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Van Loy B, Stevaert A, Naesens L. The coronavirus nsp15 endoribonuclease: A puzzling protein and pertinent antiviral drug target. Antiviral Res 2024; 228:105921. [PMID: 38825019 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has bolstered unprecedented research efforts to better understand the pathogenesis of coronavirus (CoV) infections and develop effective therapeutics. We here focus on non-structural protein nsp15, a hexameric component of the viral replication-transcription complex (RTC). Nsp15 possesses uridine-specific endoribonuclease (EndoU) activity for which some specific cleavage sites were recently identified in viral RNA. By preventing accumulation of viral dsRNA, EndoU helps the virus to evade RNA sensors of the innate immune response. The immune-evading property of nsp15 was firmly established in several CoV animal models and makes it a pertinent target for antiviral therapy. The search for nsp15 inhibitors typically proceeds via compound screenings and is aided by the rapidly evolving insight in the protein structure of nsp15. In this overview, we broadly cover this fascinating protein, starting with its structure, biochemical properties and functions in CoV immune evasion. Next, we summarize the reported studies in which compound screening or a more rational method was used to identify suitable leads for nsp15 inhibitor development. In this way, we hope to raise awareness on the relevance and druggability of this unique CoV protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Van Loy
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annelies Stevaert
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Naesens
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium.
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Wang X, Zhu B. SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 preferentially degrades AU-rich dsRNA via its dsRNA nickase activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:5257-5272. [PMID: 38634805 PMCID: PMC11109939 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae290] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been proposed that coronavirus nsp15 mediates evasion of host cell double-stranded (ds) RNA sensors via its uracil-specific endoribonuclease activity. However, how nsp15 processes viral dsRNA, commonly considered as a genome replication intermediate, remains elusive. Previous research has mainly focused on short single-stranded RNA as substrates, and whether nsp15 prefers single-stranded or double-stranded RNA for cleavage is controversial. In the present work, we prepared numerous RNA substrates, including both long substrates mimicking the viral genome and short defined RNA, to clarify the substrate preference and cleavage pattern of SARS-CoV-2 nsp15. We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 preferentially cleaved pyrimidine nucleotides located in less thermodynamically stable areas in dsRNA, such as AU-rich areas and mismatch-containing areas, in a nicking manner. Because coronavirus genomes generally have a high AU content, our work supported the mechanism that coronaviruses evade the antiviral response mediated by host cell dsRNA sensors by using nsp15 dsRNA nickase to directly cleave dsRNA intermediates formed during genome replication and transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xionglue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Bin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
- Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen 518063, China
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Wang R, Stevaert A, Truong TN, Li Q, Krasniqi B, Van Loy B, Voet A, Naesens L, Dehaen W. Exploration of 1,2,3-triazolo fused triterpenoids as inhibitors of human coronavirus 229E targeting the viral nsp15 protein. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024; 357:e2300442. [PMID: 37840345 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300442] [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: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised major interest in innovative drug concepts to suppress human coronavirus (HCoV) infections. We previously reported on a class of 1,2,3-triazolo fused betulonic acid derivatives causing strong inhibition of HCoV-229E replication via the viral nsp15 protein, which is proposedly related to compound binding at an intermonomer interface in hexameric nsp15. In the present study, we further explored the structure-activity relationship (SAR), by varying the substituent at the 1,2,3-triazolo ring as well as the triterpenoid skeleton. The 1,2,3-triazolo fused triterpenoids were synthesized by a multicomponent triazolization reaction, which has been developed in-house. Several analogs possessing a betulin, oleanolic acid, or ursolic acid core displayed favorable activity and selectivity (EC50 values for HCoV-229E: 1.6-3.5 μM), but neither of them proved as effective as the lead compound containing betulonic acid. The 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid-containing analogs had low selectivity. The antiviral findings were rationalized by in silico docking in the available structure of the HCoV-229E nsp15 protein. The new SAR insights will aid the further development of these 1,2,3-triazolo fused triterpenoid compounds as a unique type of coronavirus inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annelies Stevaert
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tien Nguyen Truong
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Qifei Li
- Department of Chemistry, Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Besir Krasniqi
- Department of Chemistry, Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benjamin Van Loy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arnout Voet
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Naesens
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wim Dehaen
- Department of Chemistry, Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Alshahrani MM. Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 NSP-15 by Uridine-5'-Monophosphate Analogues Using QSAR Modelling, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, and Free Energy Landscape. Saudi Pharm J 2024; 32:101914. [PMID: 38111672 PMCID: PMC10727945 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101914] [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: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is accountable for severe social and economic disruption around the world causing COVID-19. Non-structural protein-15 (NSP15) possesses a domain that is vital to the viral life cycle and is known as uridylate-specific endoribonuclease (EndoU). This domain binds to the uridine 5'-monophosphate (U5P) so that the protein may carry out its native activity. It is considered a vital drug target to inhibit the growth of the virus. Thus, in this current study, ML-based QSAR and virtual screening of U5P analogues targeting Nsp15 were performed to identify potential molecules against SARS-CoV-2. Screening of 816 unique U5P analogues using ML-based QSAR identified 397 compounds ranked on their predicted bioactivity (pIC50). Further, molecular docking and hydrogen bond interaction analysis resulted in the selection of the top three compounds (53309102, 57398422, and 76314921). Molecular dynamics simulation of the most promising compounds showed that two molecules 53309102 and 57398422 acted as potential binders of Nsp15. The compound was able to inhibit nsp15 activity as it was successfully bound to the active site of the nsp15 protein. This was achieved by the formation of relevant contacts with enzymatically critical amino acid residues (His235, His250, and Lys290). Principal component analysis and free energy landscape studies showed stable complex formation while MM/GBSA calculation showed lower binding energies for 53309102 (ΔGTOTAL = -29.4 kcal/mol) and 57398422 (ΔGTOTAL = -39.4 kcal/mol) compared to the control U5P (ΔGTOTAL = -18.8 kcal/mol). This study aimed to identify analogues of U5P inhibiting the NSP15 function that potentially could be used for treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Merae Alshahrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, 1988, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
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Lee HC, Chao HT, Lee SYH, Lin CY, Tsai HJ. The Upstream 1350~1250 Nucleotide Sequences of the Human ENDOU-1 Gene Contain Critical Cis-Elements Responsible for Upregulating Its Transcription during ER Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17393. [PMID: 38139221 PMCID: PMC10744159 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417393] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
ENDOU-1 encodes an endoribonuclease that overcomes the inhibitory upstream open reading frame (uORF)-trap at 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of the CHOP transcript, allowing the downstream coding sequence of CHOP be translated during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. However, transcriptional control of ENDOU-1 remains enigmatic. To address this, we cloned an upstream 2.1 kb (-2055~+77 bp) of human ENDOU-1 (pE2.1p) fused with reporter luciferase (luc) cDNA. The promoter strength driven by pE2.1p was significantly upregulated in both pE2.1p-transfected cells and pE2.1p-injected zebrafish embryos treated with stress inducers. Comparing the luc activities driven by pE2.1p and -1125~+77 (pE1.2p) segments, we revealed that cis-elements located at the -2055~-1125 segment might play a critical role in ENDOU-1 upregulation during ER stress. Since bioinformatics analysis predicted many cis-elements clustered at the -1850~-1250, we further deconstructed this segment to generate pE2.1p-based derivatives lacking -1850~-1750, -1749~-1650, -1649~-1486, -1485~-1350 or -1350~-1250 segments. Quantification of promoter activities driven by these five internal deletion plasmids suggested a repressor binding element within the -1649~-1486 and an activator binding element within the -1350~-1250. Since luc activities driven by the -1649~-1486 were not significantly different between normal and stress conditions, we herein propose that the stress-inducible activator bound at the -1350~-1250 segment makes a major contribution to the increased expression of human ENDOU-1 upon ER stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Chieh Lee
- Department of Life Science, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242062, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan-Te Chao
- Department of Life Science, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242062, Taiwan
| | - Selina Yi-Hsuan Lee
- Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, Maastricht University, 6211 LK Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Cheng-Yung Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City 25245, Taiwan
| | - Huai-Jen Tsai
- Department of Life Science, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242062, Taiwan
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Xie Y, Chen C, Zhang D, Jiao Z, Chen Y, Wang G, Tan Y, Zhang W, Xiao S, Peng G, Shi Y. Diversity for endoribonuclease nsp15-mediated regulation of alpha-coronavirus propagation and virulence. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0220923. [PMID: 37938022 PMCID: PMC10715224 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02209-23] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Understanding the role of the endoribonuclease non-structural protein 15 (nsp15) (EndoU) in coronavirus (CoV) infection and pathogenesis is essential for vaccine target discovery. Whether the EndoU activity of CoV nsp15, as a virulence-related protein, has a diverse effect on viral virulence needs to be further explored. Here, we found that the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) nsp15 proteins antagonize SeV-induced interferon-β (IFN-β) production in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Interestingly, compared with wild-type infection, infection with EnUmt-TGEV or EnUmt-FIPV did not change the IFN-β response or reduce viral propagation in immunocompetent cells. The results of animal experiments showed that EnUmt viruses did not reduce the clinical presentation and mortality caused by TGEV and FIPV. Our findings enrich the understanding of nsp15-mediated regulation of alpha-CoV propagation and virulence and reveal that the conserved functions of nonstructural proteins have diverse effects on the pathogenicity of CoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chener Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ding Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhe Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yixi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yubei Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wanpo Zhang
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shaobo Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Guiqing Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuejun Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Sun X, Shen J, Perrimon N, Kong X, Wang D. The endoribonuclease Arlr is required to maintain lipid homeostasis by downregulating lipolytic genes during aging. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6254. [PMID: 37803019 PMCID: PMC10558556 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42042-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
While disorders in lipid metabolism have been associated with aging and age-related diseases, how lipid metabolism is regulated during aging is poorly understood. Here, we characterize the Drosophila endoribonuclease CG2145, an ortholog of mammalian EndoU that we named Age-related lipid regulator (Arlr), as a regulator of lipid homeostasis during aging. In adult adipose tissues, Arlr is necessary for maintenance of lipid storage in lipid droplets (LDs) as flies age, a phenotype that can be rescued by either high-fat or high-glucose diet. Interestingly, RNA-seq of arlr mutant adipose tissues and RIP-seq suggest that Arlr affects lipid metabolism through the degradation of the mRNAs of lipolysis genes - a model further supported by the observation that knockdown of Lsd-1, regucalcin, yip2 or CG5162, which encode genes involved in lipolysis, rescue the LD defects of arlr mutants. In addition, we characterize DendoU as a functional paralog of Arlr and show that human ENDOU can rescue arlr mutants. Altogether, our study reveals a role of ENDOU-like endonucleases as negative regulator of lipolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Sun
