1
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Bhat AA, Gupta G, Goyal A, Thapa R, Almalki WH, Kazmi I, Alzarea SI, Kukreti N, Sekar M, Meenakshi DU, Singh SK, MacLoughlin R, Dua K. Unwinding circular RNA's role in inflammatory pulmonary diseases. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:2567-2588. [PMID: 37917370 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02809-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of gene expression and cellular processes in various physiological and pathological conditions. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in investigating the role of circRNAs in inflammatory lung diseases, owing to their potential to modulate inflammation-associated pathways and contribute to disease pathogenesis. Inflammatory lung diseases, like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and COVID-19, pose significant global health challenges. The dysregulation of inflammatory responses demonstrates a pivotal function in advancing these diseases. CircRNAs have been identified as important players in regulating inflammation by functioning as miRNA sponges, engaging with RNA-binding proteins, and participating in intricate ceRNA networks. These interactions enable circRNAs to regulate the manifestation of key inflammatory genes and signaling pathways. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that specific circRNAs are differentially expressed in response to inflammatory stimuli and exhibit distinct patterns in various lung diseases. Their involvement in immune cell activation, cytokine production, and tissue remodeling processes underscores their possible capabilities as therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. Harnessing the knowledge of circRNA-mediated regulation in inflammatory lung diseases could lead to the development of innovative strategies for disease management and intervention. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of circRNAs in inflammatory lung diseases, focusing on their regulatory mechanisms and functional implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asif Ahmad Bhat
- School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura 302017, Mahal Road, Jaipur, India
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 602105, India.
| | - Ahsas Goyal
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, 281406, India
| | - Riya Thapa
- School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura 302017, Mahal Road, Jaipur, India
| | - Waleed Hassan Almalki
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imran Kazmi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sami I Alzarea
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Neelima Kukreti
- School of Pharmacy, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, 248007, India
| | - Mahendran Sekar
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Ronan MacLoughlin
- Research and Development, Aerogen Limited, IDA Business Park, Galway, Connacht, H91 HE94, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Leinster, D02 YN77, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin, Leinster, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Kamal Dua
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
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2
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Altincekic N, Jores N, Löhr F, Richter C, Ehrhardt C, Blommers MJJ, Berg H, Öztürk S, Gande SL, Linhard V, Orts J, Abi Saad MJ, Bütikofer M, Kaderli J, Karlsson BG, Brath U, Hedenström M, Gröbner G, Sauer UH, Perrakis A, Langer J, Banci L, Cantini F, Fragai M, Grifagni D, Barthel T, Wollenhaupt J, Weiss MS, Robertson A, Bax A, Sreeramulu S, Schwalbe H. Targeting the Main Protease (M pro, nsp5) by Growth of Fragment Scaffolds Exploiting Structure-Based Methodologies. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:563-574. [PMID: 38232960 PMCID: PMC10877576 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00720] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The main protease Mpro, nsp5, of SARS-CoV-2 (SCoV2) is one of its most attractive drug targets. Here, we report primary screening data using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) of four different libraries and detailed follow-up synthesis on the promising uracil-containing fragment Z604 derived from these libraries. Z604 shows time-dependent binding. Its inhibitory effect is sensitive to reducing conditions. Starting with Z604, we synthesized and characterized 13 compounds designed by fragment growth strategies. Each compound was characterized by NMR and/or activity assays to investigate their interaction with Mpro. These investigations resulted in the four-armed compound 35b that binds directly to Mpro. 35b could be cocrystallized with Mpro revealing its noncovalent binding mode, which fills all four active site subpockets. Herein, we describe the NMR-derived fragment-to-hit pipeline and its application for the development of promising starting points for inhibitors of the main protease of SCoV2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadide Altincekic
- Institute
for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Center
of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nathalie Jores
- Institute
for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Center
of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Frank Löhr
- Center
of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Institute
of Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe University
Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christian Richter
- Institute
