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Chen A, Fang N, Zhang Z, Wen Y, Shen Y, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Zhao G, Ding J, Li J. Structural basis of the monkeypox virus mRNA cap N7 methyltransferase complex. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2369193. [PMID: 38873898 PMCID: PMC11212559 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2369193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
The global outbreak of Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), has attracted international attention and become another major infectious disease event after COVID-19. The mRNA cap N7 methyltransferase (RNMT) of MPXV methylates the N7 position of the added guanosine to the 5'-cap structure of mRNAs and plays a vital role in evading host antiviral immunity. MPXV RNMT is composed of the large subunit E1 and the small subunit E12. How E1 and E12 of MPXV assembly remains unclear. Here, we report the crystal structures of E12, the MTase domain of E1 with E12 (E1CTD-E12) complex, and the E1CTD-E12-SAM ternary complex, revealing the detailed conformations of critical residues and the structural changes upon E12 binding to E1. Functional studies suggest that E1CTD N-terminal extension (Asp545-Arg562) and the small subunit E12 play an essential role in the binding process of SAM. Structural comparison of the AlphaFold2-predicted E1, E1CTD-E12 complex, and the homologous D1-D12 complex of vaccinia virus (VACV) indicates an allosteric activating effect of E1 in MPXV. Our findings provide the structural basis for the MTase activity stimulation of the E1-E12 complex and suggest a potential interface for screening the anti-poxvirus inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ning Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhifei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yiqing Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yajie Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanjie Zhang
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Center for Translational Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guoping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jin Ding
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Center for Translational Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jixi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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2
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Zilecka E, Klima M, Stefek M, Dejmek M, Nencka R, Boura E. Structure of SARS-CoV-2 MTase nsp14 with the inhibitor STM957 reveals inhibition mechanism that is shared with a poxviral MTase VP39. J Struct Biol X 2024; 10:100109. [PMID: 39188530 PMCID: PMC11345338 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2024.100109] [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: 07/09/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Nsp14 is an RNA methyltransferase (MTase) encoded by all coronaviruses. In fact, many viral families, including DNA viruses, encode MTases that catalyze the methylation of the RNA precap structure, resulting in fully capped viral RNA. This capping is crucial for efficient viral RNA translation, stability, and immune evasion. Our previous research identified nsp14 inhibitors based on the chemical scaffold of its methyl donor - the S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) - featuring a modified adenine base and a substituted arylsulfonamide. However, the binding mode of these inhibitors was based only on docking experiments. To uncover atomic details of nsp14 inhibition we solved the crystal structure of nsp14 bound to STM957. The structure revealed the atomic details of nsp14 inhibition such that the 7-deaza-adenine moiety of STM957 forms specific interactions with Tyr368, Ala353, and Phe367, while the arylsulfonamide moiety engages with Asn388 and Phe506. The large aromatic substituent at the 7-deaza position displaces a network of water molecules near the adenine base. Surprisingly, this was recently observed in the case of an unrelated monkeypox MTase VP39, where the 7-deaza modified SAH analogs also displaced water molecules from the vicinity of the active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Zilecka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Klima
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Stefek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Dejmek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Nencka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Evzen Boura
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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3
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Liang JJ, Pitsillou E, Lau HLY, Mccubbery CP, Gan H, Hung A, Karagiannis TC. Utilization of the EpiMed Coronabank Chemical Collection to identify potential SARS-CoV-2 antivirals: in silico studies targeting the nsp14 ExoN domain and PL pro naphthalene binding site. J Mol Graph Model 2024; 131:108803. [PMID: 38815531 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2024.108803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome encodes 29 proteins including four structural, 16 nonstructural (nsps), and nine accessory proteins (https://epimedlab.org/sars-cov-2-proteome/). Many of these proteins contain potential targetable sites for the development of antivirals. Despite the widespread use of vaccinations, the emergence of variants necessitates the investigation of new therapeutics and antivirals. Here, the EpiMed Coronabank Chemical Collection (https://epimedlab.org/crl/) was utilized to investigate potential antivirals against the nsp14 exoribonuclease (ExoN) domain. Molecular docking was performed to evaluate the binding characteristics of our chemical library against the nsp14 ExoN site. Based on the initial screen, trisjuglone, ararobinol, corilagin, and naphthofluorescein were identified as potential lead compounds. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were subsequently performed, with the results highlighting the stability of the lead compounds in the nsp14 ExoN site. Protein-RNA docking revealed the potential for the lead compounds to disrupt the interaction with RNA when bound to the ExoN site. Moreover, hypericin, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and rutin were previously identified as lead compounds targeting the papain-like protease (PLpro) naphthalene binding site. Through performing MD simulations, the stability and interactions of lead compounds with PLpro were further examined. Overall, given the critical role of the exonuclease activity of nsp14 in ensuring viral fidelity and the multifunctional role of PLpro in viral pathobiology and replication, these nsps represent important targets for antiviral drug development. Our databases can be utilized for in silico studies, such as the ones performed here, and this approach can be applied to other potentially druggable SARS-CoV-2 protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia J Liang
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia; Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Program, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Eleni Pitsillou
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Hannah L Y Lau
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Cian P Mccubbery
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Hockxuen Gan
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Andrew Hung
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Tom C Karagiannis
- Epigenomic Medicine Laboratory at prospED Polytechnic, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia; Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease Program, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, 75 Commercial Road, Prahran, VIC, 3004, Australia; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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4
