the main protease (Mpro) activity of SARS-CoV-2 significantly in comparison to the reference covalent inhibitor GC376 (IC50 = 2.52 ± 0.14 and 0.88 ± 0.15 μM, respectively) and reduced viral growth by five orders of magnitude in vitro (EC50 = 4.23 ± 1.31 μM). To investigate the binding pathway and mode of interaction of korupensamine A within the active site of the protease, we utilized Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics simulations, which reproduced the docking pose of korupensamine A inside the active site of the enzyme. The study presents naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids as a new class of potential anti-COVID-19 agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Sayed
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nahda University, Beni-Suef, 62513, Egypt
| | - Alyaa Hatem Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt
| | - Nasir Tajuddeen
- Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, 15 Sokoto Road Samaru, Zaria, 810107, Nigeria
| | - Jürgen Seibel
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jochen Bodem
- Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Str. 7, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nina Geiger
- Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Str. 7, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Striffler
- Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Str. 7, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Bringmann
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Usama Ramadan Abdelmohsen
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, 61519, Egypt; Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Deraya University, Universities Zone, New Minia City, 61111, Egypt.
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40
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Brewitz L, Dumjahn L, Zhao Y, Owen CD, Laidlaw SM, Malla TR, Nguyen D, Lukacik P, Salah E, Crawshaw AD, Warren AJ, Trincao J, Strain-Damerell C, Carroll MW, Walsh MA, Schofield CJ. Alkyne Derivatives of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors Including Nirmatrelvir Inhibit by Reacting Covalently with the Nucleophilic Cysteine. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2663-2680. [PMID: 36757959 PMCID: PMC9924091 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332) is a nitrile-bearing small-molecule inhibitor that, in combination with ritonavir, is used to treat infections by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Nirmatrelvir interrupts the viral life cycle by inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), which is essential for processing viral polyproteins into functional nonstructural proteins. We report studies which reveal that derivatives of nirmatrelvir and other Mpro inhibitors with a nonactivated terminal alkyne group positioned similarly to the electrophilic nitrile of nirmatrelvir can efficiently inhibit isolated Mpro and SARS-CoV-2 replication in cells. Mass spectrometric and crystallographic evidence shows that the alkyne derivatives inhibit Mpro by apparent irreversible covalent reactions with the active site cysteine (Cys145), while the analogous nitriles react reversibly. The results highlight the potential for irreversible covalent inhibition of Mpro and other nucleophilic cysteine proteases by alkynes, which, in contrast to nitriles, can be functionalized at their terminal position to optimize inhibition and selectivity, as well as pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Brewitz
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Leo Dumjahn
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - C. David Owen
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Stephen M. Laidlaw
- Wellcome
Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Tika R. Malla
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Dung Nguyen
- Wellcome
Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Eidarus Salah
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Adam D. Crawshaw
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Anna J. Warren
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Jose Trincao
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Miles W. Carroll
- Wellcome
Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Martin A. Walsh
- Diamond
Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- Research
Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and
Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United
Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford
Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University
of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
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41