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xue Kong
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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Salukhe I, Choi R, Van Voorhis W, Barrett L, Hyde J. Regulation of coronavirus nsp15 cleavage specificity by RNA structure. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290675. [PMID: 37616296 PMCID: PMC10449227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290675] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, has had an enduring impact on global public health. However, SARS-CoV-2 is only one of multiple pathogenic human coronaviruses (CoVs) to have emerged since the turn of the century. CoVs encode for several nonstructural proteins (nsps) that are essential for viral replication and pathogenesis. Among them is nsp15, a uridine-specific viral endonuclease that is important in evading the host immune response and promoting viral replication. Despite the established endonuclease function of nsp15, little is known about other determinants of its cleavage specificity. In this study we investigate the role of RNA secondary structure in SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 endonuclease activity. Using a series of in vitro endonuclease assays, we observed that thermodynamically stable RNA structures were protected from nsp15 cleavage relative to RNAs lacking stable structure. We leveraged the s2m RNA from the SARS-CoV-1 3'UTR as a model for our structural studies as it adopts a well-defined structure with several uridines, two of which are unpaired and thus highly probable targets for nsp15 cleavage. We found that SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 specifically cleaves s2m at the unpaired uridine within the GNRNA pentaloop of the RNA. Further investigation revealed that the position of uridine within the pentaloop also impacted nsp15 cleavage efficiency suggesting that positioning within the pentaloop is necessary for optimal presentation of the scissile uridine and alignment within the nsp15 catalytic pocket. Our findings indicate that RNA secondary structure is an important determinant of nsp15 cleavage and provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of RNA recognition by nsp15.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indraneel Salukhe
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Ryan Choi
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Wesley Van Voorhis
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Lynn Barrett
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Hyde
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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Huang T, Snell KC, Kalia N, Gardezi S, Guo L, Harris ME. Kinetic analysis of RNA cleavage by coronavirus Nsp15 endonuclease: Evidence for acid base catalysis and substrate dependent metal ion activation. J Biol Chem 2023:104787. [PMID: 37149147 PMCID: PMC10158045 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the functional properties of SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural proteins is essential for defining their roles in the viral life cycle, developing improved therapeutics and diagnostics, and countering future variants. Coronavirus nonstructural protein Nsp15 is a hexameric U-specific endonuclease whose functions, substrate specificity, mechanism, and dynamics have not been fully defined. Previous studies report SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15 requires Mn2+ ions for optimal activity; however, the effects of divalent ions on Nsp15 reaction kinetics have not been investigated in detail. Here, we analyzed the single and multiple turnover kinetics for model single-stranded RNA substrates. Our data confirm that divalent ions are dispensable for catalysis and show that Mn2+ activates Nsp15 cleavage of two different ssRNA oligonucleotide substrates, but not a dinucleotide. Furthermore, biphasic kinetics of ssRNA substrates demonstrates that Mn2+ stabilizes alternative enzyme states that have faster substrate cleavage on the enzyme. However, we did not detect Mn2+-induced conformational changes using CD and fluorescence spectroscopy. The pH-rate profiles in the presence and absence of Mn2+ are consistent with active site ionizable groups with similar pKas of ca. 4.8-5.2. We found the Rp stereoisomer phosphorothioate modification at the scissile phosphate had minimal effect on catalysis, which supports a mechanism involving an anionic transition state. In contrast, the Sp stereoisomer is inactive due to weak binding, consistent with models that position the non-bridging phosphoryl oxygen deep in the active site. Together, these kinetic data demonstrate that Nsp15 employs a conventional acid-base catalytic mechanism passing through an anionic transition state, and that divalent ion activation is substrate-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Kimberly C Snell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Nidhi Kalia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Shahbaz Gardezi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Lily Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - Michael E Harris
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
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Gurjar V, Iqra Kamil S, Chandra A, Qamar I, Singh N. Drugs swapping in coronavirus strains: a structural biology view. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:13488-13495. [PMID: 36744537 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2175037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus belongs to the coronaviridae family, having a single-stranded RNA as genetic material of 26-42 kb in size. The first coronavirus infection emerged in 2002, caused by SARS-CoV1. Since then, genome sequences and three-dimensional structures of crucial proteins and enzymes of the virus have been studied in detail. The novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak has caused the COVID19 pandemic, which is responsible for the deaths of millions of people worldwide. The nCoV was later renamed as SARS-CoV2. The details of most of the COV proteins are available at the atomic and molecular levels. The entire genome is made up of 12 open reading frames that code for 27 different proteins. The spike surface glycoprotein, the envelope protein, the nucleocapsid protein, and the membrane protein are the four structural proteins which are required for virus attachment, entrance, assembly, and pathogenicity. The remaining proteins encoded are called non-structural (NSPs) and support the survival of the virus. Several non-structural proteins are also validated targets for drug development against coronavirus and are being used for drug design purposes. To perform a comparative study, sequences and three-dimensional structures of four crucial viral enzymes, Mpro, PLpro, RdRp, and EndoU from SARS-CoV1 and SARS-CoV2 variants were analyzed. The key structural elements and ligands recognizing amino acid residues were found to be similar in enzymes from both strains. The significant sequences and structural resemblance also suggest that a drug developed either for SARS-CoV1 or SARS-CoV2 using these enzymes may also have the potential to cross-react.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Gurjar
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Saiyada Iqra Kamil
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anshuman Chandra
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Imteyaz Qamar
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nagendra Singh
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Apprehending the NAD+–ADPr-Dependent Systems in the Virus World. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091977. [PMID: 36146784 PMCID: PMC9503650 DOI: 10.3390/v14091977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
NAD+ and ADP-ribose (ADPr)-containing molecules are at the interface of virus–host conflicts across life encompassing RNA processing, restriction, lysogeny/dormancy and functional hijacking. We objectively defined the central components of the NAD+–ADPr networks involved in these conflicts and systematically surveyed 21,191 completely sequenced viral proteomes representative of all publicly available branches of the viral world to reconstruct a comprehensive picture of the viral NAD+–ADPr systems. These systems have been widely and repeatedly exploited by positive-strand RNA and DNA viruses, especially those with larger genomes and more intricate life-history strategies. We present evidence that ADP-ribosyltransferases (ARTs), ADPr-targeting Macro, NADAR and Nudix proteins are frequently packaged into virions, particularly in phages with contractile tails (Myoviruses), and deployed during infection to modify host macromolecules and counter NAD+-derived signals involved in viral restriction. Genes encoding NAD+–ADPr-utilizing domains were repeatedly exchanged between distantly related viruses, hosts and endo-parasites/symbionts, suggesting selection for them across the virus world. Contextual analysis indicates that the bacteriophage versions of ADPr-targeting domains are more likely to counter soluble ADPr derivatives, while the eukaryotic RNA viral versions might prefer macromolecular ADPr adducts. Finally, we also use comparative genomics to predict host systems involved in countering viral ADP ribosylation of host molecules.
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12
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Frazier MN, Riccio AA, Wilson IM, Copeland WC, Stanley RE. Recent insights into the structure and function of coronavirus ribonucleases. FEBS Open Bio 2022; 12:1567-1583. [PMID: 35445579 PMCID: PMC9110870 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses use approximately two-thirds of their 30-kb genomes to encode nonstructural proteins (nsps) with diverse functions that assist in viral replication and transcription, and evasion of the host immune response. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to renewed interest in the molecular mechanisms used by coronaviruses to infect cells and replicate. Among the 16 Nsps involved in replication and transcription, coronaviruses encode two ribonucleases that process the viral RNA-an exonuclease (Nsp14) and an endonuclease (Nsp15). In this review, we discuss recent structural and biochemical studies of these nucleases and the implications for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith N. Frazier
- Signal Transduction LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - Amanda A. Riccio
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - Isha M. Wilson
- Signal Transduction LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - William C. Copeland
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
| | - Robin E. Stanley
- Signal Transduction LaboratoryDepartment of Health and Human ServicesNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesNational Institutes of HealthResearch Triangle ParkNCUSA
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13
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Proteolytic Processing of the Coronavirus Replicase Nonstructural Protein 14 Exonuclease Is Not Required for Virus Replication but Alters RNA Synthesis and Viral Fitness. J Virol 2022; 96:e0084122. [PMID: 35924922 PMCID: PMC9400476 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00841-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) initiate replication by translation of the positive-sense RNA genome into the replicase polyproteins connecting 16 nonstructural protein domains (nsp1-16), which are subsequently processed by viral proteases to yield mature nsp. For the betacoronavirus murine hepatitis virus (MHV), total inhibition of translation or proteolytic processing of replicase polyproteins results in rapid cessation of RNA synthesis. The nsp5-3CLpro (Mpro) processes nsps7-16, which assemble into functional replication-transcription complexes (RTCs), including the enzymatic nsp12-RdRp and nsp14-exoribonuclease (ExoN)/N7-methyltransferase. The nsp14-ExoN activity mediates RNA-dependent RNA proofreading, high-fidelity RNA synthesis, and replication. To date, the solved partial RTC structures, biochemistry, and models use or assume completely processed, mature nsp. Here, we demonstrate that in MHV, engineered deletion of the cleavage sites between nsp13-14 and nsp14-15 allowed recovery of replication-competent virus. Compared to wild-type (WT) MHV, the nsp13-14 and nsp14-15 cleavage deletion mutants demonstrated delayed replication kinetics, impaired genome production, altered abundance and patterns of recombination, and impaired competitive fitness. Further, the nsp13-14 and nsp14-15 mutant viruses demonstrated mutation frequencies that were significantly higher than with the WT. The results demonstrate that cleavage of nsp13-14 or nsp14-15 is not required for MHV viability and that functions of the RTC/nsp14-ExoN are impaired when assembled with noncleaved intermediates. These data will inform future genetic, structural, biochemical, and modeling studies of coronavirus RTCs and nsp 13, 14, and 15 and may reveal new approaches for inhibition or attenuation of CoV infection. IMPORTANCE Coronavirus replication requires proteolytic maturation of the nonstructural replicase proteins to form the replication-transcription complex. Coronavirus replication-transcription complex models assume mature subunits; however, mechanisms of coronavirus maturation and replicase complex formation have yet to be defined. Here, we show that for the coronavirus murine hepatitis virus, cleavage between the nonstructural replicase proteins nsp13-14 and nsp14-15 is not required for replication but does alter RNA synthesis and recombination. These results shed new light on the requirements for coronavirus maturation and replication-transcription complex assembly, and they may reveal novel therapeutic targets and strategies for attenuation.
