1
|
Bolinger AA, Li J, Xie X, Li H, Zhou J. Lessons learnt from broad-spectrum coronavirus antiviral drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:1023-1041. [PMID: 39078037 PMCID: PMC11390334 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2385598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Highly pathogenic coronaviruses (CoVs), such as severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV), and the most recent SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, pose significant threats to human populations over the past two decades. These CoVs have caused a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to severe distress syndromes (ARDS), resulting in high morbidity and mortality. AREAS COVERED The accelerated advancements in antiviral drug discovery, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, have shed new light on the imperative to develop treatments effective against a broad spectrum of CoVs. This perspective discusses strategies and lessons learnt in targeting viral non-structural proteins, structural proteins, drug repurposing, and combinational approaches for the development of antivirals against CoVs. EXPERT OPINION Drawing lessons from the pandemic, it becomes evident that the absence of efficient broad-spectrum antiviral drugs increases the vulnerability of public health systems to the potential onslaught by highly pathogenic CoVs. The rapid and sustained spread of novel CoVs can have devastating consequences without effective and specifically targeted treatments. Prioritizing the effective development of broad-spectrum antivirals is imperative for bolstering the resilience of public health systems and mitigating the potential impact of future highly pathogenic CoVs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A. Bolinger
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Hongmin Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jia Zhou
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hartley B, Bassiouni W, Roczkowsky A, Fahlman R, Schulz R, Julien O. N-Terminomic Identification of Intracellular MMP-2 Substrates in Cardiac Tissue. J Proteome Res 2024. [PMID: 38647137 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Proteases are enzymes that induce irreversible post-translational modifications by hydrolyzing amide bonds in proteins. One of these proteases is matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), which has been shown to modulate extracellular matrix remodeling and intracellular proteolysis during myocardial injury. However, the substrates of MMP-2 in heart tissue are limited, and lesser known are the cleavage sites. Here, we used degradomics to investigate the substrates of intracellular MMP-2 in rat ventricular extracts. First, we designed a novel, constitutively active MMP-2 fusion protein (MMP-2-Fc) that we expressed and purified from mammalian cells. Using this protease, we proteolyzed ventricular extracts and used subtiligase-mediated N-terminomic labeling which identified 95 putative MMP-2-Fc proteolytic cleavage sites using mass spectrometry. The intracellular MMP-2 cleavage sites identified in heart tissue extracts were enriched for proteins primarily involved in metabolism, as well as the breakdown of fatty acids and amino acids. We further characterized the cleavage of three of these MMP-2-Fc substrates based on the gene ontology analysis. We first characterized the cleavage of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA2a), a known MMP-2 substrate in myocardial injury. We then characterized the cleavage of malate dehydrogenase (MDHM) and phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), representing new cardiac tissue substrates. Our findings provide insights into the intracellular substrates of MMP-2 in cardiac cells, suggesting that MMP-2 activation plays a role in cardiac metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bridgette Hartley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Wesam Bassiouni
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2S2, Canada
| | - Andrej Roczkowsky
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2S2, Canada
| | - Richard Fahlman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Richard Schulz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2S2, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2S2, Canada
| | - Olivier Julien
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2H7, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Krut' VG, Chuvpilo SA, Astrakhantseva IV, Kozlovskaya LI, Efimov GA, Kruglov AA, Drutskaya MS, Nedospasov SA. Will Peptides Help to Stop COVID-19? BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2022; 87:590-604. [PMID: 36154880 PMCID: PMC9282900 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922070021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Peptides are widely used for the diagnostics, prevention, and therapy of certain human diseases. How useful can they be for the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus? In this review, we discuss the possibility of using synthetic and recombinant peptides and polypeptides for prevention of COVID-19 via blocking the interaction between the virus and its main receptor ACE2, as well as components of antiviral vaccines, in particular, against new emerging virus variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viktoriya G Krut'
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Federal Territory Sirius, Krasnodar Krai, 354340, Russia
| | - Sergei A Chuvpilo
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Federal Territory Sirius, Krasnodar Krai, 354340, Russia
| | - Irina V Astrakhantseva
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Federal Territory Sirius, Krasnodar Krai, 354340, Russia
| | - Liubov I Kozlovskaya
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Products, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 108819, Russia
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Grigory A Efimov
- National Medical Research Center of Hematology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 125167, Russia
| | - Andrei A Kruglov
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
- German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ), Leibniz Institute, Berlin, 10117, Germany
| | - Marina S Drutskaya
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Federal Territory Sirius, Krasnodar Krai, 354340, Russia
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Sergei A Nedospasov
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, Federal Territory Sirius, Krasnodar Krai, 354340, Russia.
