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Selvaraj C, Dinesh DC, Panwar U, Abhirami R, Boura E, Singh SK. Structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulation of SARS-CoV-2 Guanine-N7 methyltransferase (nsp14) for identifying antiviral inhibitors against COVID-19. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:4582-4593. [PMID: 32567979 PMCID: PMC7332868 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1778535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The recent pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) calls the whole world into a medical emergency. For tackling Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), researchers from around the world are swiftly working on designing and identifying inhibitors against all possible viral key protein targets. One of the attractive drug targets is guanine-N7 methyltransferase which plays the main role in capping the 5′-ends of viral genomic RNA and sub genomic RNAs, to escape the host’s innate immunity. We performed homology modeling and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, in order to understand the molecular architecture of Guanosine-P3-Adenosine-5’,5’-Triphosphate (G3A) binding with C-terminal N7-MTase domain of nsp14 from SARS-CoV-2. The residue Asn388 is highly conserved in present both in N7-MTase from SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 and displays a unique function in G3A binding. For an in-depth understanding of these substrate specificities, we tried to screen and identify inhibitors from the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) database. The combination of several computational approaches, including screening, MM/GBSA, MD simulations, and PCA calculations, provides the screened compounds that readily interact with the G3A binding site of homology modeled N7-MTase domain. Compounds from this screening will have strong potency towards inhibiting the substrate-binding and efficiently hinder the viral 5’-end RNA capping mechanism. We strongly believe the final compounds can become COVID-19 therapeutics, with huge international support. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrabose Selvaraj
- Computer Aided Drug Design and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | - Dhurvas Chandrasekaran Dinesh
- Section of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry AS CR, v.v.i, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Umesh Panwar
- Computer Aided Drug Design and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | - Rajaram Abhirami
- Computer Aided Drug Design and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | - Evzen Boura
- Section of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry AS CR, v.v.i, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Singh
- Computer Aided Drug Design and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
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Shi Y, Jia XY, Gu QH, Wang M, Cui Z, Zhao MH. A Modified Peptide Derived from Goodpasture Autoantigen Arrested and Attenuated Kidney Injuries in a Rat Model of Anti-GBM Glomerulonephritis. J Am Soc Nephrol 2019; 31:40-53. [PMID: 31666297 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2019010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Goodpasture disease, the noncollagenous domain 1 of the α3 chain (α3NC1) of type IV collagen is the main target antigen of antibodies against glomerular basement membrane (GBM). We previously identified a nephritogenic epitope, P14 (α3127-148), that could induce crescentic nephritis in WKY rats, and defined its core motif. Designing a modified peptide, replacing critical pathogenic residues with nonpathogenic ones (on the basis of homologous regions in α1NC1 chain of type IV collagen, known to be nonpathogenic), might provide a therapeutic option for anti-GBM GN. METHODS We synthesized a modified peptide, replacing a single amino acid, and injected it into α3-P14-immunized rats from day 0 (the early-treatment group) or a later-treatment group (from days 17 to 21). A scrambled peptide administrated with the same protocol served as a control. RESULTS The modified peptide, but not the scrambled peptide, attenuated anti-GBM GN in both treatment groups, and halted further crescent formation even after disease onset. Kidneys from the modified peptide-treated rats exhibited reductions in IgG deposits, complement activation, and infiltration by T cells and macrophages. Treatment also resulted in an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile versus a proinflammatory profile for animals not receiving the modified peptide; it also reduced α3-P14-specific T cell activation, modulated T cell differentiation by decreasing Th17 cells and enhancing the ratio of Treg/Th17 cells, and inhibited binding of α3-P14 to antibodies and MHC II molecules. CONCLUSIONS A modified peptide involving alteration of a critical motif in a nephritogenic T cell epitope alleviated anti-GBM GN in a rat model. Our findings may provide insights into an immunotherapeutic approach for autoimmune kidney disorders such as Goodpasture disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Shi
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China; and
| | - Xiao-Yu Jia
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; .,Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China; and
| | - Qiu-Hua Gu
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China; and
| | - Miao Wang
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China; and
| | - Zhao Cui
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; .,Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China; and
| | - Ming-Hui Zhao
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China; and.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
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Kwon SJ, Kim D, Lee I, Kim J, Dordick JS. In vitro gene expression-coupled bacterial cell chip for screening species-specific antimicrobial enzymes. Biotechnol Bioeng 2017; 114:1648-1657. [PMID: 28369698 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Targeting infectious bacterial pathogens is important for reducing the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and preserving the endogenous human microbiome. Cell lytic enzymes including bacteriophage endolysins, bacterial autolysins, and other bacteriolysins are useful antibiotic alternatives due to their exceptional target selectivity, which may be used to lysins rapidly kill target bacteria and their high specificity permit the normal commensal microflora to be left undisturbed. Genetic information of numerous lysins is currently available, but the identification of their antimicrobial function and specificity has been limited because most lysins are often poorly expressed and exhibit low solubilities. Here, we report the development of bacterial cell chip for rapidly accessing the function of diverse genes that are suggestive of encoding lysins. This approach can be used to evaluate rapidly the species-specific antimicrobial activity of diverse lysins synthesized from in vitro transcription and translation (TNT) of plasmid DNA. In addition, new potent lysins can be assessed that are not expressed in hosts and display low solubility. As a result of evaluating the species-specific antimicrobial function of 11 (un)known lysins with an in vitro TNT-coupled bacterial cell chip, a potent recombinant lysin against Staphylococcus strains, SA1, was identified. The SA1 was highly potent against not only S. aureus, but also both lysostaphin-resistant S. simulans and S. epidermidis cells. To this end, the SA1 may be applicable to treat both methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and lysostaphin-resistant MRSA mutants. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1648-1657. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok-Joon Kwon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180
| | - Domyoung Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180
| | - Inseon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungbae Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jonathan S Dordick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York, 12180
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