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14
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Melo-Filho CC, Bobrowski T, Martin HJ, Sessions Z, Popov KI, Moorman NJ, Baric RS, Muratov EN, Tropsha A. Conserved coronavirus proteins as targets of broad-spectrum antivirals. Antiviral Res 2022; 204:105360. [PMID: 35691424 PMCID: PMC9183392 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses are a class of single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that have caused three major outbreaks over the past two decades: Middle East respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). All outbreaks have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In this study, we have identified and explored conserved binding sites in the key coronavirus proteins for the development of broad-spectrum direct acting anti-coronaviral compounds and validated the significance of this conservation for drug discovery with existing experimental data. We have identified four coronaviral proteins with highly conserved binding site sequence and 3D structure similarity: PLpro, Mpro, nsp10-nsp16 complex(methyltransferase), and nsp15 endoribonuclease. We have compiled all available experimental data for known antiviral medications inhibiting these targets and identified compounds active against multiple coronaviruses. The identified compounds representing potential broad-spectrum antivirals include: GC376, which is active against six viral Mpro (out of six tested, as described in research literature); mycophenolic acid, which is active against four viral PLpro (out of four); and emetine, which is active against four viral RdRp (out of four). The approach described in this study for coronaviruses, which combines the assessment of sequence and structure conservation across a viral family with the analysis of accessible chemical structure – antiviral activity data, can be explored for the development of broad-spectrum drugs for multiple viral families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleber C Melo-Filho
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Tesia Bobrowski
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Holli-Joi Martin
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Zoe Sessions
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Konstantin I Popov
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Nathaniel J Moorman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ralph S Baric
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Eugene N Muratov
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Alexander Tropsha
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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15
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The nsp15 Nuclease as a Good Target to Combat SARS-CoV-2: Mechanism of Action and Its Inactivation with FDA-Approved Drugs. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020342. [PMID: 35208797 PMCID: PMC8880170 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is not over yet, despite all the efforts from the scientific community. Vaccination is a crucial weapon to fight this virus; however, we still urge the development of antivirals to reduce the severity and progression of the COVID-19 disease. For that, a deep understanding of the mechanisms involved in viral replication is necessary. nsp15 is an endoribonuclease critical for the degradation of viral polyuridine sequences that activate host immune sensors. This enzyme is known as one of the major interferon antagonists from SARS-CoV-2. In this work, a biochemical characterization of SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 was performed. We saw that nsp15 is active as a hexamer, and zinc can block its activity. The role of conserved residues from SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 was investigated, and N164 was found to be important for protein hexamerization and to contribute to the specificity to degrade uridines. Several chemical groups that impact the activity of this ribonuclease were also identified. Additionally, FDA-approved drugs with the capacity to inhibit the in vitro activity of nsp15 are reported in this work. This study is of utmost importance by adding highly valuable information that can be used for the development and rational design of therapeutic strategies.
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16
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Ingle S, Chhabra S, Chen J, Lazarus MB, Luo X, Bechhofer DH. Discovery and initial characterization of YloC, a novel endoribonuclease in Bacillus subtilis. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:227-238. [PMID: 34815358 PMCID: PMC8906540 DOI: 10.1261/rna.078962.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Bacillus subtilis genome is predicted to encode numerous ribonucleases, including four 3' exoribonucleases that have been characterized to some extent. A strain containing gene knockouts of all four known 3' exoribonucleases is viable, suggesting that one or more additional RNases remain to be discovered. A protein extract from the quadruple RNase mutant strain was fractionated and RNase activity was followed, resulting in the identification of an enzyme activity catalyzed by the YloC protein. YloC is an endoribonuclease and is a member of the highly conserved "YicC family" of proteins that is widespread in bacteria. YloC is a metal-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of single-stranded RNA, preferentially at U residues, and exists in an oligomeric form, most likely a hexamer. As such, YloC shares some characteristics with the SARS-CoV Nsp15 endoribonuclease. While the in vivo function of YloC in B. subtilis is yet to be determined, YloC was found to act similarly to YicC in an Escherichia coli in vivo assay that assesses decay of the small RNA, RyhB. Thus, YloC may play a role in small RNA regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakti Ingle
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Shivani Chhabra
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Jiandong Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Michael B Lazarus
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Xing Luo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - David H Bechhofer
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
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17
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Horrell S, Santoni G, Thorn A. Structural biology of SARS-CoV-2 endoribonuclease NendoU (nsp15). CRYSTALLOGR REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/0889311x.2022.2065270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrea Thorn
- Institut für Nanostruktur und Festkörperphysik, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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18
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In Silico Screening of Natural Products as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Using Molecular Docking Simulation. Chin J Integr Med 2021; 28:249-256. [PMID: 34913151 PMCID: PMC8672856 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-021-3504-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Objective To explore potential natural products against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) via the study of structural and non-structural proteins of human coronaviruses. Methods In this study, we performed an in-silico survey of 25 potential natural compounds acting against SARS-CoV-2. Molecular docking studies were carried out using compounds against 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLPRO), papain-like protease (PLPRO), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), non-structural protein (nsp), human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor (hACE2R), spike glycoprotein (S protein), abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (ABL1), calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) and transmembrane protease serine 2. Results Among the screened compounds, amentoflavone showed the best binding affinity with the 3CLPRO, RdRp, nsp13, nsp15, hACE2R. ABL1 and calcineurin-NFAT; berbamine with hACE2R and ABL1; cepharanthine with nsp10, nsp14, nsp16, S protein and ABL1; glucogallin with nsp15; and papyriflavonol A with PLPRO protein. Other good interacting compounds were juglanin, betulinic acid, betulonic acid, broussooflavan A, tomentin A, B and E, 7-methoxycryptopleurine, aloe emodin, quercetin, tanshinone I, tylophorine and furruginol, which also showed excellent binding affinity towards a number of target proteins. Most of these compounds showed better binding affinities towards the target proteins than the standard drugs used in this study. Conclusion Natural products or their derivatives may be one of the potential targets to fight against SARS-CoV-2. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary materials (Appendixes 1–6) are available in the online version of this article at DOI: 10.1007/s11655-021-3504-5
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19
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Perry JK, Appleby TC, Bilello JP, Feng JY, Schmitz U, Campbell EA. An atomistic model of the coronavirus replication-transcription complex as a hexamer assembled around nsp15. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101218. [PMID: 34562452 PMCID: PMC8494237 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex is an assembly of nonstructural viral proteins that collectively act to reproduce the viral genome and generate mRNA transcripts. While the structures of the individual proteins involved are known, how they assemble into a functioning superstructure is not. Applying molecular modeling tools, including protein-protein docking, to the available structures of nsp7-nsp16 and the nucleocapsid, we have constructed an atomistic model of how these proteins associate. Our principal finding is that the complex is hexameric, centered on nsp15. The nsp15 hexamer is capped on two faces by trimers of nsp14/nsp16/(nsp10)2, which then recruit six nsp12/nsp7/(nsp8)2 polymerase subunits to the complex. To this, six subunits of nsp13 are arranged around the superstructure, but not evenly distributed. Polymerase subunits that coordinate dimers of nsp13 are capable of binding the nucleocapsid, which positions the 5'-UTR TRS-L RNA over the polymerase active site, a state distinguishing transcription from replication. Analysis of the viral RNA path through the complex indicates the dsRNA that exits the polymerase passes over the nsp14 exonuclease and nsp15 endonuclease sites before being unwound by a convergence of zinc fingers from nsp10 and nsp14. The template strand is then directed away from the complex, while the nascent strand is directed to the sites responsible for mRNA capping. The model presents a cohesive picture of the multiple functions of the coronavirus replication-transcription complex and addresses fundamental questions related to proofreading, template switching, mRNA capping, and the role of the endonuclease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Joy Y Feng
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - Uli Schmitz
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Campbell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
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20
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O’Donoghue SI, Schafferhans A, Sikta N, Stolte C, Kaur S, Ho BK, Anderson S, Procter JB, Dallago C, Bordin N, Adcock M, Rost B. SARS-CoV-2 structural coverage map reveals viral protein assembly, mimicry, and hijacking mechanisms. Mol Syst Biol 2021; 17:e10079. [PMID: 34519429 PMCID: PMC8438690 DOI: 10.15252/msb.202010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We modeled 3D structures of all SARS-CoV-2 proteins, generating 2,060 models that span 69% of the viral proteome and provide details not available elsewhere. We found that ˜6% of the proteome mimicked human proteins, while ˜7% was implicated in hijacking mechanisms that reverse post-translational modifications, block host translation, and disable host defenses; a further ˜29% self-assembled into heteromeric states that provided insight into how the viral replication and translation complex forms. To make these 3D models more accessible, we devised a structural coverage map, a novel visualization method to show what is-and is not-known about the 3D structure of the viral proteome. We integrated the coverage map into an accompanying online resource (https://aquaria.ws/covid) that can be used to find and explore models corresponding to the 79 structural states identified in this work. The resulting Aquaria-COVID resource helps scientists use emerging structural data to understand the mechanisms underlying coronavirus infection and draws attention to the 31% of the viral proteome that remains structurally unknown or dark.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral/chemistry
- Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral/genetics
- Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral/metabolism
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/chemistry
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/genetics
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism
- Binding Sites
- COVID-19/genetics
- COVID-19/metabolism
- COVID-19/virology
- Computational Biology/methods
- Coronavirus Envelope Proteins/chemistry
- Coronavirus Envelope Proteins/genetics
- Coronavirus Envelope Proteins/metabolism
- Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/chemistry
- Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/genetics
- Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/metabolism
- Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics
- Humans
- Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins/chemistry
- Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics
- Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism
- Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Mimicry
- Neuropilin-1/chemistry
- Neuropilin-1/genetics
- Neuropilin-1/metabolism
- Phosphoproteins/chemistry
- Phosphoproteins/genetics
- Phosphoproteins/metabolism
- Protein Binding
- Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
- Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- Protein Interaction Mapping/methods
- Protein Multimerization
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational
- SARS-CoV-2/chemistry
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- SARS-CoV-2/metabolism
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Viral Matrix Proteins/chemistry
- Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics
- Viral Matrix Proteins/metabolism
- Viroporin Proteins/chemistry
- Viroporin Proteins/genetics
- Viroporin Proteins/metabolism
- Virus Replication
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Affiliation(s)
- Seán I O’Donoghue
- Garvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSWAustralia
- CSIRO Data61CanberraACTAustralia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (UNSW)KensingtonNSWAustralia
| | - Andrea Schafferhans
- Garvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSWAustralia
- Department of Bioengineering SciencesWeihenstephan‐Tr. University of Applied SciencesFreisingGermany
- Department of InformaticsBioinformatics & Computational BiologyTechnical University of MunichMunichGermany
| | - Neblina Sikta
- Garvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSWAustralia
| | | | - Sandeep Kaur
- Garvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSWAustralia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (UNSW)KensingtonNSWAustralia
| | - Bosco K Ho
- Garvan Institute of Medical ResearchDarlinghurstNSWAustralia
| | | | | | - Christian Dallago
- Department of InformaticsBioinformatics & Computational BiologyTechnical University of MunichMunichGermany
| | - Nicola Bordin
- Institute of Structural and Molecular BiologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Burkhard Rost
- Department of InformaticsBioinformatics & Computational BiologyTechnical University of MunichMunichGermany
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21
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Frazier MN, Dillard LB, Krahn JM, Perera L, Williams JG, Wilson IM, Stewart ZD, Pillon MC, Deterding LJ, Borgnia MJ, Stanley RE. Characterization of SARS2 Nsp15 nuclease activity reveals it's mad about U. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10136-10149. [PMID: 34403466 PMCID: PMC8385992 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nsp15 is a uridine specific endoribonuclease that coronaviruses employ to cleave viral RNA and evade host immune defense systems. Previous structures of Nsp15 from across Coronaviridae revealed that Nsp15 assembles into a homo-hexamer and has a conserved active site similar to RNase A. Beyond a preference for cleaving RNA 3′ of uridines, it is unknown if Nsp15 has any additional substrate preferences. Here, we used cryo-EM to capture structures of Nsp15 bound to RNA in pre- and post-cleavage states. The structures along with molecular dynamics and biochemical assays revealed critical residues involved in substrate specificity, nuclease activity, and oligomerization. Moreover, we determined how the sequence of the RNA substrate dictates cleavage and found that outside of polyU tracts, Nsp15 has a strong preference for purines 3′ of the cleaved uridine. This work advances our understanding of how Nsp15 recognizes and processes viral RNA, and will aid in the development of new anti-viral therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith N Frazier
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Lucas B Dillard
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Juno M Krahn
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Lalith Perera
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jason G Williams
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Isha M Wilson
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Zachary D Stewart
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Monica C Pillon
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Leesa J Deterding
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Mario J Borgnia
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Robin E Stanley
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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22
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Bai C, Zhong Q, Gao GF. Overview of SARS-CoV-2 genome-encoded proteins. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2021; 65:280-294. [PMID: 34387838 PMCID: PMC8362648 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-021-1964-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly throughout the world. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped, plus-stranded RNA virus with a single-stranded RNA genome of approximately 30,000 nucleotides. The SARS-CoV-2 genome encodes 29 proteins, including 16 nonstructural, 4 structural and 9 accessory proteins. To date, over 1,228 experimental structures of SARS-CoV-2 proteins have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB), including 16 protein structures, two functional domain structures of nucleocapsid (N) protein, and scores of complexes. Overall, they exhibit high similarity to SARS-CoV proteins. Here, we summarize the progress of structural and functional research on SARS-CoV-2 proteins. These studies provide structural and functional insights into proteins of SARS-CoV-2, and further elucidate the daedal relationship between different components at the atomic level in the viral life cycle, including attachment to the host cell, viral genome replication and transcription, genome packaging and assembly, and virus release. It is important to understand the structural and functional properties of SARS-CoV-2 proteins as it will facilitate the development of anti-CoV drugs and vaccines to prevent and control the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongzhi Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology & Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,Central Laboratory, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030012, China.,Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Qiming Zhong
- Central Laboratory, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030012, China
| | - George Fu Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology & Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. .,Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
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23
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Abstract
CoVID-19 is a multi-symptomatic disease which has made a global impact due to its ability to spread rapidly, and its relatively high mortality rate. Beyond the heroic efforts to develop vaccines, which we do not discuss herein, the response of scientists and clinicians to this complex problem has reflected the need to detect CoVID-19 rapidly, to diagnose patients likely to show adverse symptoms, and to treat severe and critical CoVID-19. Here we aim to encapsulate these varied and sometimes conflicting approaches and the resulting data in terms of chemistry and biology. In the process we highlight emerging concepts, and potential future applications that may arise out of this immense effort.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yimon Aye
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)1015LausanneSwitzerland
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24
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Xu W, Pei G, Liu H, Ju X, Wang J, Ding Q, Li P. Compartmentalization-aided interaction screening reveals extensive high-order complexes within the SARS-CoV-2 proteome. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109482. [PMID: 34297909 PMCID: PMC8285250 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bearing a relatively large single-stranded RNA genome in nature, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) utilizes sophisticated replication/transcription complexes (RTCs), mainly composed of a network of nonstructural proteins and nucleocapsid protein, to establish efficient infection. In this study, we develop an innovative interaction screening strategy based on phase separation in cellulo, namely compartmentalization of protein-protein interactions in cells (CoPIC). Utilizing CoPIC screening, we map the interaction network among RTC-related viral proteins. We identify a total of 47 binary interactions among 14 proteins governing replication, discontinuous transcription, and translation of coronaviruses. Further exploration via CoPIC leads to the discovery of extensive ternary complexes composed of these components, which infer potential higher-order complexes. Taken together, our results present an efficient and robust interaction screening strategy, and they indicate the existence of a complex interaction network among RTC-related factors, thus opening up opportunities to understand SARS-CoV-2 biology and develop therapeutic interventions for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifan Xu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Gaofeng Pei
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongrui Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Ju
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Ding
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Pilong Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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25
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Sinha SK, Prasad SK, Islam MA, Gurav SS, Patil RB, AlFaris NA, Aldayel TS, AlKehayez NM, Wabaidur SM, Shakya A. Identification of bioactive compounds from Glycyrrhiza glabra as possible inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and non-structural protein-15: a pharmacoinformatics study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 39:4686-4700. [PMID: 32552462 PMCID: PMC7309308 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1779132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
At present, the world is facing a pandemic named as COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2. Traditional Chinese medicine has recommended the use of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza species) in the treatment of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to identify the active molecule from the liquorice against different protein targets of COVID-19 using an in-silico approach. The molecular docking simulation study of 20 compounds along with two standard antiviral drugs (Lopinavir and Rivabirin) was carried out with the help of Autodock vina software using two protein targets from COVID-19 i.e. spike glycoprotein (PDB ID: 6VSB) and Non-structural Protein-15 (Nsp15) endoribonuclease (PDB ID: 6W01). From the observed binding energy and the binding interactions, glyasperin A showed high affinity towards Nsp15 endoribonuclease with uridine specificity, while glycyrrhizic acid was found to be best suited for the binding pocket of spike glycoprotein and also prohibited the entry of the virus into the host cell. Further, the dynamic behavior of the best-docked molecules inside the spike glycoprotein and Nsp15 endoribonuclease were explored through all-atoms molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study. Several parameters from the MD simulation have substantiated the stability of protein-ligand stability. The binding free energy of both glyasperin A and glycyrrhizic acid was calculated from the entire MD simulation trajectory through the MM-PBSA approach and found to high binding affinity towards the respective protein receptor cavity. Thus, glyasperin A and glycyrrhizic acid could be considered as the best molecule from liquorice, which could find useful against COVID-19. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh K. Sinha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mohanlal Shukhadia University, Udaipur, India
| | - Satyendra K. Prasad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, India
| | - Md Ataul Islam
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- School of Health Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Shailendra S. Gurav
- Goa College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Goa University, Panaji, India
| | - Rajesh B. Patil
- Sinhgad Technical Education Society’s, Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Pharmacy, Pune, India
| | - Nora Abdullah AlFaris
- Nutrition and Food Science, Department of Physical Sport Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahany Saleh Aldayel
- Nutrition and Food Science, Department of Physical Sport Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nora M. AlKehayez
- Nutrition and Food Science, Department of Physical Sport Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Anshul Shakya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, India
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26
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Canal B, Fujisawa R, McClure AW, Deegan TD, Wu M, Ulferts R, Weissmann F, Drury LS, Bertolin AP, Zeng J, Beale R, Howell M, Labib K, Diffley JF. Identifying SARS-CoV-2 antiviral compounds by screening for small molecule inhibitors of nsp15 endoribonuclease. Biochem J 2021; 478:2465-2479. [PMID: 34198324 PMCID: PMC8286823 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for COVID-19, a human disease that has caused over 2 million deaths, stretched health systems to near-breaking point and endangered economies of countries and families around the world. Antiviral treatments to combat COVID-19 are currently lacking. Remdesivir, the only antiviral drug approved for the treatment of COVID-19, can affect disease severity, but better treatments are needed. SARS-CoV-2 encodes 16 non-structural proteins (nsp) that possess different enzymatic activities with important roles in viral genome replication, transcription and host immune evasion. One key aspect of host immune evasion is performed by the uridine-directed endoribonuclease activity of nsp15. Here we describe the expression and purification of nsp15 recombinant protein. We have developed biochemical assays to follow its activity, and we have found evidence for allosteric behaviour. We screened a custom chemical library of over 5000 compounds to identify nsp15 endoribonuclease inhibitors, and we identified and validated NSC95397 as an inhibitor of nsp15 endoribonuclease in vitro. Although NSC95397 did not inhibit SARS-CoV-2 growth in VERO E6 cells, further studies will be required to determine the effect of nsp15 inhibition on host immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Canal
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Ryo Fujisawa
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Allison W. McClure
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Tom D. Deegan
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Mary Wu
- High Throughput Screening, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Rachel Ulferts
- Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Florian Weissmann
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Lucy S. Drury
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Agustina P. Bertolin
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Jingkun Zeng
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Rupert Beale
- Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Michael Howell
- High Throughput Screening, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Karim Labib
- The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - John F.X. Diffley
- Chromosome Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
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27
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Abstract
Thus far, in 2021, 219 countries with over 175 million people have been infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 is a positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus, and is the causal agent for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Due to the urgency of the situation, virtual screening as a computational modeling method offers a fast and effective modality of identifying drugs that may be effective against SARS-CoV-2. There has been an overwhelming abundance of molecular docking against SARS-CoV-2 in the last year. Due to the massive volume of computational studies, this systematic review has been created to evaluate and summarize the findings of existing studies. Herein, we report on computational articles of drugs which target, (1) viral protease, (2) Spike protein-ACE 2 interaction, (3) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and (4) other proteins and nonstructural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the studies presented, there are 55 identified natural or drug compounds with potential anti-viral activity. The next step is to show anti-viral activity in vitro and translation to determine effectiveness into human clinical trials.