for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Center
of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Claus Ehrhardt
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Hannes Berg
- Institute
for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Center
of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sare Öztürk
- Institute
for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Santosh L. Gande
- Institute
for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Center
of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Verena Linhard
- Institute
for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Center
of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Julien Orts
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marie Jose Abi Saad
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Bütikofer
- Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Janina Kaderli
- Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - B. Göran Karlsson
- Swedish
NMR Centre, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, SE40530 Göteborg, Sweden
- SciLifeLab, University of Gothenburg, SE40530 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Brath
- Swedish
NMR Centre, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, SE40530 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Mattias Hedenström
- Swedish
NMR Centre, Department of Chemistry, University
of Umeå, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Gerhard Gröbner
- Swedish
NMR Centre, Department of Chemistry, University
of Umeå, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Uwe H. Sauer
- Protein
Production Sweden, Department of Chemistry, University of Umeå, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anastassis Perrakis
- Oncode
Institute and Division of Biochemistry, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Julian Langer
- Max Planck Institute of
Biophysics, D-60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lucia Banci
- Magnetic
Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Consorzio
Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metalloproteine, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesca Cantini
- Magnetic
Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Consorzio
Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metalloproteine, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Marco Fragai
- Magnetic
Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Consorzio
Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metalloproteine, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Deborah Grifagni
- Magnetic
Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Tatjana Barthel
- Macromolecular
Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Wollenhaupt
- Macromolecular
Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Manfred S. Weiss
- Macromolecular
Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Adriaan Bax
- NIH, LCP NIDDK, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Sridhar Sreeramulu
- Institute
for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Center
of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Harald Schwalbe
- Institute
for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Center
of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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3
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Tang Z, Hegde S, Hao S, Selvaraju M, Qiu J, Wang J. Chemical-guided SHAPE sequencing (cgSHAPE-seq) informs the binding site of RNA-degrading chimeras targeting SARS-CoV-2 5' untranslated region. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.03.535453. [PMID: 37066172 PMCID: PMC10103992 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.03.535453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of RNA viruses is highly structured untranslated regions (UTRs) in their genomes. These conserved RNA structures are often essential for viral replication, transcription, or translation. In this report, we discovered and optimized a new type of coumarin derivatives, such as C30 and C34, which bind to a four-way RNA helix called SL5 in the 5' UTR of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome. To locate the binding site, we developed a novel sequencing-based method namely cgSHAPE-seq, in which the acylating chemical probe was directed to crosslink with the 2'-OH groups of ribose at the ligand binding site. This crosslinked RNA could then create read-through mutations during reverse transcription (i.e., primer extension) at single-nucleotide resolution to uncover the acylation locations. cgSHAPE-seq unambiguously determined that a bulged G in SL5 was the primary binding site of C30 in the SARS-CoV-2 5' UTR, which was validated through mutagenesis and in vitro binding experiments. C30 was further used as a warhead in RNA-degrading chimeras to reduce viral RNA expression levels. We demonstrated that replacing the acylating moiety in the cgSHAPE probe with ribonuclease L recruiter (RLR) moieties yielded RNA degraders active in the in vitro RNase L degradation assay and SARS-CoV-2 5' UTR expressing cells. We further explored another RLR conjugation site on the E ring of C30/C34 and discovered improved RNA degradation activities in vitro and in cells. The optimized RNA-degrading chimera C64 inhibited live virus replication in lung epithelial carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Tang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Shalakha Hegde
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Siyuan Hao
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | | | - Jianming Qiu