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Jhanwar A, Sharma D, Das U. Unraveling the structural and functional dimensions of SARS-CoV2 proteins in the context of COVID-19 pathogenesis and therapeutics. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134850. [PMID: 39168210 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134850] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has emerged as the causative agent behind the global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). As the scientific community strives to comprehend the intricate workings of this virus, a fundamental aspect lies in deciphering the myriad proteins it expresses. This knowledge is pivotal in unraveling the complexities of the viral machinery and devising targeted therapeutic interventions. The proteomic landscape of SARS-CoV2 encompasses structural, non-structural, and open-reading frame proteins, each playing crucial roles in viral replication, host interactions, and the pathogenesis of COVID-19. This comprehensive review aims to provide an updated and detailed examination of the structural and functional attributes of SARS-CoV2 proteins. By exploring the intricate molecular architecture, we have highlighted the significance of these proteins in viral biology. Insights into their roles and interplay contribute to a deeper understanding of the virus's mechanisms, thereby paving the way for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. As the global scientific community strives to combat the ongoing pandemic, this synthesis of knowledge on SARS-CoV2 proteins serves as a valuable resource, fostering informed approaches toward mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and advancing the frontier of antiviral research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniruddh Jhanwar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Dipika Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Uddipan Das
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
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5
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Matsuda A, Plewka J, Rawski M, Mourão A, Zajko W, Siebenmorgen T, Kresik L, Lis K, Jones A, Pachota M, Karim A, Hartman K, Nirwal S, Sonani R, Chykunova Y, Minia I, Mak P, Landthaler M, Nowotny M, Dubin G, Sattler M, Suder P, Popowicz G, Pyrć K, Czarna A. Despite the odds: formation of the SARS-CoV-2 methylation complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6441-6458. [PMID: 38499483 PMCID: PMC11194070 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae165] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses modify their single-stranded RNA genome with a methylated cap during replication to mimic the eukaryotic mRNAs. The capping process is initiated by several nonstructural proteins (nsp) encoded in the viral genome. The methylation is performed by two methyltransferases, nsp14 and nsp16, while nsp10 acts as a co-factor to both. Additionally, nsp14 carries an exonuclease domain which operates in the proofreading system during RNA replication of the viral genome. Both nsp14 and nsp16 were reported to independently bind nsp10, but the available structural information suggests that the concomitant interaction between these three proteins would be impossible due to steric clashes. Here, we show that nsp14, nsp10, and nsp16 can form a heterotrimer complex upon significant allosteric change. This interaction is expected to encourage the formation of mature capped viral mRNA, modulating nsp14's exonuclease activity, and protecting the viral RNA. Our findings show that nsp14 is amenable to allosteric regulation and may serve as a novel target for therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Matsuda
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Jacek Plewka
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Michał Rawski
- SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, Jagiellonian University, 30-392 Kraków, Poland
| | - André Mourão
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Weronika Zajko
- Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Leanid Kresik
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Kinga Lis
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Kraków University of Technology, 31-155 Kraków, Poland
| | - Alisha N Jones
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Magdalena Pachota
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Abdulkarim Karim
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, 44002 Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
- Department of Community Health, College of Health Technology, Cihan University-Erbil, 44001 Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Kinga Hartman
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Shivlee Nirwal
- Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ravi Sonani
- Protein Crystallography Research Group, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Yuliya Chykunova
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Igor Minia
- Laboratory for RNA Biology, Berlin Institute for Medical System Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paweł Mak
- Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Markus Landthaler
- Laboratory for RNA Biology, Berlin Institute for Medical System Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcin Nowotny
- Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Dubin
- Protein Crystallography Research Group, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Michael Sattler
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Piotr Suder
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Grzegorz M Popowicz
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Bavarian NMR Center, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Krzysztof Pyrć
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Czarna
- Virogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
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6
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Li S, Li H, Lian R, Xie J, Feng R. New perspective of small-molecule antiviral drugs development for RNA viruses. Virology 2024; 594:110042. [PMID: 38492519 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
High variability and adaptability of RNA viruses allows them to spread between humans and animals, causing large-scale infectious diseases which seriously threat human and animal health and social development. At present, AIDS, viral hepatitis and other viral diseases with high incidence and low cure rate are still spreading around the world. The outbreaks of Ebola, Zika, dengue and in particular of the global pandemic of COVID-19 have presented serious challenges to the global public health system. The development of highly effective and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs is a substantial and urgent research subject to deal with the current RNA virus infection and the possible new viral infections in the future. In recent years, with the rapid development of modern disciplines such as artificial intelligence technology, bioinformatics, molecular biology, and structural biology, some new strategies and targets for antivirals development have emerged. Here we review the main strategies and new targets for developing small-molecule antiviral drugs against RNA viruses through the analysis of the new drug development progress against several highly pathogenic RNA viruses, to provide clues for development of future antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Huixia Li
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Ruiya Lian
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Jingying Xie
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China; Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China
| | - Ruofei Feng
- Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bioengineering of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, 730030, China.