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28
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The Role of Coronavirus RNA-Processing Enzymes in Innate Immune Evasion. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11060571. [PMID: 34204549 PMCID: PMC8235370 DOI: 10.3390/life11060571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral RNA sensing triggers innate antiviral responses in humans by stimulating signaling pathways that include crucial antiviral genes such as interferon. RNA viruses have evolved strategies to inhibit or escape these mechanisms. Coronaviruses use multiple enzymes to synthesize, modify, and process their genomic RNA and sub-genomic RNAs. These include Nsp15 and Nsp16, whose respective roles in RNA capping and dsRNA degradation play a crucial role in coronavirus escape from immune surveillance. Evolutionary studies on coronaviruses demonstrate that genome expansion in Nidoviruses was promoted by the emergence of Nsp14-ExoN activity and led to the acquisition of Nsp15- and Nsp16-RNA-processing activities. In this review, we discuss the main RNA-sensing mechanisms in humans as well as recent structural, functional, and evolutionary insights into coronavirus Nsp15 and Nsp16 with a view to potential antiviral strategies.
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29
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Lee HC, Fu CY, Lin CY, Hu JR, Huang TY, Lo KY, Tsai HY, Sheu JC, Tsai HJ. Poly(U)-specific endoribonuclease ENDOU promotes translation of human CHOP mRNA by releasing uORF element-mediated inhibition. EMBO J 2021; 40:e104123. [PMID: 33511665 PMCID: PMC8167367 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019104123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are known to negatively affect translation of the downstream ORF. The regulatory proteins involved in relieving this inhibition are however poorly characterized. In response to cellular stress, eIF2α phosphorylation leads to an inhibition of global protein synthesis, while translation of specific factors such as CHOP is induced. We analyzed a 105‐nt inhibitory uORF in the transcript of human CHOP (huORFchop) and found that overexpression of the zebrafish or human ENDOU poly(U)‐endoribonuclease (Endouc or ENDOU‐1, respectively) increases CHOP mRNA translation also in the absence of stress. We also found that Endouc/ENDOU‐1 binds and cleaves the huORFchop transcript at position 80G‐81U, which induces CHOP translation independently of phosphorylated eIF2α. However, both ENDOU and phospho‐eIF2α are nonetheless required for maximal translation of CHOP mRNA. Increased levels of ENDOU shift a huORFchop reporter as well as endogenous CHOP transcripts from the monosome to polysome fraction, indicating an increase in translation. Furthermore, we found that the uncapped truncated huORFchop‐69‐105‐nt transcript contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), facilitating translation of the cleaved transcript. Therefore, we propose a model where ENDOU‐mediated transcript cleavage positively regulates CHOP translation resulting in increased CHOP protein levels upon stress. Specifically, CHOP transcript cleavage changes the configuration of huORFchop thereby releasing its inhibition and allowing the stalled ribosomes to resume translation of the downstream ORF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Chieh Lee
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chuan-Yang Fu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yung Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Rung Hu
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Ying Huang
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Yin Lo
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yue Tsai
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jin-Chuan Sheu
- Liver Disease Prevention and Treatment Research Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huai-Jen Tsai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan
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30
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Shukla BK, Tyagi H, Bhandari H, Garg S. Nanotechnology-Based Approach to Combat Pandemic COVID 19: A Review. MACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA 2021; 397:2000336. [PMID: 34511843 PMCID: PMC8420461 DOI: 10.1002/masy.202000336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of a novel Corona virus (COVID 19) originated on December 19 from China. The city of Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, China, is responsible for an outbreak of respiratory illness known as COVID 19 and it has been rapidly spread across the world claiming millions of lives. The sudden outbreak of novel Coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV), is a big concern for their speedy mitigation using the predictable treatment and creating its approach around the world. Researchers and doctors are in search of rapid diagnosis kit, drugs, and viral-resistant personal protective equipment (PPE) to clinical diagnosis, medication, and prevent the spread of COVID 19. A rational approach with adaptability and broad viewpoint to challenge the growing pain could be overcome by the application of appropriate technology. The nanotechnology-based approach can significantly serve the purpose of the current pandemic situation of COVID 19. But same time implementation of innovative and creative nanotech approach, there is a decisive need for the full knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Moreover, to defeat COVID 19, particularly nanotech-based system with their viral inhibitory properties to increase the effective nanotech approach is essential. In this scenario, this review aims to summarize the past, present, and future of nanotech-based systems that can be used to treat COVID 19, highlighting Nano-based compounds. Lastly, the potential application of the different category of Inorganic Nanomaterials/Inorganic organic conjugate /hybrid system and their practical applicability as suitable means for inspiring against COVID 19 has also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brijesh Kumar Shukla
- Department of ChemistryAmity Institute of Applied SciencesAmity UniversitySector‐125NoidaUttar Pradesh201313India
| | - Himanshi Tyagi
- Department of ChemistryAmity Institute of Applied SciencesAmity UniversitySector‐125NoidaUttar Pradesh201313India
| | - Hema Bhandari
- Department of ChemistryMaitreyi CollegeUniversity of DelhiDelhi110021India
| | - Seema Garg
- Department of ChemistryAmity Institute of Applied SciencesAmity UniversitySector‐125NoidaUttar Pradesh201313India
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31
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Stevaert A, Krasniqi B, Van Loy B, Nguyen T, Thomas J, Vandeput J, Jochmans D, Thiel V, Dijkman R, Dehaen W, Voet A, Naesens L. Betulonic Acid Derivatives Interfering with Human Coronavirus 229E Replication via the nsp15 Endoribonuclease. J Med Chem 2021; 64:5632-5644. [PMID: 33877845 PMCID: PMC8084268 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
To develop antiviral therapeutics against human coronavirus (HCoV) infections, suitable coronavirus drug targets and corresponding lead molecules must be urgently identified. Here, we describe the discovery of a class of HCoV inhibitors acting on nsp15, a hexameric protein component of the viral replication-transcription complexes, endowed with immune evasion-associated endoribonuclease activity. Structure-activity relationship exploration of these 1,2,3-triazolo-fused betulonic acid derivatives yielded lead molecule 5h as a strong inhibitor (antiviral EC50: 0.6 μM) of HCoV-229E replication. An nsp15 endoribonuclease active site mutant virus was markedly less sensitive to 5h, and selected resistance to the compound mapped to mutations in the N-terminal part of HCoV-229E nsp15, at an interface between two nsp15 monomers. The biological findings were substantiated by the nsp15 binding mode for 5h, predicted by docking. Hence, besides delivering a distinct class of inhibitors, our study revealed a druggable pocket in the nsp15 hexamer with relevance for anti-coronavirus drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelies Stevaert
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy,
Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven,
Belgium
| | - Besir Krasniqi
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of
Chemistry, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven,
Belgium
| | - Benjamin Van Loy
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy,
Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven,
Belgium
| | - Tien Nguyen
- Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology,
Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven,
Belgium
| | - Joice Thomas
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of
Chemistry, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven,
Belgium
| | - Julie Vandeput
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy,
Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven,
Belgium
| | - Dirk Jochmans
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy,
Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven,
Belgium
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology
(IVI), 3012 Bern and 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology,
Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern,
Switzerland
| | - Ronald Dijkman
- Institute of Virology and Immunology
(IVI), 3012 Bern and 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology,
Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern,
Switzerland
- Institute for Infectious Diseases (IFIK),
University of Bern, 3012 Bern,
Switzerland
| | - Wim Dehaen
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of
Chemistry, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven,
Belgium
| | - Arnout Voet
- Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology,
Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven,
Belgium
| | - Lieve Naesens
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy,
Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven,
Belgium
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32
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Choi R, Zhou M, Shek R, Wilson JW, Tillery L, Craig JK, Salukhe IA, Hickson SE, Kumar N, James RM, Buchko GW, Wu R, Huff S, Nguyen TT, Hurst BL, Cherry S, Barrett LK, Hyde JL, Van Voorhis WC. High-throughput screening of the ReFRAME, Pandemic Box, and COVID Box drug repurposing libraries against SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 endoribonuclease to identify small-molecule inhibitors of viral activity. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250019. [PMID: 33886614 PMCID: PMC8062000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic, and has taken over 1.7 million lives as of mid-December, 2020. Although great progress has been made in the development of effective countermeasures, with several pharmaceutical companies approved or poised to deliver vaccines to market, there is still an unmet need of essential antiviral drugs with therapeutic impact for the treatment of moderate-to-severe COVID-19. Towards this goal, a high-throughput assay was used to screen SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 uracil-dependent endonuclease (endoU) function against 13 thousand compounds from drug and lead repurposing compound libraries. While over 80% of initial hit compounds were pan-assay inhibitory compounds, three hits were confirmed as nsp15 endoU inhibitors in the 1-20 μM range in vitro. Furthermore, Exebryl-1, a ß-amyloid anti-aggregation molecule for Alzheimer's therapy, was shown to have antiviral activity between 10 to 66 μM, in Vero 76, Caco-2, and Calu-3 cells. Although the inhibitory concentrations determined for Exebryl-1 exceed those recommended for therapeutic intervention, our findings show great promise for further optimization of Exebryl-1 as an nsp15 endoU inhibitor and as a SARS-CoV-2 antiviral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Choi
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Mowei Zhou
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, United States of America
| | - Roger Shek
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Jesse W. Wilson
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, United States of America
| | - Logan Tillery
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Justin K. Craig
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Indraneel A. Salukhe
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Sarah E. Hickson
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Neeraj Kumar
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, United States of America
| | - Rhema M. James
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, United States of America
| | - Garry W. Buchko
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, United States of America
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, United States of America
- School of Molecular Bioscience, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - Ruilian Wu
- Bioenergy and Biome Sciences, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM, United States of America
| | - Sydney Huff
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Tu-Trinh Nguyen
- Calibr, a division of The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Brett L. Hurst
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States of America
| | - Sara Cherry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Lynn K. Barrett
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Jennifer L. Hyde