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Bonatto V, Lameiro RF, Rocho FR, Lameira J, Leitão A, Montanari CA. Nitriles: an attractive approach to the development of covalent inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:201-217. [PMID: 36846367 PMCID: PMC9945868 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00204c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitriles have broad applications in medicinal chemistry, with more than 60 small molecule drugs on the market containing the cyano functional group. In addition to the well-known noncovalent interactions that nitriles can perform with macromolecular targets, they are also known to improve drug candidates' pharmacokinetic profiles. Moreover, the cyano group can be used as an electrophilic warhead to covalently bind an inhibitor to a target of interest, forming a covalent adduct, a strategy that can present benefits over noncovalent inhibitors. This approach has gained much notoriety in recent years, mainly with diabetes and COVID-19-approved drugs. Nevertheless, the application of nitriles in covalent ligands is not restricted to it being the reactive center, as it can also be employed to convert irreversible inhibitors into reversible ones, a promising strategy for kinase inhibition and protein degradation. In this review, we introduce and discuss the roles of the cyano group in covalent inhibitors, how to tune its reactivity and the possibility of achieving selectivity only by replacing the warhead. Finally, we provide an overview of nitrile-based covalent compounds in approved drugs and inhibitors recently described in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius Bonatto
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Group, São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo Avenue Trabalhador Sancarlense, 400 13566-590 São Carlos/SP Brazil
| | - Rafael F Lameiro
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Group, São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo Avenue Trabalhador Sancarlense, 400 13566-590 São Carlos/SP Brazil
| | - Fernanda R Rocho
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Group, São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo Avenue Trabalhador Sancarlense, 400 13566-590 São Carlos/SP Brazil
| | - Jerônimo Lameira
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Group, São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo Avenue Trabalhador Sancarlense, 400 13566-590 São Carlos/SP Brazil
- Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Pará Rua Augusto Correa S/N Belém PA Brazil
| | - Andrei Leitão
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Group, São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo Avenue Trabalhador Sancarlense, 400 13566-590 São Carlos/SP Brazil
| | - Carlos A Montanari
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Group, São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo Avenue Trabalhador Sancarlense, 400 13566-590 São Carlos/SP Brazil
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42
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Tan B, Joyce R, Tan H, Hu Y, Wang J. SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Drug Design, Assay Development, and Drug Resistance Studies. Acc Chem Res 2023; 56:157-168. [PMID: 36580641 PMCID: PMC9843634 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.2c00735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological pathogen of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to more than 6.5 million deaths since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2019. The unprecedented disruption of social life and public health caused by COVID-19 calls for fast-track development of diagnostic kits, vaccines, and antiviral drugs. Small molecule antivirals are essential complements of vaccines and can be used for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Currently, there are three FDA-approved antiviral drugs, remdesivir, molnupiravir, and paxlovid. Given the moderate clinical efficacy of remdesivir and molnupiravir, the drug-drug interaction of paxlovid, and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with potential drug-resistant mutations, there is a pressing need for additional antivirals to combat current and future coronavirus outbreaks.In this Account, we describe our efforts in developing covalent and noncovalent main protease (Mpro) inhibitors and the identification of nirmatrelvir-resistant mutants. We initially discovered GC376, calpain inhibitors II and XII, and boceprevir as dual inhibitors of Mpro and host cathepsin L from a screening of a protease inhibitor library. Given the controversy of targeting cathepsin L, we subsequently shifted the focus to designing Mpro-specific inhibitors. Specifically, guided by the X-ray crystal structures of these initial hits, we designed noncovalent Mpro inhibitors such as Jun8-76-3R that are highly selective toward Mpro over host cathepsin L. Using the same scaffold, we also designed covalent Mpro inhibitors with novel cysteine reactive warheads containing di- and trihaloacetamides, which similarly had high target specificity. In parallel to our drug discovery efforts, we developed the cell-based FlipGFP Mpro assay to characterize the cellular target engagement of our rationally designed Mpro inhibitors. The FlipGFP assay was also applied to validate the structurally disparate Mpro inhibitors reported in the literature. Lastly, we introduce recent progress in identifying naturally occurring Mpro mutants that are resistant to nirmatrelvir from genome mining of the nsp5 sequences deposited in the GISAID database. Collectively, the covalent and noncovalent Mpro inhibitors and the nirmatrelvir-resistant hot spot residues from our studies provide insightful guidance for future work aimed at developing orally bioavailable Mpro inhibitors that do not have overlapping resistance profile with nirmatrelvir.
