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Yang Y, Luo YD, Zhang CB, Xiang Y, Bai XY, Zhang D, Fu ZY, Hao RB, Liu XL. Progress in Research on Inhibitors Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (M pro). ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:34196-34219. [PMID: 39157135 PMCID: PMC11325518 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c03023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Since 2019, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused significant morbidity and millions of deaths worldwide. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, has further highlighted the urgent need for the development of effective therapeutic agents. Currently, the highly conserved and broad-spectrum nature of main proteases (Mpro) renders them of great importance in the field of inhibitor study. In this study, we categorize inhibitors targeting Mpro into three major groups: mimetic, nonmimetic, and natural inhibitors. We then present the research progress of these inhibitors in detail, including their mechanism of action, antiviral activity, pharmacokinetic properties, animal experiments, and clinical studies. This review aims to provide valuable insights and potential avenues for the development of more effective antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yang
- School
of Medicine, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
| | - Yi-Dan Luo
- School
of Medicine, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
| | - Chen-Bo Zhang
- School
of Medicine, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
| | - Yang Xiang
- School
of Medicine, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
- College
of Physical Education, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
| | - Xin-Yue Bai
- School
of Medicine, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
| | - Die Zhang
- School
of Medicine, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
| | - Zhao-Ying Fu
- School
of Medicine, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
| | - Ruo-Bing Hao
- School
of Medicine, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
| | - Xiao-Long Liu
- School
of Medicine, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China
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2
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Lockwood TD. Coordination chemistry suggests that independently observed benefits of metformin and Zn 2+ against COVID-19 are not independent. Biometals 2024; 37:983-1022. [PMID: 38578560 PMCID: PMC11255062 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-024-00590-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Independent trials indicate that either oral Zn2+ or metformin can separately improve COVID-19 outcomes by approximately 40%. Coordination chemistry predicts a mechanistic relationship and therapeutic synergy. Zn2+ deficit is a known risk factor for both COVID-19 and non-infectious inflammation. Most dietary Zn2+ is not absorbed. Metformin is a naked ligand that presumably increases intestinal Zn2+ bioavailability and active absorption by cation transporters known to transport metformin. Intracellular Zn2+ provides a natural buffer of many protease reactions; the variable "set point" is determined by Zn2+ regulation or availability. A Zn2+-interactive protease network is suggested here. The two viral cysteine proteases are therapeutic targets against COVID-19. Viral and many host proteases are submaximally inhibited by exchangeable cell Zn2+. Inhibition of cysteine proteases can improve COVID-19 outcomes and non-infectious inflammation. Metformin reportedly enhances the natural moderating effect of Zn2+ on bioassayed proteome degradation. Firstly, the dissociable metformin-Zn2+ complex could be actively transported by intestinal cation transporters; thereby creating artificial pathways of absorption and increased body Zn2+ content. Secondly, metformin Zn2+ coordination can create a non-natural protease inhibitor independent of cell Zn2+ content. Moderation of peptidolytic reactions by either or both mechanisms could slow (a) viral multiplication (b) viral invasion and (c) the pathogenic host inflammatory response. These combined actions could allow development of acquired immunity to clear the infection before life-threatening inflammation. Nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid®) opposes COVID-19 by selective inhibition the viral main protease by a Zn2+-independent mechanism. Pending safety evaluation, predictable synergistic benefits of metformin and Zn2+, and perhaps metformin/Zn2+/Paxlovid® co-administration should be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Lockwood
- Department Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, 45435, USA.