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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Spratt AN, Gallazzi F, Quinn TP, Lorson CL, Sönnerborg A, Singh K. Coronavirus helicases: attractive and unique targets of antiviral drug-development and therapeutic patents. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 31:339-350. [PMID: 33593200 PMCID: PMC8074651 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1884224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Coronaviruses encode a helicase that is essential for viral replication and represents an excellent antiviral target. However, only a few coronavirus helicase inhibitors have been patented. These patents include drug-like compound SSYA10-001, aryl diketo acids (ADK), and dihydroxychromones. Additionally, adamantane-derived bananins, natural flavonoids, one acrylamide derivative [(E)-3-(furan-2-yl)-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)acrylamide], a purine derivative (7-ethyl-8-mercapto-3-methyl-3,7-dihydro-1 H-purine-2,6-dione), and a few bismuth complexes. The IC50 of patented inhibitors ranges between 0.82 μM and 8.95 μM, depending upon the assays used. Considering the urgency of clinical interventions against Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), it is important to consider developing antiviral portfolios consisting of small molecules. Areas covered: This review examines coronavirus helicases as antiviral targets, and the potential of previously patented and experimental compounds to inhibit the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) helicase. Expert opinion: Small molecule coronavirus helicase inhibitors represent attractive pharmacological modalities for the treatment of coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Rightfully so, the current emphasis is focused upon the development of vaccines. However, vaccines may not work for everyone and broad-based adoption of vaccinations is an increasingly challenging societal endeavor. Therefore, it is important to develop additional pharmacological antivirals against the highly conserved coronavirus helicases to broadly protect against this and subsequent coronavirus epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin N Spratt
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Fabio Gallazzi
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Thomas P Quinn
- cDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,dDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Anders Sönnerborg
- eDivision of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.,fDepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Kamal Singh
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.,gSanctum Therapeutics Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
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Structure-based inhibitor screening of natural products against NSP15 of SARS-CoV-2 revealed thymopentin and oleuropein as potent inhibitors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 12:71-80. [PMID: 33776343 PMCID: PMC7985738 DOI: 10.1007/s42485-021-00059-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses are enveloped, non-segmented positive-sense RNA viruses with the largest genome among RNA viruses. Their genome contains a large replicase ORF which encodes nonstructural proteins (NSPs), structural, and accessory genes. NSP15 is a nidoviral RNA uridylate-specific endoribonuclease (NendoU) with C-terminal catalytic domain. The endoribonuclease activity of NSP15 interferes with the innate immune response of the host. Here, we screened Selleckchem Natural product database of the compounds against NSP15, and we found that thymopentin and oleuropein displayed highest binding energies. The binding of these molecules was further validated by molecular dynamic simulations that revealed them as very stable complexes. These drugs might serve as effective counter molecules in the reduction of virulence of this virus; may be more effective if treated in combination with replicase inhibitors. Future validation of both these inhibitors is worth the consideration for patients being treated for COVID-19.
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Coronavirus Endoribonuclease Ensures Efficient Viral Replication and Prevents Protein Kinase R Activation. J Virol 2021; 95:JVI.02103-20. [PMID: 33361429 PMCID: PMC8092692 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02103-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus (CoV) nsp15 is an endoribonuclease conserved throughout the CoV family. The enzymatic activity and crystal structure of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) nsp15 are undefined, and the protein's role in replication remains unclear. We verified the uridylate-specific endoribonuclease (EndoU) activity of IBV and found that the EndoU active sites were located in the C-terminus of nsp15 and included His223, His238, Lys278 and Tyr334. We further constructed an infectious clone of the IBV-rSD strain (rSD-wild-type [WT]) and EndoU-deficient IBVs by changing the codon for the EndoU catalytic residues to alanine. Both the rSD-WT and EndoU-deficient viruses propagated efficiently in embryonated chicken eggs. Conversely, EndoU-deficient viral propagation was severely impaired in chicken embryonic kidney cells, which was reflected in the lower viral mRNA accumulation and protein synthesis. After infecting chickens with the parental rSD-WT strain and EndoU-deficient viruses, the EndoU-deficient-virus-infected chickens presented reduced mortality, tissue injury and viral shedding.IMPORTANCE Coronaviruses can emerge from animal reservoirs into naive host species to cause pandemic respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases with significant mortality in humans and domestic animals. Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a γ-coronavirus, infects respiratory, renal and reproductive systems, causing millions of dollars in lost revenue worldwide annually. Mutating the viral endoribonuclease resulted in an attenuated virus and prevented protein kinase R activation. Therefore, EndoU activity is a virulence factor in IBV infections, thus providing an approach for generating live-attenuated vaccine candidates for emerging coronaviruses.
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Kaur M, Sharma A, Kumar S, Singh G, Barnwal RP. SARS-CoV-2: Insights into its structural intricacies and functional aspects for drug and vaccine development. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 179:45-60. [PMID: 33662418 PMCID: PMC7919520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Globally, SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as threat to life and economy. Researchers are trying to find a cure against this pathogen but without much success. Several attempts have been made to understand the atomic level details of SARS-CoV-2 in the past few months. However, one review with all structural details for drug and vaccine development has been missing. Hence, this review aims to summarize key functional roles played by various domains of SARS-CoV-2 genome during its entry into the host, replication, repression of host immune response and overall viral life cycle. Additionally, various proteins of SARS-CoV-2 for finding a potent inhibitor have also been highlighted. To mitigate this deadly virus, an understanding of atomic level information, pathogenicity mechanisms and functions of different proteins in causing the infection is imperative. Thus, these structural details would finally pave the way for development of a potential drug/vaccine against the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep Kaur
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Akanksha Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India; UIPS, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Gurpal Singh
- UIPS, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Ravi P Barnwal
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
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Kalhori MR, Saadatpour F, Arefian E, Soleimani M, Farzaei MH, Aneva IY, Echeverría J. The Potential Therapeutic Effect of RNA Interference and Natural Products on COVID-19: A Review of the Coronaviruses Infection. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:616993. [PMID: 33716745 PMCID: PMC7953353 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.616993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus was reported for the first time in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and causes respiratory infection. This pandemic pneumonia killed about 1,437,835 people out of 61,308,161cases up to November 27, 2020. The disease's main clinical complications include fever, recurrent coughing, shortness of breath, acute respiratory syndrome, and failure of vital organs that could lead to death. It has been shown that natural compounds with antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral activities and RNA interference agents could play an essential role in preventing or treating coronavirus infection by inhibiting the expression of crucial virus genes. This study aims to introduce a summary of coronavirus's genetic and morphological structure and determine the role of miRNAs, siRNAs, chemical drugs, and natural compounds in stimulating the immune system or inhibiting the virus's structural and non-structural genes that are essential for replication and infection of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Kalhori
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Saadatpour
- Molecular Virology Lab, Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Arefian
- Molecular Virology Lab, Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Soleimani
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hosien Farzaei
- Medical Technology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Ina Yosifova Aneva
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Javier Echeverría
- Departamento de Ciencias del Ambiente, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Tan Y, Schneider T, Shukla PK, Chandrasekharan MB, Aravind L, Zhang D. Unification and extensive diversification of M/Orf3-related ion channel proteins in coronaviruses and other nidoviruses. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veab014. [PMID: 33692906 PMCID: PMC7928690 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2, responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has emphasized the need for a better understanding of the evolution of virus-host interactions. ORF3a in both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 are ion channels (viroporins) implicated in virion assembly and membrane budding. Using sensitive profile-based homology detection methods, we unify the SARS-CoV ORF3a family with several families of viral proteins, including ORF5 from MERS-CoVs, proteins from beta-CoVs (ORF3c), alpha-CoVs (ORF3b), most importantly, the Matrix (M) proteins from CoVs, and more distant homologs from other nidoviruses. We present computational evidence that these viral families might utilize specific conserved polar residues to constitute an aqueous pore within the membrane-spanning region. We reconstruct an evolutionary history of these families and objectively establish the common origin of the M proteins of CoVs and Toroviruses. We also show that the divergent ORF3 clade (ORF3a/ORF3b/ORF3c/ORF5 families) represents a duplication stemming from the M protein in alpha- and beta-CoVs. By phyletic profiling of major structural components of primary nidoviruses, we present a hypothesis for their role in virion assembly of CoVs, ToroVs, and Arteriviruses. The unification of diverse M/ORF3 ion channel families in a wide range of nidoviruses, especially the typical M protein in CoVs, reveal a conserved, previously under-appreciated role of ion channels in virion assembly and membrane budding. We show that M and ORF3 are under different evolutionary pressures; in contrast to the slow evolution of M as core structural component, the ORF3 clade is under selection for diversification, which suggests it might act at the interface with host molecules and/or immune attack.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Tan
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - Theresa Schneider
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
| | - Prakash K Shukla
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Mahesh B Chandrasekharan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - L Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Dapeng Zhang
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
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Giri R, Bhardwaj T, Shegane M, Gehi BR, Kumar P, Gadhave K, Oldfield CJ, Uversky VN. Understanding COVID-19 via comparative analysis of dark proteomes of SARS-CoV-2, human SARS and bat SARS-like coronaviruses. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:1655-1688. [PMID: 32712910 DOI: 10.1101/2020.03.13.990598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The recently emerged coronavirus designated as SARS-CoV-2 (also known as 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or Wuhan coronavirus) is a causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is rapidly spreading throughout the world now. More than 1.21 million cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and more than 67,000 COVID-19-associated mortalities have been reported worldwide till the writing of this article, and these numbers are increasing every passing hour. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the SARS-CoV-2 spread as a global public health emergency and admitted COVID-19 as a pandemic now. Multiple sequence alignment data correlated with the already published reports on SARS-CoV-2 evolution indicated that this virus is closely related to the bat severe acute respiratory syndrome-like coronavirus (bat SARS-like CoV) and the well-studied human SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The disordered regions in viral proteins are associated with the viral infectivity and pathogenicity. Therefore, in this study, we have exploited a set of complementary computational approaches to examine the dark proteomes of SARS-CoV-2, bat SARS-like, and human SARS CoVs by analysing the prevalence of intrinsic disorder in their proteins. According to our findings, SARS-CoV-2 proteome contains very significant levels of structural order. In fact, except for nucleocapsid, Nsp8, and ORF6, the vast majority of SARS-CoV-2 proteins are mostly ordered proteins containing less intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs). However, IDPRs found in SARS-CoV-2 proteins are functionally important. For example, cleavage sites in its replicase 1ab polyprotein are found to be highly disordered, and almost all SARS-CoV-2 proteins contains molecular recognition features (MoRFs), which are intrinsic disorder-based protein-protein interaction sites that are commonly utilized by proteins for interaction with specific partners. The results of our extensive investigation of the dark side of SARS-CoV-2 proteome will have important implications in understanding the structural and non-structural biology of SARS or SARS-like coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajanish Giri
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India.