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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, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Ryan Joyce
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Haozhou Tan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Yanmei Hu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
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43
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Unmasking the Conformational Stability and Inhibitor Binding to SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Active Site Mutants and Miniprecursor. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167876. [PMID: 36334779 PMCID: PMC9628131 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
We recently demonstrated that inhibitor binding reorganizes the oxyanion loop of a monomeric catalytic domain of SARS CoV-2 main protease (MPro) from an unwound (E) to a wound (active, E*) conformation, independent of dimerization. Here we assess the effect of the flanking N-terminal residues, to imitate the MPro precursor prior to its autoprocessing, on conformational equilibria rendering stability and inhibitor binding. Thermal denaturation (Tm) of C145A mutant, unlike H41A, increases by 6.8 °C, relative to wild-type mature dimer. An inactivating H41A mutation to maintain a miniprecursor containing TSAVL[Q or E] of the flanking nsp4 sequence in an intact form [(-6)MProH41A and (-6*)MProH41A, respectively], and its corresponding mature MProH41A were systematically examined. While the H41A mutation exerts negligible effect on Tm and dimer dissociation constant (Kdimer) of MProH41A, relative to the wild type MPro, both miniprecursors show a 4-5 °C decrease in Tm and > 85-fold increase in Kdimer as compared to MProH41A. The Kd for the binding of the covalent inhibitor GC373 to (-6*)MProH41A increases ∼12-fold, relative to MProH41A, concomitant with its dimerization. While the inhibitor-free dimer exhibits a state in transit from E to E* with a conformational asymmetry of the protomers' oxyanion loops and helical domains, inhibitor binding restores the asymmetry to mature-like oxyanion loop conformations (E*) but not of the helical domains. Disorder of the terminal residues 1-2 and 302-306 observed in both structures suggest that N-terminal autoprocessing is tightly coupled to the E-E* equilibrium and stable dimer formation.
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Moghadasi SA, Heilmann E, Khalil AM, Nnabuife C, Kearns FL, Ye C, Moraes SN, Costacurta F, Esler MA, Aihara H, von Laer D, Martinez-Sobrido L, Palzkill T, Amaro RE, Harris RS. Transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants with resistance to clinical protease inhibitors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.08.07.503099. [PMID: 35982678 PMCID: PMC9387136 DOI: 10.1101/2022.08.07.503099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines and drugs have helped reduce disease severity and blunt the spread of SARS-CoV-2. However, ongoing virus transmission, continuous evolution, and increasing selective pressures have the potential to yield viral variants capable of resisting these interventions. Here, we investigate the susceptibility of natural variants of the main protease (Mpro/3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-2 to protease inhibitors. Multiple single amino acid changes in Mpro confer resistance to nirmatrelvir (the active component of Paxlovid). An additional clinical-stage inhibitor, ensitrelvir (Xocova), shows a different resistance mutation profile. Importantly, phylogenetic analyses indicate that several of these resistant variants have pre-existed the introduction of these drugs into the human population and are capable of spreading. These results encourage the monitoring of resistance variants and the development of additional protease inhibitors and other antiviral drugs with different mechanisms of action and resistance profiles for combinatorial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Arad Moghadasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 55455
| | - Emmanuel Heilmann
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ahmed Magdy Khalil
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 78227
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt, 44511
| | - Christina Nnabuife
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA, 77030
| | - Fiona L. Kearns
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA, 92093
| | - Chengjin Ye
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 78227
| | - Sofia N. Moraes
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 55455
| | | | - Morgan A. Esler
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 55455
| | - Hideki Aihara
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 55455
| | - Dorothee von Laer
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Timothy Palzkill
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA, 77030
| | - Rommie E. Amaro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA, 92093
| | - Reuben S. Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 55455
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health San Antonio; San Antonio, Texas, USA, 78229
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio; San Antonio, Texas, USA, 78229
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45
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Algar‐Lizana S, Bonache MÁ, González‐Muñiz R. SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors: What is moving in the field of peptides and peptidomimetics? J Pept Sci 2022; 29:e3467. [PMID: 36479966 PMCID: PMC9877768 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is still affecting people worldwide. Despite the good degree of immunological protection achieved through vaccination, there are still severe cases that require effective antivirals. In this sense, two specific pharmaceutical preparations have been marketed already, the RdRp polymerase inhibitor molnupiravir and the main viral protease inhibitor nirmatrelvir (commercialized as Paxlovid, a combination with ritonavir). Nirmatrelvir is a peptidomimetic acting as orally available, covalent, and reversible inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 main viral protease. The success of this compound has revitalized the search for new peptide and peptidomimetic protease inhibitors. This highlight collects some selected examples among those recently published in the field of SARS-CoV-2.