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7
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Duan T, Xing C, Chu J, Deng X, Du Y, Liu X, Hu Y, Qian C, Yin B, Wang HY, Wang RF. ACE2-dependent and -independent SARS-CoV-2 entries dictate viral replication and inflammatory response during infection. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:628-644. [PMID: 38514841 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01388-w] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Excessive inflammation is the primary cause of mortality in patients with severe COVID-19, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our study reveals that ACE2-dependent and -independent entries of SARS-CoV-2 in epithelial cells versus myeloid cells dictate viral replication and inflammatory responses. Mechanistically, SARS-CoV-2 NSP14 potently enhances NF-κB signalling by promoting IKK phosphorylation, while SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 exerts an opposing effect. In epithelial cells, ACE2-dependent SARS-CoV-2 entry enables viral replication, with translated ORF6 suppressing NF-κB signalling. In contrast, in myeloid cells, ACE2-independent entry blocks the translation of ORF6 and other viral structural proteins due to inefficient subgenomic RNA transcription, but NSP14 could be directly translated from genomic RNA, resulting in an abortive replication but hyperactivation of the NF-κB signalling pathway for proinflammatory cytokine production. Importantly, we identified TLR1 as a critical factor responsible for viral entry and subsequent inflammatory response through interaction with E and M proteins, which could be blocked by the small-molecule inhibitor Cu-CPT22. Collectively, our findings provide molecular insights into the mechanisms by which strong viral replication but scarce inflammatory response during the early (ACE2-dependent) infection stage, followed by low viral replication and potent inflammatory response in the late (ACE2-independent) infection stage, may contribute to COVID-19 progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhao Duan
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Changsheng Xing
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Junjun Chu
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xiangxue Deng
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yang Du
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yuzhou Hu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chen Qian
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bingnan Yin
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Helen Y Wang
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rong-Fu Wang
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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8
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Chen J, Zhou Y, Wei X, Xu X, Qin Z, Ong CP, Ye ZW, Jin DY, Boitrel B, Yuan S, Chan JFW, Li H, Sun H. Development of Pan-Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Agents through Allosteric Inhibition of nsp14/nsp10 Complex. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:858-869. [PMID: 37897418 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00356] [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] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 functions both as an exoribonuclease (ExoN) together with its critical cofactor nsp10 and as an S-adenosyl methionine-dependent (guanine-N7) methyltransferase (MTase), which makes it an attractive target for the development of pan-anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. Herein, we screened a panel of compounds (and drugs) and found that certain compounds, especially Bi(III)-based compounds, could allosterically inhibit both MTase and ExoN activities of nsp14 potently. We further demonstrated that Bi(III) binds to both nsp14 and nsp10, resulting in the release of Zn(II) ions from the enzymes as well as alternation of protein quaternary structures. The in vitro activities of the compounds were also validated in SARS-CoV-2-infected mammalian cells. Importantly, we showed that nsp14 serves as an authentic target of Bi(III)-based antivirals in SARS-CoV-2-infected mammalian cells by quantification of both the protein and inhibitor. This study highlights the importance of nsp14/nsp10 as a potential target for the development of pan-antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxin Chen
- 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 Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Ying Zhou
- 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 Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. 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 Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohan Xu
- 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 Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Zhenzhi Qin
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Chon Phin Ong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Zi-Wei Ye
