scholarly journals DNA-encoded chemistry technology yields expedient access to SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (36) ◽  
pp. e2111172118
Author(s):  
Srinivas Chamakuri ◽  
Shuo Lu ◽  
Melek Nihan Ucisik ◽  
Kurt M. Bohren ◽  
Ying-Chu Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Building Block ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Chemical Libraries ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Targeted Treatments ◽  
Bona Fide ◽  
Reversible Covalent ◽  
20 Nm ◽  
Efficacious Drug

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has killed more than 4 million humans globally, but there is no bona fide Food and Drug Administration–approved drug-like molecule to impede the COVID-19 pandemic. The sluggish pace of traditional therapeutic discovery is poorly suited to producing targeted treatments against rapidly evolving viruses. Here, we used an affinity-based screen of 4 billion DNA-encoded molecules en masse to identify a potent class of virus-specific inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) without extensive and time-consuming medicinal chemistry. CDD-1714, the initial three-building-block screening hit (molecular weight [MW] = 542.5 g/mol), was a potent inhibitor (inhibition constant [Ki] = 20 nM). CDD-1713, a smaller two-building-block analog (MW = 353.3 g/mol) of CDD-1714, is a reversible covalent inhibitor of Mpro (Ki = 45 nM) that binds in the protease pocket, has specificity over human proteases, and shows in vitro efficacy in a SARS-CoV-2 infectivity model. Subsequently, key regions of CDD-1713 that were necessary for inhibitory activity were identified and a potent (Ki = 37 nM), smaller (MW = 323.4 g/mol), and metabolically more stable analog (CDD-1976) was generated. Thus, screening of DNA-encoded chemical libraries can accelerate the discovery of efficacious drug-like inhibitors of emerging viral disease targets.

Virtual Screening, Molecular docking and in-silico ADME-Tox analysis for identification of potential main protease (Mpro) enzyme inhibitors

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debadash Panigrahi ◽  
Ganesh Prasad Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Docking ◽  
Virtual Screening ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Reference Compound ◽  
Unexpected Death ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
In Silico Admet

Objective:: Recent pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 described in Wuhan China in December-2019 spread widely almost all the countries of the world. Corona virus (COVID-19) is causing the unexpected death of many peoples and severe economic loss in several countries. Virtual screening based on molecular docking, drug-likeness prediction, and in silico ADMET study has become an effective tool for the identification of small molecules as novel antiviral drugs to treat diseases. Methods:: In the current study, virtual screening was performed through molecular docking for identifying potent inhibitors against Mpro enzyme from the ZINC library for the possible treatment of COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, some compounds are identified as possible anti-covid-19 agents for future research. 350 compounds were screened based on their similarity score with reference compound X77 from ZINC data bank and were subjected to docking with crystal structure available of Mpro enzyme. These compounds were then filtered by their in silico ADME-Tox and drug-likeness prediction values. Result:: Out of these 350 screened compounds, 10 compounds were selected based on their docking score and best docked pose in comparison to the reference compound X77. In silico ADME-Tox and drug likeliness predictions of the top compounds were performed and found to be excellent results. All the 10 screened compounds showed significant binding pose with the target enzyme main protease (Mpro) enzyme and satisfactory pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties. Conclusion:: Based on results we can suggest that the identified compounds may be considered for therapeutic development against the COVID-19 virus and can be further evaluated for in vitro activity, preclinical, clinical studies and formulated in a suitable dosage form to maximize their bioavailability.

scholarly journals Identification of 3-chymotrypsin like protease (3CLPro) inhibitors as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicky Mody ◽  
Joanna Ho ◽  
Savannah Wills ◽  
Ahmed Mawri ◽  
Latasha Lawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Simulation Studies ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Fda Approved Drugs ◽  
Computational Molecular Modeling