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46
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Di Micco S, Rahimova R, Sala M, Scala MC, Vivenzio G, Musella S, Andrei G, Remans K, Mammri L, Snoeck R, Bifulco G, Di Matteo F, Vestuto V, Campiglia P, Márquez JA, Fasano A. Rational design of the zonulin inhibitor AT1001 derivatives as potential anti SARS-CoV-2. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 244:114857. [PMID: 36332548 PMCID: PMC9579148 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although vaccines are greatly mitigating the worldwide pandemic diffusion of SARS-Cov-2, therapeutics should provide many distinct advantages as complementary approach to control the viral spreading. Here, we report the development of new tripeptide derivatives of AT1001 against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. By molecular modeling, a small compound library was rationally designed and filtered for enzymatic inhibition through FRET assay, leading to the identification of compound 4. X-ray crystallography studies provide insights into its binding mode and confirm the formation of a covalent bond with Mpro C145. In vitro antiviral tests indicate the improvement of biological activity of 4 respect to AT1001. In silico and X-ray crystallography analysis led to 58, showing a promising activity against three SARS-CoV-2 variants and a valuable safety in Vero cells and human embryonic lung fibroblasts. The drug tolerance was also confirmed by in vivo studies, along with pharmacokinetics evaluation. In summary, 58 could pave the way to develop a clinical candidate for intranasal administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Di Micco
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Via Salvatore de Renzi 50, 84125, Salerno, Italy,Corresponding author
| | - Rahila Rahimova
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, Grenoble Cedex 9, 38042, France
| | - Marina Sala
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Maria C. Scala
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Giovanni Vivenzio
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Simona Musella
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Via Salvatore de Renzi 50, 84125, Salerno, Italy,Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Graciela Andrei
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kim Remans
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Léa Mammri
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, Grenoble Cedex 9, 38042, France
| | - Robert Snoeck
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Giuseppe Bifulco
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Matteo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vestuto
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - Pietro Campiglia
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Via Salvatore de Renzi 50, 84125, Salerno, Italy,Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università Degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
| | - José A. Márquez
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, Grenoble Cedex 9, 38042, France,ALPX S.A.S. 71, Avenue des Martyrs, France
| | - Alessio Fasano
- European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), Via Salvatore de Renzi 50, 84125, Salerno, Italy,Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital–Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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47
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Parigger L, Krassnigg A, Schopper T, Singh A, Tappler K, Köchl K, Hetmann M, Gruber K, Steinkellner G, Gruber CC. Recent changes in the mutational dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease substantiate the danger of emerging resistance to antiviral drugs. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1061142. [PMID: 36590977 PMCID: PMC9794616 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1061142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The current coronavirus pandemic is being combated worldwide by nontherapeutic measures and massive vaccination programs. Nevertheless, therapeutic options such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main-protease (Mpro) inhibitors are essential due to the ongoing evolution toward escape from natural or induced immunity. While antiviral strategies are vulnerable to the effects of viral mutation, the relatively conserved Mpro makes an attractive drug target: Nirmatrelvir, an antiviral targeting its active site, has been authorized for conditional or emergency use in several countries since December 2021, and a number of other inhibitors are under clinical evaluation. We analyzed recent SARS-CoV-2 genomic data, since early detection of potential resistances supports a timely counteraction in drug development and deployment, and discovered accelerated mutational dynamics of Mpro since early December 2021. Methods We performed a comparative analysis of 10.5 million SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences available by June 2022 at GISAID to the NCBI reference genome sequence NC_045512.2. Amino-acid exchanges within high-quality regions in 69,878 unique Mpro sequences were identified and time- and in-depth sequence analyses including a structural representation of mutational dynamics were performed using in-house software. Results The analysis showed a significant recent event of mutational dynamics in Mpro. We report a remarkable increase in mutational variability in an eight-residue long consecutive region (R188-G195) near the active site since December 2021. Discussion The increased mutational variability in close proximity to an antiviral-drug binding site as described herein may suggest the onset of the development of antiviral resistance. This emerging diversity urgently needs to be further monitored and considered in ongoing drug development and lead optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Parigger
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Amit Singh
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Katharina Tappler
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Michael Hetmann
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
| | - Karl Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Georg Steinkellner
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Christian C. Gruber