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Jingxin Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
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4
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Park S, Kim SH, Dezhbord M, Lee EH, Jeon Y, Jung D, Gu SH, Yu C, Lee SH, Kim SC, Kim KH. Cell-permeable peptide nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotide platform targeting human betacoronaviruses. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1258091. [PMID: 37840724 PMCID: PMC10570754 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1258091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) with therapeutic potential have recently been reported to target the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs)-based ASOs have been regarded as promising drug candidates, but intracellular delivery has been a significant obstacle. Here, we present novel modified PNAs, termed OPNAs, with excellent cell permeability that disrupt the RNA genome of SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43 by introducing cationic lipid moiety onto the nucleobase of PNA oligomer backbone. Methods HCT-8 cells and Caco-2 cells were treated with 1 μM antisense OPNAs at the time of viral challenge and the Viral RNA levels were measured by RT-qPCR three days post infection. Results NSP 14 targeting OPNA 5 and 11, reduced the viral titer to a half and OPNA 530, 531 and 533 lowered viral gene expression levels to less than 50% of control by targeting the 5' UTR region. Several modifications (oligo size and position, etc.) were introduced to enhance the efficacy of selected OPNAs. Improved OPNAs exhibited a dose-dependent reduction in viral replication and nucleoprotein (NP) protein. When a mixture of oligomers was applied to infected cells, viral titer and NP levels decreased by more than eightfold. Discussion In this study, we have developed a modified PNA ASO platform with exceptional chemical stability, high binding affinity, and cellular permeability. These findings indicate that OPNAs are a promising platform for the development of antivirals to combat future pandemic viral infections that do not require a carrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soree Park
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Ho Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Mehrangiz Dezhbord
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Hwi Lee
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeasel Jeon
- OliPass Inc., Yongin, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Daram Jung
- OliPass Inc., Yongin, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hun Gu
- Chem-BioTechnology Center, Advanced Defense Science & Technology Research Institute, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Chiho Yu
- Chem-BioTechnology Center, Advanced Defense Science & Technology Research Institute, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Ho Lee
- Chem-BioTechnology Center, Advanced Defense Science & Technology Research Institute, Agency for Defense Development, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Kyun-Hwan Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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5
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Abstract
Protein synthesis by the ribosome is the final stage of biological information transfer and represents an irreversible commitment to gene expression. Accurate translation of messenger RNA is therefore essential to all life, and spontaneous errors by the translational machinery are highly infrequent (∼1/100,000 codons). Programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting (-1PRF) is a mechanism in which the elongating ribosome is induced at high frequency to slip backward by one nucleotide at a defined position and to continue translation in the new reading frame. This is exploited as a translational regulation strategy by hundreds of RNA viruses, which rely on -1PRF during genome translation to control the stoichiometry of viral proteins. While early investigations of -1PRF focused on virological and biochemical aspects, the application of X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and the advent of deep sequencing and single-molecule approaches have revealed unexpected structural diversity and mechanistic complexity. Molecular players from several model systems have now been characterized in detail, both in isolation and, more recently, in the context of the elongating ribosome. Here we provide a summary of recent advances and discuss to what extent a general model for -1PRF remains a useful way of thinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris H Hill
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom;
| | - Ian Brierley
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
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6