AbstractEmerging outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a major threat to public health. The morbidity is increasing due to lack of SARS-CoV-2 specific drugs. Herein, we have identified potential drugs that target the 3-chymotrypsin like protease (3CLpro), the main protease that is pivotal for the replication of SARS-CoV-2. Computational molecular modeling was used to screen 3987 FDA approved drugs, and 47 drugs were selected to study their inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 specific 3CLpro enzyme in vitro. Our results indicate that boceprevir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir, tipranavir, ivermectin, and micafungin exhibited inhibitory effect towards 3CLpro enzymatic activity. The 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation studies showed that ivermectin may require homodimeric form of 3CLpro enzyme for its inhibitory activity. In summary, these molecules could be useful to develop highly specific therapeutically viable drugs to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replication either alone or in combination with drugs specific for other SARS-CoV-2 viral targets.

scholarly journals The Repurposed Drugs Suramin and Quinacrine Cooperatively Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro In Vitro

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 873
Author(s):  
Raphael J. Eberle ◽  
Danilo S. Olivier ◽  
Marcos S. Amaral ◽  
Ian Gering ◽  
Dieter Willbold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Mode ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Ic50 Values ◽  
Repurposed Drugs ◽  
Antiparasitic Drugs ◽  
Inhibitory Potential ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Micromolar Range

Since the first report of a new pneumonia disease in December 2019 (Wuhan, China) the WHO reported more than 148 million confirmed cases and 3.1 million losses globally up to now. The causative agent of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide, resulting in a pandemic of unprecedented magnitude. To date, several clinically safe and efficient vaccines (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines) as well as drugs for emergency use have been approved. However, increasing numbers of SARS-Cov-2 variants make it imminent to identify an alternative way to treat SARS-CoV-2 infections. A well-known strategy to identify molecules with inhibitory potential against SARS-CoV-2 proteins is repurposing clinically developed drugs, e.g., antiparasitic drugs. The results described in this study demonstrated the inhibitory potential of quinacrine and suramin against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro). Quinacrine and suramin molecules presented a competitive and noncompetitive inhibition mode, respectively, with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments demonstrated that quinacrine and suramin alone possessed a moderate or weak affinity with SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro but suramin binding increased quinacrine interaction by around a factor of eight. Using docking and molecular dynamics simulations, we identified a possible binding mode and the amino acids involved in these interactions. Our results suggested that suramin, in combination with quinacrine, showed promising synergistic efficacy to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. We suppose that the identification of effective, synergistic drug combinations could lead to the design of better treatments for the COVID-19 disease and repurposable drug candidates offer fast therapeutic breakthroughs, mainly in a pandemic moment.

Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Evaluation of Tubulin‐targeting Dibenzothiazines with Antiproliferative Activity as Novel Heterocycle Building Block

ChemMedChem ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Damián Guerra ◽  
Daniel Lucena-Agell ◽  
Rafael Hortigüela ◽  
Roberto Arturo Rossi ◽  
J. Fernando Díaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiproliferative Activity ◽  
Building Block ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
In Vitro Evaluation

scholarly journals A small molecule compound with an indole moiety inhibits the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 and blocks virus replication

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin-ichiro Hattori ◽  
Nobuyo Higashi-Kuwata ◽  
Hironori Hayashi ◽  
Srinivasa Rao Allu ◽  
Jakka Raghavaiah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Covalent Bond ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Viral Breakthrough ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Small Molecule Compound ◽  
Polar Interactions ◽  
High Concentrations

AbstractExcept remdesivir, no specific antivirals for SARS-CoV-2 infection are currently available. Here, we characterize two small-molecule-compounds, named GRL-1720 and 5h, containing an indoline and indole moiety, respectively, which target the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). We use VeroE6 cell-based assays with RNA-qPCR, cytopathic assays, and immunocytochemistry and show both compounds to block the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 with EC50 values of 15 ± 4 and 4.2 ± 0.7 μM for GRL-1720 and 5h, respectively. Remdesivir permitted viral breakthrough at high concentrations; however, compound 5h completely blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro without viral breakthrough or detectable cytotoxicity. Combination of 5h and remdesivir exhibits synergism against SARS-CoV-2. Additional X-ray structural analysis show that 5h forms a covalent bond with Mpro and makes polar interactions with multiple active site amino acid residues. The present data suggest that 5h might serve as a lead Mpro inhibitor for the development of therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals Molecular organization of mammalian meiotic chromosome axis revealed by expansion STORM microscopy