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3
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Sheng YJ, Kuo STA, Yang T, Russell DH, Yan X, Xu S, Liu WR, Fierke CA. BRD4354 Is a Potent Covalent Inhibitor against the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. Biochemistry 2024:10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00685. [PMID: 38329238 PMCID: PMC11306412 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Numerous organic molecules are known to inhibit the main protease (MPro) of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Guided by previous research on zinc-ligand inhibitors of MPro and zinc-dependent histone deacetylases (HDACs), we identified BRD4354 as a potent inhibitor of MPro. The in vitro protease activity assays show that BRD4354 displays time-dependent inhibition against MPro with an IC50 (concentration that inhibits activity by 50%) of 0.72 ± 0.04 μM after 60 min of incubation. Inactivation follows a two-step process with an initial rapid binding step with a KI of 1.9 ± 0.5 μM followed by a second slow inactivation step, kinact,max of 0.040 ± 0.002 min-1. Native mass spectrometry studies indicate that a covalent intermediate is formed where the ortho-quinone methide fragment of BRD4354 forms a covalent bond with the catalytic cysteine C145 of MPro. Based on these data, a Michael-addition reaction mechanism between MPro C145 and BRD4354 was proposed. These results suggest that both preclinical testing of BRD4354 and structure-activity relationship studies based on BRD4354 are warranted to develop more effective anti-COVID therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan J. Sheng
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Syuan-Ting Alex Kuo
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Tingyuan Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - David H. Russell
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Xin Yan
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Shiqing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Wenshe R. Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Translational Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Carol A. Fierke
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
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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: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [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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Vazquez-Rodriguez S, Ramírez-Contreras D, Noriega L, García-García A, Sánchez-Gaytán BL, Melendez FJ, Castro ME, de Azevedo WF, González-Vergara E. Interaction of copper potential metallodrugs with TMPRSS2: A comparative study of docking tools and its implications on COVID-19. Front Chem 2023; 11:1128859. [PMID: 36778030 PMCID: PMC9909424 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1128859] [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: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. For the virus to enter the host cell, its spike (S) protein binds to the ACE2 receptor, and the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) cleaves the binding for the fusion. As part of the research on COVID-19 treatments, several Casiopeina-analogs presented here were looked at as TMPRSS2 inhibitors. Using the DFT and conceptual-DFT methods, it was found that the global reactivity indices of the optimized molecular structures of the inhibitors could be used to predict their pharmacological activity. In addition, molecular docking programs (AutoDock4, Molegro Virtual Docker, and GOLD) were used to find the best potential inhibitors by looking at how they interact with key amino acid residues (His296, Asp 345, and Ser441) in the catalytic triad. The results show that in many cases, at least one of the amino acids in the triad is involved in the interaction. In the best cases, Asp435 interacts with the terminal nitrogen atoms of the side chains in a similar way to inhibitors such as nafamostat, camostat, and gabexate. Since the copper compounds localize just above the catalytic triad, they could stop substrates from getting into it. The binding energies are in the range of other synthetic drugs already on the market. Because serine protease could be an excellent target to stop the virus from getting inside the cell, the analyzed complexes are an excellent place to start looking for new drugs to treat COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Vazquez-Rodriguez
- Centro de Química del Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Diego Ramírez-Contreras
- Centro de Química del Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Lisset Noriega
- Laboratorio de Química Teórica, Depto. de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico,Departamento de Física Aplicada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Amalia García-García
- Centro de Química del Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico,Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Brenda L. Sánchez-Gaytán
- Centro de Química del Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Francisco J. Melendez
- Laboratorio de Química Teórica, Depto. de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - María Eugenia Castro
- Centro de Química del Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico,*Correspondence: María Eugenia Castro, ; Enrique González-Vergara,
| | - Walter Filgueira de Azevedo
- Escola de Ciências da Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Enrique González-Vergara
- Centro de Química del Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico,*Correspondence: María Eugenia Castro, ; Enrique González-Vergara,
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6