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Dong-Yan Jin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Bernard Boitrel
- University of Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)-UMR 6226, Rennes 35000, France
| | - Shuofeng Yuan
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - Jasper F-W Chan
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
| | - 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 Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. 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 Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong 999077, P. R. China
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9
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Hassan SS, Bhattacharya T, Nawn D, Jha I, Basu P, Redwan EM, Lundstrom K, Barh D, Andrade BS, Tambuwala MM, Aljabali AA, Hromić-Jahjefendić A, Baetas-da-Cruz W, Serrano-Aroca Á, Uversky VN. SARS-CoV-2 NSP14 governs mutational instability and assists in making new SARS-CoV-2 variants. Comput Biol Med 2024; 170:107899. [PMID: 38232455 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107899] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the rapidly evolving RNA virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, has spawned numerous variants since its 2019 emergence. The multifunctional Nonstructural protein 14 (NSP14) enzyme, possessing exonuclease and messenger RNA (mRNA) capping capabilities, serves as a key player. Notably, single and co-occurring mutations within NSP14 significantly influence replication fidelity and drive variant diversification. This study comprehensively examines 120 co-mutations, 68 unique mutations, and 160 conserved residues across NSP14 homologs, shedding light on their implications for phylogenetic patterns, pathogenicity, and residue interactions. Quantitative physicochemical analysis categorizes 3953 NSP14 variants into three clusters, revealing genetic diversity. This research underscoresthe dynamic nature of SARS-CoV-2 evolution, primarily governed by NSP14 mutations. Understanding these genetic dynamics provides valuable insights for therapeutic and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sk Sarif Hassan
- Department of Mathematics, Pingla Thana Mahavidyalaya, Maligram, Paschim Medinipur, 721140, West Bengal, India.
| | - Tanishta Bhattacharya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Berhampur, IISER Berhampur Transit campus (Govt. ITI Building), Engg. School Junction, Berhampur, 760010, Odisha, India.
| | - Debaleena Nawn
- Indian Research Institute for Integrated Medicine (IRIIM), Unsani, Howrah, 711302, West Bengal, India.
| | - Ishana Jha
- Department of Bioinformatics, Pondicherry University, Chinna Kalapet, Kalapet, Puducherry 605014, India.
| | - Pallab Basu
- School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Braamfontein 2000, 721140, South Africa; Adjunct Faculty, Woxsen School of Sciences, Woxsen University, Telangana, 500 033, India.
| | - Elrashdy M Redwan
- Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Therapeutic and Protective Proteins Laboratory, Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg EL-Arab, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | | | - Debmalya Barh
- Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur, 721172, India; Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil.
| | - Bruno Silva Andrade
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Southwest of Bahia (UESB), Jequié 45083-900, Brazil.
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- Lincoln Medical School, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK; College of Pharmacy, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Alaa A Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan.
| | - Altijana Hromić-Jahjefendić
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, International University of Sarajevo, Hrasnicka cesta 15, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Wagner Baetas-da-Cruz
- Centre for Experimental Surgery, Translational Laboratory in Molecular Physiology, College of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Ángel Serrano-Aroca
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering Lab, Centro de Investigación Traslacional San Alberto Magno, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, c/Guillem de Castro 94, 46001 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
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10