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (37) ◽  
pp. 18423-18428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huizhong Xu ◽  
Zhisong Tong ◽  
Qing Ye ◽  
Tengqian Sun ◽  
Zhenmin Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meiotic Chromosome ◽  
Molecular Organization ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Meiotic Chromosomes ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy ◽  
Optical Reconstruction ◽  
20 Nm ◽  
Chromosome Axis

During prophase I of meiosis, chromosomes become organized as loop arrays around the proteinaceous chromosome axis. As homologous chromosomes physically pair and recombine, the chromosome axis is integrated into the tripartite synaptonemal complex (SC) as this structure’s lateral elements (LEs). While the components of the mammalian chromosome axis/LE—including meiosis-specific cohesin complexes, the axial element proteins SYCP3 and SYCP2, and the HORMA domain proteins HORMAD1 and HORMAD2—are known, the molecular organization of these components within the axis is poorly understood. Here, using expansion microscopy coupled with 2-color stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) imaging (ExSTORM), we address these issues in mouse spermatocytes at a resolution of 10 to 20 nm. Our data show that SYCP3 and the SYCP2 C terminus, which are known to form filaments in vitro, form a compact core around which cohesin complexes, HORMADs, and the N terminus of SYCP2 are arrayed. Overall, our study provides a detailed structural view of the meiotic chromosome axis, a key organizational and regulatory component of meiotic chromosomes.

scholarly journals In Vitro Assembly of the T=13 Procapsid of Bacteriophage T5 with Its Scaffolding Domain

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (18) ◽  
pp. 9350-9358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Huet ◽  
James F. Conway ◽  
Lucienne Letellier ◽  
Pascale Boulanger
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Scaffolding Protein ◽  
Accessory Proteins ◽  
Conformational Diversity ◽  
In Vitro Assembly ◽  
20 Nm ◽  
Head Protein ◽  
Bacteriophage T5 ◽  
Icosahedral Capsid

ABSTRACT The Siphoviridae coliphage T5 differs from other members of this family by the size of its genome (121 kbp) and by its large icosahedral capsid (90 nm), which is organized with T=13 geometry. T5 does not encode a separate scaffolding protein, but its head protein, pb8, contains a 159-residue aminoterminal scaffolding domain (Δ domain) that is the mature capsid. We have deciphered the early events of T5 shell assembly starting from purified pb8 with its Δ domain (pb8p). The self assembly of pb8p is regulated by salt conditions and leads to structures with distinct morphologies. Expanded tubes are formed in the presence of NaCl, whereas Ca2+ promotes the association of pb8p into contracted tubes and procapsids. Procapsids display an angular organization and 20-nm-long internal radial structures identified as the Δ domain. The T5 head maturation protease pb11 specifically cleaves the Δ domain of contracted and expanded tubes. Ca2+ is not required for proteolytic activity but for the organization of the Δ domain. Taken together, these data indicate that pb8p carries all of the information in its primary sequence to assemble in vitro without the requirement of the portal and accessory proteins. Furthermore, Ca2+ plays a key role in introducing the conformational diversity that permits the formation of a stable procapsid. Phage T5 is the first example of a viral capsid consisting of quasi-equivalent hexamers and pentamers whose assembly can be carried out in vitro, starting from the major head protein with its scaffolding domain, and whose endpoint is an icosahedral T=13 particle.