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Dong T, Wang M, Liu J, Ma P, Pang S, Liu W, Liu A. Diagnostics and analysis of SARS-CoV-2: current status, recent advances, challenges and perspectives. Chem Sci 2023; 14:6149-6206. [PMID: 37325147 PMCID: PMC10266450 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc06665c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The disastrous spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has induced severe public healthcare issues and weakened the global economy significantly. Although SARS-CoV-2 infection is not as fatal as the initial outbreak, many infected victims suffer from long COVID. Therefore, rapid and large-scale testing is critical in managing patients and alleviating its transmission. Herein, we review the recent advances in techniques to detect SARS-CoV-2. The sensing principles are detailed together with their application domains and analytical performances. In addition, the advantages and limits of each method are discussed and analyzed. Besides molecular diagnostics and antigen and antibody tests, we also review neutralizing antibodies and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Further, the characteristics of the mutational locations in the different variants with epidemiological features are summarized. Finally, the challenges and possible strategies are prospected to develop new assays to meet different diagnostic needs. Thus, this comprehensive and systematic review of SARS-CoV-2 detection technologies may provide insightful guidance and direction for developing tools for the diagnosis and analysis of SARS-CoV-2 to support public healthcare and effective long-term pandemic management and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Dong
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University 308 Ningxia Road Qingdao 266071 China
- School of Pharmacy, Medical College, Qingdao University 308 Ningxia Road Qingdao 266071 China
| | - Mingyang Wang
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University 308 Ningxia Road Qingdao 266071 China
| | - Junchong Liu
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University 308 Ningxia Road Qingdao 266071 China
| | - Pengxin Ma
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University 308 Ningxia Road Qingdao 266071 China
| | - Shuang Pang
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University 308 Ningxia Road Qingdao 266071 China
| | - Wanjian Liu
- Qingdao Hightop Biotech Co., Ltd 369 Hedong Road, Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone Qingdao 266112 China
| | - Aihua Liu
- Institute for Chemical Biology & Biosensing, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University 308 Ningxia Road Qingdao 266071 China
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7
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McCollum C, Courtney CM, O’Connor NJ, Aunins TR, Jordan TX, Rogers KL, Brindley S, Brown JM, Nagpal P, Chatterjee A. Safety and Biodistribution of Nanoligomers Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Genome for the Treatment of COVID-19. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:1656-1671. [PMID: 36853144 PMCID: PMC10000012 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00669] [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: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
As the world braces to enter its fourth year of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the need for accessible and effective antiviral therapeutics continues to be felt globally. The recent surge of Omicron variant cases has demonstrated that vaccination and prevention alone cannot quell the spread of highly transmissible variants. A safe and nontoxic therapeutic with an adaptable design to respond to the emergence of new variants is critical for transitioning to the treatment of COVID-19 as an endemic disease. Here, we present a novel compound, called SBCoV202, that specifically and tightly binds the translation initiation site of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase within the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome, inhibiting viral replication. SBCoV202 is a Nanoligomer, a molecule that includes peptide nucleic acid sequences capable of binding viral RNA with single-base-pair specificity to accurately target the viral genome. The compound has been shown to be safe and nontoxic in mice, with favorable biodistribution, and has shown efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Safety and biodistribution were assessed using three separate administration methods, namely, intranasal, intravenous, and intraperitoneal. Safety studies showed the Nanoligomer caused no outward distress, immunogenicity, or organ tissue damage, measured through observation of behavior and body weight, serum levels of cytokines, and histopathology of fixed tissue, respectively. SBCoV202 was evenly biodistributed throughout the body, with most tissues measuring Nanoligomer concentrations well above the compound KD of 3.37 nM. In addition to favorable availability to organs such as the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, the compound circulated through the blood and was rapidly cleared through the renal and urinary systems. The favorable biodistribution and lack of immunogenicity and toxicity set Nanoligomers apart from other antisense therapies, while the adaptability of the nucleic acid sequence of Nanoligomers provides a defense against future emergence of drug resistance, making these molecules an attractive potential treatment for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen
R. McCollum
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Colleen M. Courtney
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
- Sachi Bio, Colorado Technology Center, Louisville, Colorado 80027, United States
| | - Nolan J. O’Connor
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Thomas R. Aunins
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Tristan X. Jordan
- Department
of Microbiology, New York University Langone, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Keegan L. Rogers
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Stephen Brindley
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Jared M. Brown
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Prashant Nagpal
- Sachi Bio, Colorado Technology Center, Louisville, Colorado 80027, United States