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Li H, Yuan S, Wei X, Sun H. Metal-based strategies for the fight against COVID-19. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:7466-7482. [PMID: 35730442 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc01772e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The emerging COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has claimed over six million lives globally to date. Despite the availability of vaccines, the pandemic still cannot be fully controlled owing to rapid mutation of the virus that renders enhanced transmissibility and antibody evasion. This is thus an unmet need to develop safe and effective therapeutic options for COVID-19, in particular, remedies that can be used at home. Considering the great success of multi-targeted cocktail therapy for the treatment of viral infections, metal-based drugs might represent a unique and new source of antivirals that resemble a cocktail therapy in terms of their mode of actions. In this review, we first summarize the role that metal ions played in SARS-CoV-2 viral replication and pathogenesis, then highlight the chemistry of metal-based strategies in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 infection, including both metal displacement and chelation based approaches. Finally, we outline a perspective and direction on how to design and develop metal-based antivirals for the fight against the current or future coronavirus pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Li
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- Department of Microbiology and State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xueying Wei
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China. .,Department of Microbiology and State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hongzhe Sun
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratory of Metallomics on Health and Environment, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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7
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Karges J. Rhenium complexes as antiviral agents for COVID-19. J COORD CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00958972.2022.2084395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Karges
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
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8
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Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication by zinc gluconate in combination with hinokitiol. J Inorg Biochem 2022; 231:111777. [PMID: 35255411 PMCID: PMC8886686 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2022.111777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is currently the major challenge to global public health. Two proteases, papain-like protease (PLpro) and the 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro or Mpro), are indispensable for SARS-CoV-2 replication, making them attractive targets for antiviral therapy development. Here we screened a panel of essential metal ions using a proteolytic assay and identified that zinc gluconate, a widely-used zinc supplement, strongly inhibited the proteolytic activities of the two proteases in vitro. Biochemical and crystallographic data reveal that zinc gluconate exhibited the inhibitory function via binding to the protease catalytic site residues. We further show that treatment of zinc gluconate in combination with a small molecule ionophore hinokitiol, could lead to elevated intracellular Zn2+ level and thereby significantly impaired the two protease activities in cellulo. Particularly, this approach could also be applied to rescue SARS-CoV-2 infected mammalian cells, indicative of potential application to combat coronavirus infections. Our studies provide the direct experimental evidence that elevated intracellular zinc concentration directly inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and suggest the potential benefits to use the zinc supplements for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment.
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Agost-Beltrán L, de la Hoz-Rodríguez S, Bou-Iserte L, Rodríguez S, Fernández-de-la-Pradilla A, González FV. Advances in the Development of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitors. Molecules 2022; 27:2523. [PMID: 35458721 PMCID: PMC9026863 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27082523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, one of the strategies used to search for new drugs has been to find inhibitors of the main protease (Mpro) of the virus SARS-CoV-2. Initially, previously reported inhibitors of related proteases such as the main proteases of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV were tested. A huge effort was then carried out by the scientific community to design, synthesize and test new small molecules acting as inactivators of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. From the chemical structure view, these compounds can be classified into two main groups: one corresponds to modified peptides displaying an adequate sequence for high affinity and a reactive warhead; and the second is a diverse group including chemical compounds that do not have a peptide framework. Although a drug including a SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitor has already been commercialized, denoting the importance of this field, more compounds have been demonstrated to be promising potent inhibitors as potential antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Agost-Beltrán
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12080 Castelló, Spain; (L.A.-B.); (S.d.l.H.-R.); (L.B.-I.); (S.R.)
| | - Sergio de la Hoz-Rodríguez
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12080 Castelló, Spain; (L.A.-B.); (S.d.l.H.-R.); (L.B.-I.); (S.R.)
| | - Lledó Bou-Iserte
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12080 Castelló, Spain; (L.A.-B.); (S.d.l.H.-R.); (L.B.-I.); (S.R.)
| | - Santiago Rodríguez
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12080 Castelló, Spain; (L.A.-B.); (S.d.l.H.-R.); (L.B.-I.); (S.R.)
| | | | - Florenci V. González
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12080 Castelló, Spain; (L.A.-B.); (S.d.l.H.-R.); (L.B.-I.); (S.R.)
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