Combining virtual screening with cis-/trans-cleavage enzymatic assays effectively reveals broad-spectrum inhibitors that target the main proteases of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV

Yu Jen Chang, Uyen Nguyen Phuong Le, Jia Jun Liu, Sin Rong Li, Shao Ting Chao, Hsueh Chou Lai, Yu Feng Lin, Kai Cheng Hsu, Chih Hao Lu, Cheng Wen Lin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for viral replication, which suggests that the Mpro is a critical target in the development of small molecules to treat COVID-19. This study used an in-silico prediction approach to investigate the complex structure of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in compounds from the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) database, then validate potential inhibitory compounds against the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in cis- and trans-cleavage proteolytic assays. Virtual screening of ∼280,000 compounds from the NCI database identified 10 compounds with highest site-moiety map scores. Compound NSC89640 (coded C1) showed marked inhibitory activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in cis-/trans-cleavage assays. C1 strongly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzymatic activity, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.69 μM and a selectivity index (SI) of >74.35. The C1 structure served as a template to identify structural analogs based on AtomPair fingerprints to refine and verify structure-function associations. Mpro-mediated cis-/trans-cleavage assays conducted with the structural analogs revealed that compound NSC89641 (coded D2) exhibited the highest inhibitory potency against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzymatic activity, with an IC50 of 3.05 μM and a SI of >65.57. Compounds C1 and D2 also displayed inhibitory activity against MERS-CoV-2 with an IC50 of <3.5 μM. Thus, C1 shows potential as an effective Mpro inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV. Our rigorous study framework efficiently identified lead compounds targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and MERS-CoV Mpro.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105653
JournalAntiviral Research
Volume216
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023

Keywords

  • cis-/trans-cleavage assay
  • In-silico prediction
  • Main protease
  • MERS-CoV
  • National cancer institute database
  • SARS-CoV-2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Virology

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