| | - Taniya Bhardwaj
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India
| | - Meenakshi Shegane
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India
| | - Bhuvaneshwari R Gehi
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India
| | - Prateek Kumar
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India
| | - Kundlik Gadhave
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, VPO Kamand, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 175005, India
| | | | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Laboratory of New Methods in Biology, Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Moscow region, Pushchino, 142290, Russia
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Kumar V, Kancharla S, Jena MK. In silico virtual screening-based study of nutraceuticals predicts the therapeutic potentials of folic acid and its derivatives against COVID-19. Virusdisease 2021; 32:29-37. [PMID: 33532517 PMCID: PMC7843005 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-020-00643-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in the Wuhan province of China has taken millions of lives worldwide. In this pandemic situation and absence of known drugs and vaccines against novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there is an urgent need for the repurposing of the existing drugs against it. So, here we have examined a safe and cheap alternative against this virus by screening hundreds of nutraceuticals compounds against known therapeutic targets of SARS-COV-2 by molecular docking. The virtual screening results were then analyzed for binding energy and interactive residues and compared with some already known hits in the best binding pose. All these analyses of this study strongly predicted the potential of Folic acid and its derivates like Tetrahydrofolic acid and 5-methyl tetrahydrofolic acid against SARS-COV-2. The strong and stable binding affinity of this water-soluble vitamin and its derivatives against the SARS-COV-2, indicating that they could be valuable drugs against the management of this COVID-19 pandemic. This study could serve as the starting point for further investigation of these molecules through in vitro and in vivo assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipul Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
| | | | - Manoj Kumar Jena
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411 India
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Pillon MC, Frazier MN, Dillard LB, Williams JG, Kocaman S, Krahn JM, Perera L, Hayne CK, Gordon J, Stewart ZD, Sobhany M, Deterding LJ, Hsu AL, Dandey VP, Borgnia MJ, Stanley RE. Cryo-EM structures of the SARS-CoV-2 endoribonuclease Nsp15 reveal insight into nuclease specificity and dynamics. Nat Commun 2021; 12:636. [PMID: 33504779 PMCID: PMC7840905 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20608-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nsp15, a uridine specific endoribonuclease conserved across coronaviruses, processes viral RNA to evade detection by host defense systems. Crystal structures of Nsp15 from different coronaviruses have shown a common hexameric assembly, yet how the enzyme recognizes and processes RNA remains poorly understood. Here we report a series of cryo-EM reconstructions of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15, in both apo and UTP-bound states. The cryo-EM reconstructions, combined with biochemistry, mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics, expose molecular details of how critical active site residues recognize uridine and facilitate catalysis of the phosphodiester bond. Mass spectrometry revealed the accumulation of cyclic phosphate cleavage products, while analysis of the apo and UTP-bound datasets revealed conformational dynamics not observed by crystal structures that are likely important to facilitate substrate recognition and regulate nuclease activity. Collectively, these findings advance understanding of how Nsp15 processes viral RNA and provide a structural framework for the development of new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica C Pillon
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
| | - Meredith N Frazier
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Lucas B Dillard
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Jason G Williams
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Seda Kocaman
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Juno M Krahn
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Lalith Perera
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Cassandra K Hayne
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Jacob Gordon
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zachary D Stewart
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Mack Sobhany
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Leesa J Deterding
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Allen L Hsu
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Venkata P Dandey
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Mario J Borgnia
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Robin E Stanley
- Signal Transduction Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
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Arya R, Kumari S, Pandey B, Mistry H, Bihani SC, Das A, Prashar V, Gupta GD, Panicker L, Kumar M. Structural insights into SARS-CoV-2 proteins. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166725. [PMID: 33245961 PMCID: PMC7685130 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The unprecedented scale of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed an intense effort of the global scientific community to unravel different aspects of the disease in a short time. One of the crucial aspects of these developments is the determination of more than three hundred experimental structures of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in the last few months. These include structures of viral non-structural, structural, and accessory proteins and their complexes determined by either X-ray diffraction or cryo-electron microscopy. These structures elucidate the intricate working of different components of the viral machinery at the atomic level during different steps of the viral life cycle, including attachment to the host cell, viral genome replication and transcription, and genome packaging and assembly of the virion. Some of these proteins are also potential targets for drug development against the disease. In this review, we discuss important structural features of different SARS-CoV-2 proteins with their function, and their potential as a target for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimanshee Arya
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Shweta Kumari
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Bharati Pandey
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Hiral Mistry
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Subhash C Bihani
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Amit Das
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Vishal Prashar
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Gagan D Gupta
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Lata Panicker
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar
- Protein Crystallography Section, Radiation Biology & Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India.
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Khan MT, Irfan M, Ahsan H, Ahmed A, Kaushik AC, Khan AS, Chinnasamy S, Ali A, Wei DQ. Structures of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-Binding Proteins and Therapeutic Targets. Intervirology 2021; 64:55-68. [PMID: 33454715 PMCID: PMC7900486 DOI: 10.1159/000513686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic has resulted in thousands of infections and deaths worldwide. Several therapies are currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the development of new drugs and the repositioning of existing drugs can only be achieved after the identification of potential therapeutic targets within structures, as this strategy provides the most precise solution for developing treatments for sudden epidemic infectious diseases. Summary In the current investigation, crystal and cryo-electron microscopy structures encoded by the SARS-CoV-2 genome were systematically examined for the identification of potential drug targets. These structures include nonstructural proteins (Nsp-9; Nsp-12; and Nsp-15), nucleocapsid (N) proteins, and the main protease (Mpro). Key Message The structural information reveals the presence of many potential alternative therapeutic targets, primarily involved in interaction between N protein and Nsp3, forming replication-transcription complexes (RTCs) which might be a potential drug target for effective control of current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. RTCs consist of 16 nonstructural proteins (Nsp1-16) that play the most essential role in the synthesis of viral RNA. Targeting the physical linkage between the envelope and single-stranded positive RNA, a process facilitated by matrix proteins may provide a good alternative strategy. Our current study provides useful information for the development of new lead compounds against SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tahir Khan
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.,School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Hina Ahsan
- Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Abrar Ahmed
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Anwar Sheed Khan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Pakistan
| | - Sathishkumar Chinnasamy
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Arif Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, .,Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China,
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Al-Rashedi NAM, Munahi MG, Ah ALObaidi L. Prediction of potential inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 endoribonuclease: RNA immunity sensing. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 40:4879-4892. [PMID: 33357040 PMCID: PMC7784835 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1863265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The World Health Organization has classified the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and declared it a global health emergency. Repurposing drugs with minimum side effects are one approach to quickly respond in attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 encodes several RNA processing enzymes that are unusual and unique for single-stranded RNA viruses, including Nsp15, a hexameric endoribonuclease that discriminatory cleaves immediately 3′ of uridines. The structure of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15 is reported to be homologous to that of the Nsp15 endoribonucleases of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, but it exhibits differences that may contribute to the greater virulence of SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to identify drugs that targeted SARS-COV-2 Nsp15 using a molecular docking-based virtual screening of a library containing 10,000 approved and experimental drugs. The molecular docking results revealed 19 medications that demonstrated a good ability to inhibit Nsp15. Among all the candidated 19 drugs only five FDA approved drugs were used for further investigation by molecular dynamics simulation, the stability of Nsp15-ligand system was evaluated by calculating the RMSD, RMSF, radius of gyration and hydrogen bond profile. Furthermore, MM-PBSA method was employed to validate the binding affinity. According to the obtained results of MD, the complex of Olaparib was showed more stability and lower binding free energy than the control inhibitor during MD simulation time. Finally, we suggest that Olaparib is a potential drug for treating patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and provide insight into the host immune response to viral RNA. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
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Affiliation(s)
- Nihad A M Al-Rashedi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Muthanna University, Samawah, Iraq
| | - Murad G Munahi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Al-Muthanna University, Samawah, Iraq
| | - Laith Ah ALObaidi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Muthanna University, Samawah, Iraq
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Ancar R, Li Y, Kindler E, Cooper DA, Ransom M, Thiel V, Weiss SR, Hesselberth JR, Barton DJ. Physiologic RNA targets and refined sequence specificity of coronavirus EndoU. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:1976-1999. [PMID: 32989044 PMCID: PMC7668261 DOI: 10.1261/rna.076604.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus EndoU inhibits dsRNA-activated antiviral responses; however, the physiologic RNA substrates of EndoU are unknown. In this study, we used mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)-infected bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMM) and cyclic phosphate cDNA sequencing to identify the RNA targets of EndoU. EndoU targeted viral RNA, cleaving the 3' side of pyrimidines with a strong preference for U ↓ A and C ↓ A sequences (endoY ↓ A). EndoU-dependent cleavage was detected in every region of MHV RNA, from the 5' NTR to the 3' NTR, including transcriptional regulatory sequences (TRS). Cleavage at two CA dinucleotides immediately adjacent to the MHV poly(A) tail suggests a mechanism to suppress negative-strand RNA synthesis and the accumulation of viral dsRNA. MHV with EndoU (EndoUmut) or 2'-5' phosphodiesterase (PDEmut) mutations provoked the activation of RNase L in BMM, with corresponding cleavage of RNAs by RNase L. The physiologic targets of EndoU are viral RNA templates required for negative-strand RNA synthesis and dsRNA accumulation. Coronavirus EndoU cleaves U ↓ A and C ↓ A sequences (endoY ↓ A) within viral (+) strand RNA to evade dsRNA-activated host responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Ancar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Program in Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora 80045, Colorado, USA
