RESUMO
Aim: Discovery of novel SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitors using a structure-based drug discovery strategy. Materials & methods: Virtual screening employing covalent and noncovalent docking was performed to discover Mpro inhibitors, which were subsequently evaluated in biochemical and cellular assays. Results: 91 virtual hits were selected for biochemical assays, and four were confirmed as reversible inhibitors of SARS CoV-2 Mpro with IC50 values of 0.4-3 µM. They were also shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-1 Mpro and human cathepsin L. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated the stability of the Mpro inhibitor complexes and the interaction of ligands at the subsites. Conclusion: This approach led to the discovery of novel thiosemicarbazones as potent SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Tiossemicarbazonas , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2 , Antivirais/farmacologia , Antivirais/química , Tiossemicarbazonas/farmacologia , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Inibidores de Proteases/farmacologia , Inibidores de Proteases/química , Proteínas não Estruturais ViraisRESUMO
The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 urgently demands novel direct antiviral treatments. The main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) are attractive drug targets among coronaviruses due to their essential role in processing the polyproteins translated from the viral RNA. In this study, we virtually screened 688 naphthoquinoidal compounds and derivatives against Mpro of SARS-CoV-2. Twenty-four derivatives were selected and evaluated in biochemical assays against Mpro using a novel fluorogenic substrate. In parallel, these compounds were also assayed with SARS-CoV-2 PLpro. Four compounds inhibited Mpro with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values between 0.41 µM and 9.0 µM. In addition, three compounds inhibited PLpro with IC50 ranging from 1.9 µM to 3.3 µM. To verify the specificity of Mpro and PLpro inhibitors, our experiments included an assessment of common causes of false positives such as aggregation, high compound fluorescence, and inhibition by enzyme oxidation. Altogether, we confirmed novel classes of specific Mpro and PLpro inhibitors. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest stable binding modes for Mpro inhibitors with frequent interactions with residues in the S1 and S2 pockets of the active site. For two PLpro inhibitors, interactions occur in the S3 and S4 pockets. In summary, our structure-based computational and biochemical approach identified novel naphthoquinonal scaffolds that can be further explored as SARS-CoV-2 antivirals.
Assuntos
Antivirais , Proteases 3C de Coronavírus , Proteases Semelhantes à Papaína de Coronavírus , Naftoquinonas , Inibidores de Proteases , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , Antivirais/farmacologia , Antivirais/química , COVID-19 , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Naftoquinonas/química , Naftoquinonas/farmacologia , Papaína , Inibidores de Proteases/farmacologia , Inibidores de Proteases/química , SARS-CoV-2/efeitos dos fármacos , SARS-CoV-2/enzimologia , Proteases 3C de Coronavírus/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteases Semelhantes à Papaína de Coronavírus/antagonistas & inibidoresRESUMO
Genome sequences for Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mansoni are now available. The schistosome genome encodes ~13,000 protein encoding genes for which the function of only a minority is understood. There is a valuable role for transgenesis in functional genomic investigations of these new schistosome gene sequences. In gain-of-function approaches, transgenesis can lead to integration of transgenes into the schistosome genome which can facilitate insertional mutagenesis screens. By contrast, transgene driven, vector-based RNA interference (RNAi) offers powerful loss-of-function manipulations. Our laboratory has focused on development of tools to facilitate schistosome transgenesis. We have investigated the utility of retroviruses and transposons to transduce schistosomes. Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG) pseudotyped murine leukemia virus (MLV) can transduce developmental stages of S. mansoni including eggs. We have also observed that the piggyBac transposon is transpositionally active in schistosomes. Approaches with both VSVG-MLV and piggyBac have resulted in somatic transgenesis and have lead to integration of active reporter transgenes into schistosome chromosomes. These findings provided the first reports of integration of reporter transgenes into schistosome chromosomes. Experience with these systems is reviewed herewith, along with findings with transgene mediated RNAi and germ line transgenesis, in addition to pioneering and earlier reports of gene manipulation for schistosomes.
Assuntos
Técnicas de Transferência de Genes , Genoma Helmíntico/genética , Schistosoma japonicum/genética , Schistosoma mansoni/genética , Animais , Animais Geneticamente Modificados , Cromossomos/genética , Cromossomos/virologia , Elementos de DNA Transponíveis , DNA de Helmintos/genética , DNA Viral/genética , DNA Viral/isolamento & purificação , Vetores Genéticos , Humanos , Vírus da Leucemia Murina/genética , Vírus da Leucemia Murina/isolamento & purificação , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/genética , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/isolamento & purificação , Camundongos , Interferência de RNA , Schistosoma japonicum/virologia , Schistosoma mansoni/virologia , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/genética , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
Genome sequences for Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mansoni are now available. The schistosome genome encodes ~13,000 protein encoding genes for which the function of only a minority is understood. There is a valuable role for transgenesis in functional genomic investigations of these new schistosome gene sequences. In gain-of-function approaches, transgenesis can lead to integration of transgenes into the schistosome genome which can facilitate insertional mutagenesis screens. By contrast, transgene driven, vector-based RNA interference (RNAi) offers powerful loss-of-function manipulations. Our laboratory has focused on development of tools to facilitate schistosome transgenesis. We have investigated the utility of retroviruses and transposons to transduce schistosomes. Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG) pseudotyped murine leukemia virus (MLV) can transduce developmental stages of S. mansoni including eggs. We have also observed that the piggyBac transposon is transpositionally active in schistosomes. Approaches with both VSVG-MLV and piggyBac have resulted in somatic transgenesis and have lead to integration of active reporter transgenes into schistosome chromosomes. These findings provided the first reports of integration of reporter transgenes into schistosome chromosomes. Experience with these systems is reviewed herewith, along with findings with transgene mediated RNAi and germ line transgenesis, in addition to pioneering and earlier reports of gene manipulation for schistosomes.