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Heinzelman P, Romero PA. Discovery of human ACE2 variants with altered recognition by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.09.17.301861. [PMID: 32995796 PMCID: PMC7523126 DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.17.301861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how human ACE2 genetic variants differ in their recognition by SARS-CoV-2 can have a major impact in leveraging ACE2 as an axis for treating and preventing COVID-19. In this work, we experimentally interrogate thousands of ACE2 mutants to identify over one hundred human single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) that are likely to have altered recognition by the virus, and make the complementary discovery that ACE2 residues distant from the spike interface can have a strong influence upon the ACE2-spike interaction. These findings illuminate new links between ACE2 sequence and spike recognition, and will find wide-ranging utility in SARS-CoV-2 fundamental research, epidemiological analyses, and clinical trial design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pete Heinzelman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin--Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Philip A. Romero
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin--Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin--Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Competitive SARS-CoV-2 Serology Reveals Most Antibodies Targeting the Spike Receptor-Binding Domain Compete for ACE2 Binding. mSphere 2020; 5:5/5/e00802-20. [PMID: 32938700 PMCID: PMC7494835 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00802-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With the emergence and continued spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and of the associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is an urgent need for improved understanding of how the body mounts an immune response to the virus. Here, we developed a competitive SARS-CoV-2 serological assay that can simultaneously determine whether an individual has developed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) and measure the proportion of these antibodies that block interaction with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) required for viral entry. Using this assay and 144 SARS-CoV-2 patient serum samples, we found that a majority of anti-RBD antibodies compete for ACE2 binding. These results not only highlight the need to design vaccines to generate such blocking antibodies but also demonstrate the utility of this assay to rapidly screen patient sera for potentially neutralizing antibodies. As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread around the world, there is an urgent need for new assay formats to characterize the humoral response to infection. Here, we present an efficient, competitive serological assay that can simultaneously determine an individual’s seroreactivity against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and determine the proportion of anti-Spike antibodies that block interaction with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) required for viral entry. In this approach based on the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), we present natively folded viral Spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD)-containing antigens via avidin-biotin interactions. Sera are then competed with soluble ACE2-Fc, or with a higher-affinity variant thereof, to determine the proportion of ACE2 blocking anti-RBD antibodies. Assessment of sera from 144 SARS-CoV-2 patients ultimately revealed that a remarkably consistent and high proportion of antibodies in the anti-RBD pool targeted the epitope responsible for ACE2 engagement (83% ± 11%; 50% to 107% signal inhibition in our largest cohort), further underscoring the importance of tailoring vaccines to promote the development of such antibodies. IMPORTANCE With the emergence and continued spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and of the associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is an urgent need for improved understanding of how the body mounts an immune response to the virus. Here, we developed a competitive SARS-CoV-2 serological assay that can simultaneously determine whether an individual has developed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) and measure the proportion of these antibodies that block interaction with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) required for viral entry. Using this assay and 144 SARS-CoV-2 patient serum samples, we found that a majority of anti-RBD antibodies compete for ACE2 binding. These results not only highlight the need to design vaccines to generate such blocking antibodies but also demonstrate the utility of this assay to rapidly screen patient sera for potentially neutralizing antibodies.
Collapse
|
6
|
Barros EP, Casalino L, Gaieb Z, Dommer AC, Wang Y, Fallon L, Raguette L, Belfon K, Simmerling C, Amaro RE. The flexibility of ACE2 in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.09.16.300459. [PMID: 32995769 PMCID: PMC7523095 DOI: 10.1101/2020.09.16.300459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has swept over the world in the past months, causing significant loss of life and consequences to human health. Although numerous drug and vaccine developments efforts are underway, many questions remain outstanding on the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 viral association to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), its main host receptor, and entry in the cell. Structural and biophysical studies indicate some degree of flexibility in the viral extracellular Spike glycoprotein and at the receptor binding domain-receptor interface, suggesting a role in infection. Here, we perform all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of the glycosylated, full-length membrane-bound ACE2 receptor, in both an apo and spike receptor binding domain (RBD) bound state, in order to probe the intrinsic dynamics of the ACE2 receptor in the context of the cell surface. A large degree of fluctuation in the full length structure is observed, indicating hinge bending motions at the linker region connecting the head to the transmembrane helix, while still not disrupting the ACE2 homodimer or ACE2-RBD interfaces. This flexibility translates into an ensemble of ACE2 homodimer conformations that could sterically accommodate binding of the spike trimer to more than one ACE2 homodimer, and suggests a mechanical contribution of the host receptor towards the large spike conformational changes required for cell fusion. This work presents further structural and functional insights into the role of ACE2 in viral infection that can be exploited for the rational design of effective SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE As the host receptor of SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 has been the subject of extensive structural and antibody design efforts in aims to curtail COVID-19 spread. Here, we perform molecular dynamics simulations of the homodimer ACE2 full-length structure to study the dynamics of this protein in the context of the cellular membrane. The simulations evidence exceptional plasticity in the protein structure due to flexible hinge motions in the head-transmembrane domain linker region and helix mobility in the membrane, resulting in a varied ensemble of conformations distinct from the experimental structures. Our findings suggest a dynamical contribution of ACE2 to the spike glycoprotein shedding required for infection, and contribute to the question of stoichiometry of the Spike-ACE2 complex.
Collapse
|