In silico screening of phytoconstituents with antiviral activities against SARS-COV-2 main protease, Nsp12 polymerase and Nsp13 helicase proteins

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jainey James ◽  
Divya Jyothi ◽  
Sneh Priya
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Molecular Interactions ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Hypothesis Model ◽  
Antiviral Activities ◽  
Pharmacophore Hypothesis

Aims: The present study aim was to analyse the molecular interactions of the phytoconstituents known for their antiviral activity with the SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural proteins such as main protease (6LU7), Nsp12 polymerase (6M71), and Nsp13 helicase (6JYT). The applied in silico methodologies was molecular docking and pharmacophore modeling using Schrodinger software. Methods: The phytoconstituents were taken from PubChem, and SARS-CoV-2 proteins were downloaded from the protein data bank. The molecular interactions, binding energy, ADMET properties and pharmacophoric features were analysed by glide XP, prime MM-GBSA, qikprop and phase application of Schrodinger respectively. The antiviral activity of the selected phytoconstituents was carried out by PASS predictor, online tools. Results: The docking score analysis showed that quercetin 3-rhamnoside (-8.77 kcal/mol) and quercetin 3-rhamnoside (-7.89 kcal/mol) as excellent products to bind with their respective targets such as 6LU7, 6M71 and 6JYT. The generated pharmacophore hypothesis model validated the docking results, confirming the hydrogen bonding interactions of the amino acids. The PASS online tool predicted constituent's antiviral potentials. Conclusion: The docked phytoconstituents showed excellent interactions with the SARS-CoV-2 proteins, and on the outset, quercetin 3-rhamnoside and quercetin 7-rhamnoside have well-interacted with all the three proteins, and these belong to the plant Houttuynia cordata. The pharmacophore hypothesis has revealed the characteristic features responsible for their interactions, and PASS prediction data has supported their antiviral activities. Thus, these natural compounds could be developed as lead molecules for antiviral treatment against SARS-CoV-2. Further in-vitro and in-vivo studies could be carried out to provide better drug therapy.

Molecular Docking of Azithromycin, Ritonavir, Lopinavir, Oseltamivir, Ivermectin and Heparin Interacting with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Main and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 3C-Like Proteases

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 2075-2089
Author(s):  
Tiago da Silva Arouche ◽  
Anderson Yuri Martins ◽  
Teodorico de Castro Ramalho ◽  
Raul Nunes Carvalho Júnior ◽  
Fabio Luiz Paranhos Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Viral Life Cycle ◽  
Stable Complex ◽  
Viral Agent ◽  
Main Protease ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Pharmacologically Active ◽  
3Cl Protease

In the current pandemic situation raised due to COVID-19, drug reuse is emerging as the first line of treatment. The viral agent that causes this highly contagious disease and the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) share high nucleotide similarity. Therefore, it is structurally expected that many existing viral targets are similar to the first SARS-CoV, probably being inhibited by the same compounds. Here, we selected two viral proteins based on their vital role in the viral life cycle: Structure of the main protease SARS-CoV-2 and the structural base of the SARS-CoV-2 protease 3CL, both supporting the entry of the virus into the human host. The approved drugs used were azithromycin, ritonavir, lopinavir, oseltamivir, ivermectin and heparin, which are emerging as promising agents in the fight against COVID-19. Our hypothesis behind molecular coupling studies is to determine the binding affinities of these drugs and to identify the main amino acid residues that play a fundamental role in their mechanism of action. Additional studies on a wide range of FDA-approved drugs, including a few more protein targets, molecular dynamics studies, in vitro and biological in vivo evaluation are needed to identify combination therapy targeted at various stages of the viral life cycle. In our experiment in silico, based mainly on the molecular coupling approach, we investigated six different types of pharmacologically active drugs, aiming at their potential application alone or in combination with the reuse of drugs. The ligands showed stable conformations when analyzing the affinity energy in both proteases: ivermectin forming a stable complex with the two proteases with values −8.727 kcal/mol for Main Protease and −9.784 kcal/mol for protease 3CL, Heparin with values of −7.647 kcal/mol for the Main protease and −7.737 kcal/mol for the 3CL protease. Both conform to the catalytic site of the proteases. Our studies can provide an insight into the possible interactions between ligands and receptors, through better conformation. The ligands ivermectin, heparin and ritonavir showed stable conformations. Our in-silica docking data shows that the drugs we have identified can bind to the binding compartment of both proteases, this strongly supports our hypothesis that the development of a single antiviral agent targeting Main protease, or 3CL protease, or an agent used in combination with other potential therapies, it could provide an effective line of defense against diseases associated with coronaviruses.

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