| | - Yize Li
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Eveline Kindler
- Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI, 3001 Bern and 3147 Mittelhausern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daphne A Cooper
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Monica Ransom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Program in Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora 80045, Colorado, USA
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI, 3001 Bern and 3147 Mittelhausern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Susan R Weiss
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Jay R Hesselberth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Program in Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora 80045, Colorado, USA
| | - David J Barton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Program in Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
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Structural and functional insights into non-structural proteins of coronaviruses. Microb Pathog 2020; 150:104641. [PMID: 33242646 PMCID: PMC7682334 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are causing a number of human and animal diseases because of their zoonotic nature such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These viruses can infect respiratory, gastrointestinal, hepatic and central nervous systems of human, livestock, birds, bat, mouse, and many wild animals. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a newly emerging respiratory virus and is causing CoVID-19 with high morbidity and considerable mortality. All CoVs belong to the order Nidovirales, family Coronaviridae, are enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses, characterised by club-like spikes on their surfaces and large RNA genome with a distinctive replication strategy. Coronavirus have the largest RNA genomes (~26–32 kilobases) and their expansion was likely enabled by acquiring enzyme functions that counter the commonly high error frequency of viral RNA polymerases. Non-structural proteins (nsp) 7–16 are cleaved from two large replicase polyproteins and guide the replication and processing of coronavirus RNA. Coronavirus replicase has more or less universal activities, such as RNA polymerase (nsp 12) and helicase (nsp 13), as well as a variety of unusual or even special mRNA capping (nsp 14, nsp 16) and fidelity regulation (nsp 14) domains. Besides that, several smaller subunits (nsp 7– nsp 10) serve as essential cofactors for these enzymes and contribute to the emerging “nsp interactome.” In spite of the significant progress in studying coronaviruses structural and functional properties, there is an urgent need to understand the coronaviruses evolutionary success that will be helpful to develop enhanced control strategies. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the structure, function, and interactions of coronaviruses RNA synthesizing machinery and their replication strategies.
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Tan Y, Schneider T, Shukla PK, Chandrasekharan MB, Aravind L, Zhang D. Unification of the M/ORF3-related proteins points to a diversified role for ion conductance in pathogenesis of coronaviruses and other nidoviruses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.11.10.377366. [PMID: 33200132 PMCID: PMC7668736 DOI: 10.1101/2020.11.10.377366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need for a better understanding of the evolution of virus-host conflicts. ORF3a in both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 are ion channels (viroporins) and involved in virion assembly and membrane budding. Using sensitive profile-based homology detection methods, we unify the SARS-CoV ORF3a family with several families of viral proteins, including ORF5 from MERS-CoVs, proteins from beta-CoVs (ORF3c), alpha-CoVs (ORF3b), most importantly, the Matrix (M) proteins from CoVs, and more distant homologs from other nidoviruses. By sequence analysis and structural modeling, we show that these viral families utilize specific conserved polar residues to constitute an ion-conducting pore in the membrane. We reconstruct the evolutionary history of these families, objectively establish the common origin of the M proteins of CoVs and Toroviruses. We show that the divergent ORF3a/ORF3b/ORF5 families represent a duplication stemming from the M protein in alpha- and beta-CoVs. By phyletic profiling of major structural components of primary nidoviruses, we present a model for their role in virion assembly of CoVs, ToroVs and Arteriviruses. The unification of diverse M/ORF3 ion channel families in a wide range of nidoviruses, especially the typical M protein in CoVs, reveal a conserved, previously under-appreciated role of ion channels in virion assembly, membrane fusion and budding. We show that the M and ORF3 are under differential evolutionary pressures; in contrast to the slow evolution of M as core structural component, the CoV-ORF3 clade is under selection for diversification, which indicates it is likely at the interface with host molecules and/or immune attack. IMPORTANCE Coronaviruses (CoVs) have become a major threat to human welfare as the causative agents of several severe infectious diseases, namely Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and the recently emerging human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The rapid spread, severity of these diseases, as well as the potential re-emergence of other CoV-associated diseases have imposed a strong need for a thorough understanding of function and evolution of these CoVs. By utilizing robust domain-centric computational strategies, we have established homologous relationships between many divergent families of CoV proteins, including SARS-CoV/SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a, MERS-CoV ORF5, proteins from both beta-CoVs (ORF3c) and alpha-CoVs (ORF3b), the typical CoV Matrix proteins, and many distant homologs from other nidoviruses. We present evidence that they are active ion channel proteins, and the Cov-specific ORF3 clade proteins are under selection for rapid diversification, suggesting they might have been involved in interfering host molecules and/or immune attack.
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Barage S, Karthic A, Bavi R, Desai N, Kumar R, Kumar V, Lee KW. Identification and characterization of novel RdRp and Nsp15 inhibitors for SARS-COV2 using computational approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 40:2557-2574. [PMID: 33155531 PMCID: PMC7651200 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1841026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 as a global health emergency. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and highlights an urgent need for therapeutics. Here, we have employed a series of computer-aided drug repurposing campaign to discover inhibitors of RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and Nsp15/EndoU. Subsequently, MD simulation has been performed to observe dynamic behavior of identified leads at the active site of RdRp and Nsp15. We successfully identified novel lead molecule such as Alectinib for RdRp while Naldemedine and Ergotamine for NSP15. These lead molecules were accommodated in the active site of the enzyme and stabilized by the networks of the hydrogen bond, pi type and hydrophobic interaction with key residues of either target. Interestingly, identified compounds show molecular mimicry in terms of molecular interactions with key residues of RdRp and Nsp15 essential for catalysis and substrate interaction. Previously, Alectinib, Naldemedine and Ergotamine were used as drug in different diseases might be repurposed against selected protein targets of COVID19. Finally, we propose that the identified inhibitors represent a novel lead molecule to design a more effective inhibitor to stop the progress of pathogen. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar Barage
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - A Karthic
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rohit Bavi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.,School of Chemical Sciences, Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University, Solapur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Neetin Desai
- SDSOS, NMIMS University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Raj Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Division of Life Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC, Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun Woo Lee
- Division of Life Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC, Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Jinju, Republic of Korea
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Sirpilla O, Bauss J, Gupta R, Underwood A, Qutob D, Freeland T, Bupp C, Carcillo J, Hartog N, Rajasekaran S, Prokop JW. SARS-CoV-2-Encoded Proteome and Human Genetics: From Interaction-Based to Ribosomal Biology Impact on Disease and Risk Processes. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:4275-4290. [PMID: 32686937 PMCID: PMC7418564 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has infected millions of people worldwide, with lethality in hundreds of thousands. The rapid publication of information, both regarding the clinical course and the viral biology, has yielded incredible knowledge of the virus. In this review, we address the insights gained for the SARS-CoV-2 proteome, which we have integrated into the Viral Integrated Structural Evolution Dynamic Database, a publicly available resource. Integrating evolutionary, structural, and interaction data with human proteins, we present how the SARS-CoV-2 proteome interacts with human disorders and risk factors ranging from cytokine storm, hyperferritinemic septic, coagulopathic, cardiac, immune, and rare disease-based genetics. The most noteworthy human genetic potential of SARS-CoV-2 is that of the nucleocapsid protein, where it is known to contribute to the inhibition of the biological process known as nonsense-mediated decay. This inhibition has the potential to not only regulate about 10% of all biological transcripts through altered ribosomal biology but also associate with viral-induced genetics, where suppressed human variants are activated to drive dominant, negative outcomes within cells. As we understand more of the dynamic and complex biological pathways that the proteome of SARS-CoV-2 utilizes for entry into cells, for replication, and for release from human cells, we can understand more risk factors for severe/lethal outcomes in patients and novel pharmaceutical interventions that may mitigate future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Sirpilla
- Department of Pediatrics and Human
Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503,
United States
- Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Michigan State University, East
Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Walsh
University, North Canton, Ohio 44720,
United States
| | - Jacob Bauss
- Department of Pediatrics and Human
Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503,
United States
| | - Ruchir Gupta
- Department of Pediatrics and Human
Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503,
United States
- Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Michigan State University, East
Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Adam Underwood
- Walsh
University, North Canton, Ohio 44720,
United States
| | - Dinah Qutob
- Walsh
University, North Canton, Ohio 44720,
United States
| | - Tom Freeland
- Walsh
University, North Canton, Ohio 44720,
United States
| | - Caleb Bupp
- Department of Pediatrics and Human
Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503,
United States
- Spectrum Health Medical
Genetics, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503,
United States
| | - Joseph Carcillo
- Department of Critical Care Medicine
and Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh,
University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15421,
United States
| | - Nicholas Hartog
- Allergy & Immunology,
Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503,
United States
| | - Surender Rajasekaran
- Department of Pediatrics and Human
Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503,
United States
- Pediatric Intensive Care
Unit, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
- Office of Research,
Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503,
United States
| | - Jeremy W. Prokop
- Department of Pediatrics and Human
Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503,
United States
- Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Michigan State University, East
Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
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Adhikari N, Amin SA, Jha T. Dissecting the Drug Development Strategies Against SARS-CoV-2 Through Diverse Computational Modeling Techniques. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/7653_2020_46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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