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Sele C, Krupinska E, Andersson Rasmussen A, Ekström S, Hultgren L, Lou J, Kozielski F, Fisher SZ, Knecht W. New insights into complex formation by SARS-CoV-2 nsp10 and nsp14. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38422227 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2024.2321600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein 10 (nsp10) is essential for the stimulation of enzymatic activities of nsp14 and nsp16, acting as both an activator and scaffolding protein. Nsp14 is a bifunctional enzyme with the N-terminus containing a 3'-5' exoribonuclease (ExoN) domain that allows the excision of nucleotide mismatches at the virus RNA 3'-end, and a C-terminal N7-methyltransferase (N7-MTase) domain. Nsp10 is required for stimulating both ExoN proofreading and the nsp16 2'-O-methyltransferase activities. This makes nsp10 a central player in both viral resistance to nucleoside-based drugs and the RNA cap methylation machinery that helps the virus evade innate immunity. We characterised the interactions between full-length nsp10 (139 residues), N- and C-termini truncated nsp10 (residues 10-133), and nsp10 with a C-terminal truncation (residues 1-133) with nsp14 using microscale thermophoresis, multi-detection SEC, and hydrogen-deuterium (H/D) exchange mass spectrometry. We describe the functional role of the C-terminal region of nsp10 for binding to nsp14 and show that full N- and C-termini of nsp10 are important for optimal binding. In addition, our H/D exchange experiments suggest an intermediary interaction of nsp10 with the N7-MTase domain of nsp14. In summary, our results suggest intermediary steps in the process of association or dissociation of the nsp10-nsp14 complex, involving contacts between the two proteins in regions not identifiable by X-ray crystallography alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céleste Sele
- Department of Biology & Lund Protein Production Platform & Protein Production Sweden, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ewa Krupinska
- Department of Biology & Lund Protein Production Platform & Protein Production Sweden, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Andersson Rasmussen
- Department of Biology & Lund Protein Production Platform & Protein Production Sweden, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Simon Ekström
- Swedish National Infrastructure for Biological Mass Spectrometry and SciLifeLab, Integrated Structural Biology platform, Structural Proteomics Unit Sweden, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lucas Hultgren
- Swedish National Infrastructure for Biological Mass Spectrometry and SciLifeLab, Integrated Structural Biology platform, Structural Proteomics Unit Sweden, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jiaqi Lou
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - S Zoë Fisher
- Department of Biology & Lund Protein Production Platform & Protein Production Sweden, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- European Spallation Source ERIC, Lund, Sweden
| | - Wolfgang Knecht
- Department of Biology & Lund Protein Production Platform & Protein Production Sweden, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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11
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Ahmed-Belkacem R, Sutto-Ortiz P, Delpal A, Troussier J, Canard B, Vasseur JJ, Decroly E, Debart F. 5'-cap RNA/SAM mimetic conjugates as bisubstrate inhibitors of viral RNA cap 2'-O-methyltransferases. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:107035. [PMID: 38199140 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107035] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Viral RNA cap 2'-O-methyltransferases are considered promising therapeutic targets for antiviral treatments, as they play a key role in the formation of viral RNA cap-1 structures to escape the host immune system. A better understanding of how they interact with their natural substrates (RNA and the methyl donor SAM) would enable the rational development of potent inhibitors. However, as few structures of 2'-O-MTases in complex with RNA have been described, little is known about substrate recognition by these MTases. For this, chemical tools mimicking the state in which the cap RNA substrate and SAM cofactor are bound in the enzyme's catalytic pocket may prove useful. In this work, we designed and synthesized over 30 RNA conjugates that contain a short oligoribonucleotide (ORN with 4 or 6 nucleotides) with the first nucleotide 2'-O-attached to an adenosine by linkers of different lengths and containing S or N-heteroatoms, or a 1,2,3-triazole ring. These ORN conjugates bearing or not a cap structure at 5'-extremity mimic the methylation transition state with RNA substrate/SAM complex as bisubstrates of 2'-O-MTases. The ORN conjugates were synthesized either by the incorporation of a dinucleoside phosphoramidite during RNA elongation or by click chemistry performed on solid-phase post-RNA elongation. Their ability to inhibit the activity of the nsp16/nsp10 complex of SARS-CoV-2 and the NS5 protein of dengue and Zika viruses was assessed. Significant submicromolar IC50 values and Kd values in the µM range were found, suggesting a possible interaction of some ORN conjugates with these viral 2'-O-MTases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adrien Delpal
- AFMB, University of Aix-Marseille, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Joris Troussier
- IBMM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruno Canard
- AFMB, University of Aix-Marseille, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | | | | | - Françoise Debart
- IBMM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France.