- Antimicrobial
Regeneration Consortium Labs, Louisville, Colorado 80027, United States
| | - Anushree Chatterjee
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
- Sachi Bio, Colorado Technology Center, Louisville, Colorado 80027, United States
- Antimicrobial
Regeneration Consortium Labs, Louisville, Colorado 80027, United States
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8
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Kensinger AH, Makowski JA, Pellegrene KA, Imperatore JA, Cunningham CL, Frye CJ, Lackey PE, Mihailescu MR, Evanseck JD. Structural, Dynamical, and Entropic Differences between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 s2m Elements Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations. ACS PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY AU 2023; 3:30-43. [PMID: 36711027 PMCID: PMC9578647 DOI: 10.1021/acsphyschemau.2c00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The functional role of the highly conserved stem-loop II motif (s2m) in SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in the viral lifecycle remains enigmatic and an intense area of research. Structure and dynamics of the s2m are key to establishing a structure-function connection, yet a full set of atomistic resolution coordinates is not available for SARS-CoV-2 s2m. Our work constructs three-dimensional coordinates consistent with NMR solution phase data for SARS-CoV-2 s2m and provides a comparative analysis with its counterpart SARS-CoV s2m. We employed initial coordinates based on PDB ID 1XJR for SARS-CoV s2m and two models for SARS-CoV-2 s2m: one based on 1XJR in which we introduced the mutations present in SARS-CoV-2 s2m and the second based on the available SARS-CoV-2 NMR NOE data supplemented with knowledge-based methods. For each of the three systems, 3.5 μs molecular dynamics simulations were used to sample the structure and dynamics, and principal component analysis (PCA) reduced the ensembles to hierarchal conformational substates for detailed analysis. Dilute solution simulations of SARS-CoV s2m demonstrate that the GNRA-like terminal pentaloop is rigidly defined by base stacking uniquely positioned for possible kissing dimer formation. However, the SARS-CoV-2 s2m simulation did not retain the reported crystallographic SARS-CoV motifs and the terminal loop expands to a highly dynamic "nonaloop." Increased flexibility and structural disorganization are observed for the larger terminal loop, where an entropic penalty is computed to explain the experimentally observed reduction in kissing complex formation. Overall, both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 s2m elements have a similarly pronounced L-shape due to different motif interactions. Our study establishes the atomistic three-dimensional structure and uncovers dynamic differences that arise from s2m sequence changes, which sets the stage for the interrogation of different mechanistic pathways of suspected biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam H. Kensinger
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15282, United States
| | - Joseph A. Makowski
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15282, United States
| | - Kendy A. Pellegrene
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15282, United States
| | - Joshua A. Imperatore
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15282, United States
| | - Caylee L. Cunningham
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15282, United States
| | - Caleb J. Frye
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15282, United States
| | - Patrick E. Lackey
- Department
of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Westminster
College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania16172, United States
| | - Mihaela Rita Mihailescu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15282, United States
| | - Jeffrey D. Evanseck
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15282, United States
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9
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Szczesniak I, Baliga-Gil A, Jarmolowicz A, Soszynska-Jozwiak M, Kierzek E. Structural and Functional RNA Motifs of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A Virus as a Target of Viral Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021232. [PMID: 36674746 PMCID: PMC9860923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas the influenza A virus (IAV) causes seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics. Both viruses lead to widespread infection and death. SARS-CoV-2 and the influenza virus are RNA viruses. The SARS-CoV-2 genome is an approximately 30 kb, positive sense, 5' capped single-stranded RNA molecule. The influenza A virus genome possesses eight single-stranded negative-sense segments. The RNA secondary structure in the untranslated and coding regions is crucial in the viral replication cycle. The secondary structure within the RNA of SARS-CoV-2 and the influenza virus has been intensively studied. Because the whole of the SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus replication cycles are dependent on RNA with no DNA intermediate, the RNA is a natural and promising target for the development of inhibitors. There are a lot of RNA-targeting strategies for regulating pathogenic RNA, such as small interfering RNA for RNA interference, antisense oligonucleotides, catalytic nucleic acids, and small molecules. In this review, we summarized the knowledge about the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus propagation by targeting their RNA secondary structure.