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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48
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Lei S, Chen X, Wu J, Duan X, Men K. Small molecules in the treatment of COVID-19. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:387. [PMID: 36464706 PMCID: PMC9719906 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 has become a global crisis, and brought severe disruptions to societies and economies. Until now, effective therapeutics against COVID-19 are in high demand. Along with our improved understanding of the structure, function, and pathogenic process of SARS-CoV-2, many small molecules with potential anti-COVID-19 effects have been developed. So far, several antiviral strategies were explored. Besides directly inhibition of viral proteins such as RdRp and Mpro, interference of host enzymes including ACE2 and proteases, and blocking relevant immunoregulatory pathways represented by JAK/STAT, BTK, NF-κB, and NLRP3 pathways, are regarded feasible in drug development. The development of small molecules to treat COVID-19 has been achieved by several strategies, including computer-aided lead compound design and screening, natural product discovery, drug repurposing, and combination therapy. Several small molecules representative by remdesivir and paxlovid have been proved or authorized emergency use in many countries. And many candidates have entered clinical-trial stage. Nevertheless, due to the epidemiological features and variability issues of SARS-CoV-2, it is necessary to continue exploring novel strategies against COVID-19. This review discusses the current findings in the development of small molecules for COVID-19 treatment. Moreover, their detailed mechanism of action, chemical structures, and preclinical and clinical efficacies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibei Lei
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaohua Chen
- grid.54549.390000 0004 0369 4060Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072 China
| | - Jieping Wu
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xingmei Duan
- grid.54549.390000 0004 0369 4060Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072 China
| | - Ke Men
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 People’s Republic of China
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49
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Extended Applications of Small-Molecule Covalent Inhibitors toward Novel Therapeutic Targets. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15121478. [PMID: 36558928 PMCID: PMC9786830 DOI: 10.3390/ph15121478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, small-molecule covalent inhibitors have been accepted as a practical tool for targeting previously "undruggable" proteins. The high target selectivity of modern covalent inhibitors is now alleviating toxicity concerns regarding the covalent modifications of proteins. However, despite the tremendous clinical success of current covalent inhibitors, there are still unmet medical needs that covalent inhibitors have not yet addressed. This review categorized representative covalent inhibitors based on their mechanism of covalent inhibition: conventional covalent inhibitors, targeted covalent inhibitors (TCIs), and expanded TCIs. By reviewing both Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs and drug candidates from recent literature, we provide insight into the future direction of covalent inhibitor development.
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50
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Filatov AS, Pronina YA, Selivanov SI, Shmakov SV, Uspenski AA, Boitsov VM, Stepakov AV. 11 H-Benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2- a]indol-11-one as a New Precursor of Azomethine Ylides: 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions with Cyclopropenes and Maleimides. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13202. [PMID: 36361988 PMCID: PMC9657675 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The possibility of generating azomethine ylides from 11H-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]indol-11-one and amino acids is shown for the first time. Based on the cycloaddition reactions of these azomethine ylides with cyclopropenes and maleimides, cyclopropa[a]pyrrolizines, 3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes, and pyrrolo[3,4-a]pyrrolizines spiro-fused with a benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]indole fragment were synthesized. Spirocyclic compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields, albeit with poor diastereoselectivity. Density functional theory calculations were performed to obtain an insight into the mechanism of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 11H-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]indol-11-one-derived azomethine ylides to cyclopropenes. The cytotoxic activity of some of the obtained cycloadducts against the human erythroleukemia (K562) cell line was evaluated in vitro by MTS-assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S. Filatov
- Department of Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Yulia A. Pronina
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State Institute of Technology, Saint Petersburg 190013, Russia
| | - Stanislav I. Selivanov
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State Institute of Technology, Saint Petersburg 190013, Russia
- Laboratory of Biomolecular NMR, Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Stanislav V. Shmakov
- Laboratory of Nanobiotechnologies, Saint-Petersburg National Research Academic University of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg 194021, Russia
| | - Anton A. Uspenski
- Department of Monitoring and Research of the Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere, Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory, Saint Petersburg 194021, Russia
| | - Vitali M. Boitsov
- Laboratory of Nanobiotechnologies, Saint-Petersburg National Research Academic University of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg 194021, Russia
| | - Alexander V. Stepakov
- Department of Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Saint-Petersburg State Institute of Technology, Saint Petersburg 190013, Russia
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