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12
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Tofaute M, Weller B, Graß C, Halder H, Dohai B, Falter-Braun P, Krappmann D. SARS-CoV-2 NSP14 MTase activity is critical for inducing canonical NF-κB activation. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20231418. [PMID: 38131452 PMCID: PMC10776897 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients with severe forms of COVID-19 often suffer from a dysregulated immune response and hyperinflammation. Aberrant expression of cytokines and chemokines is associated with strong activation of the immunoregulatory transcription factor NF-κB, which can be directly induced by the SARS-CoV-2 protein NSP14. Here, we use NSP14 mutants and generated cells with host factor knockouts (KOs) in the NF-κB signaling pathways to characterize the molecular mechanism of NSP14-induced NF-κB activation. We demonstrate that full-length NSP14 requires methyltransferase (MTase) activity to drive NF-κB induction. NSP14 WT, but not an MTase-defective mutant, is poorly expressed and inherent post-translational instability is mediated by proteasomal degradation. Binding of SARS-CoV-2 NSP10 or addition of the co-factor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) stabilizes NSP14 and augments its potential to activate NF-κB. Using CRISPR/Cas9-engineered KO cells, we demonstrate that NSP14 stimulation of canonical NF-κB activation relies on NF-κB factor p65/RELA downstream of the NEMO/IKK complex, while c-Rel or non-canonical RelB are not required to induce NF-κB transcriptional activity. However, NSP14 overexpression is unable to induce canonical IκB kinase β (IKKβ)/NF-κB signaling and in co-immunoprecipitation assays we do not detect stable associations between NSP14 and NEMO or p65, suggesting that NSP14 activates NF-κB indirectly through its methyltransferase activity. Taken together, our data provide a framework how NSP14 can augment basal NF-κB activation, which may enhance cytokine expression in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie J. Tofaute
- Research Unit Signaling and Translation, Group Signaling and Immunity, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Weller
- Institute of Network Biology (INET), Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center (MTTC), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Carina Graß
- Research Unit Signaling and Translation, Group Signaling and Immunity, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Hridi Halder
- Institute of Network Biology (INET), Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center (MTTC), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Bushra Dohai
- Institute of Network Biology (INET), Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center (MTTC), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Pascal Falter-Braun
- Institute of Network Biology (INET), Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center (MTTC), Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
- Microbe-Host Interactions, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Daniel Krappmann
- Research Unit Signaling and Translation, Group Signaling and Immunity, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
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13
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Julio AR, Shikwana F, Truong C, Burton NR, Dominguez E, Turmon AC, Cao J, Backus K. Pervasive aggregation and depletion of host and viral proteins in response to cysteine-reactive electrophilic compounds. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.30.564067. [PMID: 38014036 PMCID: PMC10680658 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.30.564067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis is tightly regulated, with damaged or misfolded proteins quickly eliminated by the proteasome and autophagosome pathways. By co-opting these processes, targeted protein degradation technologies enable pharmacological manipulation of protein abundance. Recently, cysteine-reactive molecules have been added to the degrader toolbox, which offer the benefit of unlocking the therapeutic potential of 'undruggable' protein targets. The proteome-wide impact of these molecules remains to be fully understood and given the general reactivity of many classes of cysteine-reactive electrophiles, on- and off-target effects are likely. Using chemical proteomics, we identified a cysteine-reactive small molecule degrader of the SARS-CoV-2 non- structural protein 14 (nsp14), which effects degradation through direct modification of cysteines in both nsp14 and in host chaperones together with activation of global cell stress response pathways. We find that cysteine-reactive electrophiles increase global protein ubiquitylation, trigger proteasome activation, and result in widespread aggregation and depletion of host proteins, including components of the nuclear pore complex. Formation of stress granules was also found to be a remarkably ubiquitous cellular response to nearly all cysteine-reactive compounds and degraders. Collectively, our study sheds light on complexities of covalent target protein degradation and highlights untapped opportunities in manipulating and characterizing proteostasis processes via deciphering the cysteine-centric regulation of stress response pathways.
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14
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Grand RJ. SARS-CoV-2 and the DNA damage response. J Gen Virol 2023; 104:001918. [PMID: 37948194 PMCID: PMC10768691 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001918] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 is characterized by respiratory distress, multiorgan dysfunction and, in some cases, death. The virus is also responsible for post-COVID-19 condition (commonly referred to as 'long COVID'). SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus with a genome of approximately 30 kb, which encodes 26 proteins. It has been reported to affect multiple pathways in infected cells, resulting, in many cases, in the induction of a 'cytokine storm' and cellular senescence. Perhaps because it is an RNA virus, replicating largely in the cytoplasm, the effect of SARS-Cov-2 on genome stability and DNA damage responses (DDRs) has received relatively little attention. However, it is now becoming clear that the virus causes damage to cellular DNA, as shown by the presence of micronuclei, DNA repair foci and increased comet tails in infected cells. This review considers recent evidence indicating how SARS-CoV-2 causes genome instability, deregulates the cell cycle and targets specific components of DDR pathways. The significance of the virus's ability to cause cellular senescence is also considered, as are the implications of genome instability for patients suffering from long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger J. Grand