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10
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Xu Z, Yang D, Wang L, Demongeot J. Statistical analysis supports UTR (untranslated region) deletion theory in SARS-CoV-2. Virulence 2022; 13:1772-1789. [PMID: 36217240 PMCID: PMC9553139 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2132059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
It was noticed that the mortality rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection experienced a significant declination in the early stage of the epidemic. We suspect that the sharp deterioration of virus toxicity is related to the deletion of the untranslated region (UTR) of the virus genome. It was found that the genome length of SARS-CoV-2 engaged a significant truncation due to UTR deletion after a mega-sequence analysis. Sequence similarity analysis further indicated that short UTR strains originated from its long UTR ancestors after an irreversible deletion. A good correlation was discovered between genome length and mortality, which demonstrated that the deletion of the virus UTR significantly affected the toxicity of the virus. This correlation was further confirmed in a significance analysis of the genetic influence on the clinical outcomes. The viral genome length of hospitalized patients was significantly more extensive than that of asymptomatic patients. In contrast, the viral genome length of asymptomatic was considerably longer than that of ordinary patients with symptoms. A genome-level mutation scanning was performed to systematically evaluate the influence of mutations at each position on virulence. The results indicated that UTR deletion was the primary driving force in alternating virus virulence in the early evolution. In the end, we proposed a mathematical model to explain why this UTR deletion was not continuous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaobin Xu
- Department of Life Science, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Dongying Yang
- Department of Medicine, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Liyan Wang
- Department of Life Science, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Jacques Demongeot
- Laboratory AGEIS EA 7407, Team Tools for e-Gnosis Medical, Faculty of Medicine, University Grenoble Alpes (UGA), La Tronche, France,CONTACT Jacques Demongeot
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11
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SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors Identified by Phenotypic Analysis of a Collection of Viral RNA-Binding Molecules. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15121448. [PMID: 36558898 PMCID: PMC9784969 DOI: 10.3390/ph15121448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiviral agents are needed for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections and to control other coronavirus outbreaks that may occur in the future. Here we report the identification and characterization of RNA-binding compounds that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication. The compounds were detected by screening a small library of antiviral compounds previously shown to bind HIV-1 or HCV RNA elements with a live-virus cellular assay detecting inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication. These experiments allowed detection of eight compounds with promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in the sub-micromolar to micromolar range and wide selectivity indexes. Examination of the mechanism of action of three selected hit compounds excluded action on the entry or egress stages of the virus replication cycle and confirmed recognition by two of the molecules of conserved RNA elements of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, including the highly conserved S2m hairpin located in the 3'-untranslated region of the virus. While further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of action responsible for antiviral activity, these results facilitate the discovery of RNA-targeted antivirals and provide new chemical scaffolds for developing therapeutic agents against coronaviruses.
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12
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Gerber PP, Donde MJ, Matheson NJ, Taylor AI. XNAzymes targeting the SARS-CoV-2 genome inhibit viral infection. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6716. [PMID: 36385143 PMCID: PMC9668987 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34339-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the need for diagnostic and therapeutic technologies that can be rapidly tailored to novel threats. Here, we show that site-specific RNA endonuclease XNAzymes - artificial catalysts composed of single-stranded synthetic xeno-nucleic acid oligonucleotides (in this case 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-β-D-arabino nucleic acid) - may be designed, synthesised and screened within days, enabling the discovery of a range of enzymes targeting SARS-CoV-2 ORF1ab, ORF7b, spike- and nucleocapsid-encoding RNA. Three of these are further engineered to self-assemble into a catalytic nanostructure with enhanced biostability. This XNA nanostructure is capable of cleaving genomic SARS-CoV-2 RNA under physiological conditions, and when transfected into cells inhibits infection with authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus by RNA knockdown. These results demonstrate the potential of XNAzymes to provide a platform for the rapid generation of antiviral reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pehuén Pereyra Gerber
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria J Donde
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicholas J Matheson
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- NHS Blood and Transplant, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alexander I Taylor
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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13