- Institute for Cancer and Genomic Science, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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15
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Borgelt L, Wu P. Targeting Ribonucleases with Small Molecules and Bifunctional Molecules. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:2101-2113. [PMID: 37382390 PMCID: PMC10594538 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00191] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Ribonucleases (RNases) cleave and process RNAs, thereby regulating the biogenesis, metabolism, and degradation of coding and noncoding RNAs. Thus, small molecules targeting RNases have the potential to perturb RNA biology, and RNases have been studied as therapeutic targets of antibiotics, antivirals, and agents for autoimmune diseases and cancers. Additionally, the recent advances in chemically induced proximity approaches have led to the discovery of bifunctional molecules that target RNases to achieve RNA degradation or inhibit RNA processing. Here, we summarize the efforts that have been made to discover small-molecule inhibitors and activators targeting bacterial, viral, and human RNases. We also highlight the emerging examples of RNase-targeting bifunctional molecules and discuss the trends in developing such molecules for both biological and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Borgelt
- Chemical Genomics Centre, Max
Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11, Dortmund 44227, Germany
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16
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Štefek M, Chalupská D, Chalupský K, Zgarbová M, Dvořáková A, Krafčíková P, Li ASM, Šála M, Dejmek M, Otava T, Chaloupecká E, Kozák J, Kozic J, Vedadi M, Weber J, Mertlíková-Kaiserová H, Nencka R. Rational Design of Highly Potent SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 Methyltransferase Inhibitors. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:27410-27418. [PMID: 37546609 PMCID: PMC10398685 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The search for new drugs against COVID-19 and its causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, is one of the major trends in the current medicinal chemistry. Targeting capping machinery could be one of the therapeutic concepts based on a unique mechanism of action. Viral RNA cap synthesis involves two methylation steps, the first of which is mediated by the nsp14 protein. Here, we rationally designed and synthesized a series of compounds capable of binding to both the S-adenosyl-l-methionine and the RNA-binding site of SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 N7-methyltransferase. These hybrid molecules showed excellent potency, high selectivity toward various human methyltransferases, nontoxicity, and high cell permeability. Despite the outstanding activity against the enzyme, our compounds showed poor antiviral performance in vitro. This suggests that the activity of this viral methyltransferase has no significant effect on virus transcription and replication at the cellular level. Therefore, our compounds represent unique tools to further explore the role of the SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 methyltransferase in the viral life cycle and the pathogenesis of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Štefek
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Dominika Chalupská
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Chalupský
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Michala Zgarbová
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Alexandra Dvořáková
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Krafčíková
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Alice Shi Ming Li
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Michal Šála
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Dejmek
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Otava
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Ema Chaloupecká
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Kozák
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Ján Kozic
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Masoud Vedadi
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- QBI
COVID-19 Research Group (QCRG), San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Jan Weber
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Mertlíková-Kaiserová
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Nencka
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Náměstí
2, Prague 6 166 10, Czech Republic
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17
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Mittal RK, Purohit P, Sankaranarayanan M, Muzaffar-Ur-Rehman M, Taramelli D, Signorini L, Dolci M, Basilico N. In-vitro antiviral activity and in-silico targeted study of quinoline-3-carboxylate derivatives against SARS-Cov-2 isolate. Mol Divers 2023:10.1007/s11030-023-10703-w. [PMID: 37480422 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-023-10703-w] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the viral outbreak named COVID-19 showed that infectious diseases have a huge impact on both global health and the financial and economic sectors. The lack of efficacious antiviral drugs worsened the health problem. Based on our previous experience, we investigated in vitro and in silico a series of quinoline-3-carboxylate derivatives against a SARS-CoV-2 isolate. In the present study, the in-vitro antiviral activity of a series of quinoline-3-carboxylate compounds and the in silico target-based molecular dynamics (MD) and metabolic studies are reported. The compounds' activity against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated using plaque assay and RT-qPCR. Moreover, from the docking scores, it appears that the most active compounds (1j and 1o) exhibit stronger binding affinity to the primary viral protease (NSP5) and the exoribonuclease domain of non structural protein 14 (NSP14). Additionally, the in-silico metabolic analysis of 1j and 1o defines CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 as the major P450 enzymes involved in their metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Kumar Mittal
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S A S Nagar Mohali, Punjab, 160062, India
- Galgotias College of Pharmacy, Greater Noida, UttarPradesh, India
| | - Priyank Purohit
- School of Pharmacy, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India.
| | - Murugesan Sankaranarayanan
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India
| | - Mohammed Muzaffar-Ur-Rehman
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India
| | - Donatella Taramelli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Pascal Street 36, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Signorini
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Pascal Street 36, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Dolci
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Pascal Street 36, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Basilico
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Pascal Street 36, 20133, Milan, Italy
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18
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Asthana A, Corona A, Shin WJ, Kwak MJ, Gaughan C, Tramontano E, Jung JU, Schobert R, Jha BK, Silverman RH, Biersack B. Analogs of the Catechol Derivative Dynasore Inhibit HIV-1 Ribonuclease H, SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 Exoribonuclease, and Virus Replication. Viruses 2023; 15:1539. [PMID: 37515225 PMCID: PMC10385162 DOI: 10.3390/v15071539] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral replication often depends on RNA maturation and degradation processes catalyzed by viral ribonucleases, which are therefore candidate targets for antiviral drugs. Here, we synthesized and studied the antiviral properties of a novel nitrocatechol compound (1c) and other analogs that are structurally related to the catechol derivative dynasore. Interestingly, compound 1c strongly inhibited two DEDD box viral ribonucleases, HIV-1 RNase H and SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 3'-to-5' exoribonuclease (ExoN). While 1c inhibited SARS-CoV-2 ExoN activity, it did not interfere with the mRNA methyltransferase activity of nsp14. In silico molecular docking placed compound 1c in the catalytic pocket of the ExoN domain of nsp14. Finally, 1c inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication but had no toxicity to human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Given its simple chemical synthesis from easily available starting materials, these results suggest that 1c might be a lead compound for the design of new antiviral compounds that target coronavirus nsp14 ExoN and other viral ribonucleases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Asthana
- Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2111 East 96th St, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Angela Corona
- Laboratorio di Virologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Universitá degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato SS554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Woo-Jin Shin
- Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2111 East 96th St, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Mi-Jeong Kwak
- Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2111 East 96th St, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Christina Gaughan
- Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2111 East 96th St, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Laboratorio di Virologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Dell'Ambiente, Universitá degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato SS554, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Jae U Jung
- Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2111 East 96th St, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Rainer Schobert
- Organic Chemistry 1, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Babal Kant Jha
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Lerner Research Institute and Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2111 East 96th St, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Robert H Silverman
- Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 2111 East 96th St, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Bernhard Biersack
- Organic Chemistry 1, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
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19
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Singh I, Li F, Fink EA, Chau I, Li A, Rodriguez-Hernández A, Glenn I, Zapatero-Belinchón FJ, Rodriguez ML, Devkota K, Deng Z, White K, Wan X, Tolmachova NA, Moroz YS, Kaniskan HÜ, Ott M, García-Sastre A, Jin J, Fujimori DG, Irwin JJ, Vedadi M, Shoichet BK. Structure-Based Discovery of Inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 N7-Methyltransferase. J Med Chem 2023; 66:7785-7803. [PMID: 37294077 PMCID: PMC10374283 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c02120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
An under-explored target for SARS-CoV-2 is the S-adenosyl methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase Nsp14, which methylates the N7-guanosine of viral RNA at the 5'-end, allowing the virus to evade host immune response. We sought new Nsp14 inhibitors with three large library docking strategies. First, up to 1.1 billion lead-like molecules were docked against the enzyme's SAM site, leading to three inhibitors with IC50 values from 6 to 50 μM. Second, docking a library of 16 million fragments revealed 9 new inhibitors with IC50 values from 12 to 341 μM. Third, docking a library of 25 million electrophiles to covalently modify Cys387 revealed 7 inhibitors with IC50 values from 3.5 to 39 μM. Overall, 32 inhibitors encompassing 11 chemotypes had IC50 values < 50 μM and 5 inhibitors in 4 chemotypes had IC50 values < 10 μM. These molecules are among the first non-SAM-like inhibitors of Nsp14, providing starting points for future optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Fengling Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Elissa A Fink
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
- Graduate Program in Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Irene Chau
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Alice Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Annía Rodriguez-Hernández
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Isabella Glenn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | | | - M Luis Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Kanchan Devkota
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Zhijie Deng
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Kris White
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Xiaobo Wan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Nataliya A Tolmachova
- Enamine Ltd, Kyïv 02094, Ukraine
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry, National Ukrainian Academy of Science, Kyïv 02660, Ukraine
| | - Yurii S Moroz
- National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyïv, Kyïv 01601, Ukraine
- Chemspace, Riga LV-1082, Latvia
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Melanie Ott
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- QBI COVID-19 Research Group (QCRG), San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Adolfo García-Sastre
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
- Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
- QBI COVID-19 Research Group (QCRG), San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences, Oncological Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
- QBI COVID-19 Research Group (QCRG), San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Danica Galonić Fujimori
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- QBI COVID-19 Research Group (QCRG), San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - John J Irwin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
- QBI COVID-19 Research Group (QCRG), San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Masoud Vedadi
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- QBI COVID-19 Research Group (QCRG), San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Brian K Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
- QBI COVID-19 Research Group (QCRG), San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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