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Dhorne-Pollet S, Fitzpatrick C, Da Costa B, Bourgon C, Eléouët JF, Meunier N, Burzio VA, Delmas B, Barrey E. Antisense oligonucleotides targeting ORF1b block replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Front Microbiol 2022; 13:915202. [PMID: 36386681 PMCID: PMC9644129 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.915202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a need for new and efficient therapeutic strategies. We explored antisense therapy using oligonucleotides targeting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) genome. We predicted in silico four antisense oligonucleotides (ASO gapmers with 100% PTO linkages and LNA modifications at their 5' and 3'ends) targeting viral regions ORF1a, ORF1b, N and the 5'UTR of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Efficiency of ASOs was tested by transfection in human ACE2-expressing HEK-293T cells and monkey VeroE6/TMPRSS2 cells infected with SARS-CoV-2. The ORF1b-targeting ASO was the most efficient, with a 71% reduction in the number of viral genome copies. N- and 5'UTR-targeting ASOs also significantly reduced viral replication by 55 and 63%, respectively, compared to non-related control ASO (ASO-C). Viral titration revealed a significant decrease in SARS-CoV-2 multiplication both in culture media and in cells. These results show that anti-ORF1b ASO can specifically reduce SARS-CoV-2 genome replication in vitro in two different cell infection models. The present study presents proof-of concept of antisense oligonucleotide technology as a promising therapeutic strategy for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher Fitzpatrick
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bruno Da Costa
- INRAE, UMR VIM, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Clara Bourgon
- INRAE, UMR VIM, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Nicolas Meunier
- INRAE, UMR VIM, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Verónica A. Burzio
- Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia, Vida/Andes Biotechnologies SpA, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bernard Delmas
- INRAE, UMR VIM, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Eric Barrey
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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14
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Wang W, He S, Dong G, Sheng C. Nucleic-Acid-Based Targeted Degradation in Drug Discovery. J Med Chem 2022; 65:10217-10232. [PMID: 35916496 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD), represented by proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC), has emerged as a novel therapeutic modality in drug discovery. However, the application of conventional PROTACs is limited to protein targets containing cytosolic domains with ligandable sites. Recently, nucleic-acid-based modalities, such as modified oligonucleotide mimics and aptamers, opened new avenues to degrade protein targets and greatly expanded the scope of TPD. Beyond constructing protein-degrading chimeras, nucleic acid motifs can also serve as substrates for targeted degradation. Particularly, the new type of chimeric RNA degrader termed ribonuclease-targeting chimera (RIBOTAC) has shown promising features in drug discovery. Here, we provide an overview of the newly emerging TPD strategies based on nucleic acids as well as new strategies for targeted degradation of nucleic acid (RNA) targets. The design strategies, case studies, potential applications, and challenges are focused on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shipeng He
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Guoqiang Dong
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
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15
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Kargbo RB. SARS-CoV-2: Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Diagnosis and Treatment. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:999-1001. [DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Robert B. Kargbo
- Usona Institute, 277 Granada Drive, San Luis Obispo, California 93401-7337, United States
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16
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Zhang D, Zhu L, Wang Y, Li P, Gao Y. Translational Control of COVID-19 and Its Therapeutic Implication. Front Immunol 2022; 13:857490. [PMID: 35422818 PMCID: PMC9002053 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.857490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of COVID-19, which has broken out worldwide for more than two years. However, due to limited treatment, new cases of infection are still rising. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the basic molecular biology of SARS-CoV-2 to control this virus. SARS-CoV-2 replication and spread depend on the recruitment of host ribosomes to translate viral messenger RNA (mRNA). To ensure the translation of their own mRNAs, the SARS-CoV-2 has developed multiple strategies to globally inhibit the translation of host mRNAs and block the cellular innate immune response. This review provides a comprehensive picture of recent advancements in our understanding of the molecular basis and complexity of SARS-CoV-2 protein translation. Specifically, we summarize how this viral infection inhibits host mRNA translation to better utilize translation elements for translation of its own mRNA. Finally, we discuss the potential of translational components as targets for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejiu Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- College of Basic Medical, Qingdao Binhai University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yin Wang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Peifeng Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanyan Gao
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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17
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Effective Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Levels Using a Tailor-Made Oligonucleotide-Based RNA Inhibitor. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040685. [PMID: 35458415 PMCID: PMC9029688 DOI: 10.3390/v14040685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In only two years, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a devastating effect on public health all over the world and caused irreparable economic damage across all countries. Due to the limited therapeutic management of COVID-19 and the lack of tailor-made antiviral agents, finding new methods to combat this viral illness is now a priority. Herein, we report on a specific oligonucleotide-based RNA inhibitor targeting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It displayed remarkable spontaneous cellular uptake, >94% efficiency in reducing RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) RNA levels in transfected lung cell lines, and >98% efficiency in reducing SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in samples from patients hospitalized with COVID-19 following a single application.
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