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Bai B, Belovodskiy A, Hena M, Kandadai AS, Joyce MA, Saffran HA, Shields JA, Khan MB, Arutyunova E, Lu J, Bajwa SK, Hockman D, Fischer C, Lamer T, Vuong W, van Belkum MJ, Gu Z, Lin F, Du Y, Xu J, Rahim M, Young HS, Vederas JC, Tyrrell DL, Lemieux MJ, Nieman JA. Peptidomimetic α-Acyloxymethylketone Warheads with Six-Membered Lactam P1 Glutamine Mimic: SARS-CoV-2 3CL Protease Inhibition, Coronavirus Antiviral Activity, and in Vitro Biological Stability. J Med Chem 2022; 65:2905-2925. [PMID: 34242027 PMCID: PMC8291138 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recurring coronavirus outbreaks, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, establish a necessity to develop direct-acting antivirals that can be readily administered and are active against a broad spectrum of coronaviruses. Described in this Article are novel α-acyloxymethylketone warhead peptidomimetic compounds with a six-membered lactam glutamine mimic in P1. Compounds with potent SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease and in vitro viral replication inhibition were identified with low cytotoxicity and good plasma and glutathione stability. Compounds 15e, 15h, and 15l displayed selectivity for SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease over CatB and CatS and superior in vitro SARS-CoV-2 antiviral replication inhibition compared with the reported peptidomimetic inhibitors with other warheads. The cocrystallization of 15l with SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease confirmed the formation of a covalent adduct. α-Acyloxymethylketone compounds also exhibited antiviral activity against an alphacoronavirus and non-SARS betacoronavirus strains with similar potency and a better selectivity index than remdesivir. These findings demonstrate the potential of the substituted heteroaromatic and aliphatic α-acyloxymethylketone warheads as coronavirus inhibitors, and the described results provide a basis for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Bai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Alexandr Belovodskiy
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Mostofa Hena
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Appan Srinivas Kandadai
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Michael A. Joyce
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Holly A. Saffran
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Justin A. Shields
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Muhammad Bashir Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Elena Arutyunova
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Jimmy Lu
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Sardeev K. Bajwa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Darren Hockman
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - Conrad Fischer
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Tess Lamer
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Wayne Vuong
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Marco J. van Belkum
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - Zhengxian Gu
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Fusen Lin
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Yanhua Du
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Jia Xu
- WuXi AppTec (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
G Warehouse #101, No. 10 Building, #227 Meisheng Road, WaiGaoQiao Free Trade Zone,
Shanghai 200131, China
| | - Mohammad Rahim
- Rane Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
4290 91a Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 5V2, Canada
| | - Howard S. Young
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - John C. Vederas
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2, Canada
| | - D. Lorne Tyrrell
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
| | - M. Joanne Lemieux
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - James A. Nieman
- Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1,
Canada
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Campillay-Véliz CP, Carvajal JJ, Avellaneda AM, Escobar D, Covián C, Kalergis AM, Lay MK. Human Norovirus Proteins: Implications in the Replicative Cycle, Pathogenesis, and the Host Immune Response. Front Immunol 2020; 11:961. [PMID: 32612600 PMCID: PMC7308418 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are the cause of more than 95% of epidemic non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, with some lethal cases. These viral agents affect people of all ages. However, young children and older adults are the highest-risk groups, being affected with the greatest rate of hospitalizations and morbidity cases. HuNoV structural proteins, especially VP1, have been studied extensively. In contrast, the functions of the non-structural proteins of the virus have been undescribed in depth. Studies on HuNoV non-structural proteins have mostly been made by expressing them individually in in vitro cultures, providing insights of their functions and the role that they play in HuNoV replication and pathogenesis. This review examines exhaustively the functions of both HuNoV structural and non-structural proteins and their possible role within the viral replicative cycle and the pathogenesis of the virus. It also highlights recent findings regarding the host's innate and adaptive immune responses against HuNoV, which are of great relevance for diagnostics and vaccine development so as to prevent infections caused by these fastidious viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia P Campillay-Véliz
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Jonatan J Carvajal
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Andrea M Avellaneda
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Darling Escobar
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Camila Covián
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Pontificia Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexis M Kalergis
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Pontificia Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Margarita K Lay
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Pontificia Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Mann KS, Walker M, Sanfaçon H. Identification of Cleavage Sites Recognized by the 3C-Like Cysteine Protease within the Two Polyproteins of Strawberry Mottle Virus. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:745. [PMID: 28496438 PMCID: PMC5407059 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Strawberry mottle virus (SMoV, family Secoviridae, order Picornavirales) is one of several viruses found in association with strawberry decline disease in Eastern Canada. The SMoV genome consists of two positive-sense single-stranded RNAs, each encoding one large polyprotein. The RNA1 polyprotein (P1) includes the domains for a putative helicase, a VPg, a 3C-like cysteine protease and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase at its C-terminus, and one or two protein domains at its N-terminus. The RNA2 polyprotein (P2) is predicted to contain the domains for a movement protein (MP) and one or several coat proteins at its N-terminus, and one or more additional domains for proteins of unknown function at its C-terminus. The RNA1-encoded 3C-like protease is presumed to cleave the two polyproteins in cis (P1) and in trans (P2). Using in vitro processing assays, we systematically scanned the two polyproteins for cleavage sites recognized by this protease. We identified five cis-cleavage sites in P1, with cleavage between the putative helicase and VPg domains being the most efficient. The presence of six protein domains in the SMoV P1, including two upstream of the putative helicase domain, is a feature shared with nepoviruses but not with comoviruses. Results from trans-cleavage assays indicate that the RNA1-encoded 3C-like protease recognized a single cleavage site, which was between the predicted MP and coat protein domains in the P2 polyprotein. The cleavage site consensus sequence for the SMoV 3C-like protease is AxE (E or Q)/(G or S).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hélène Sanfaçon
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland Research and Development Centre, SummerlandBC, Canada
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4
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Medvedev A, Viswanathan P, May J, Korba B. Regulation of human norovirus VPg nucleotidylylation by ProPol and nucleoside triphosphate binding by its amino terminal sequence in vitro. Virology 2017; 503:37-45. [PMID: 28110248 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The VPg protein of human Norovirus (hNoV) is a multi-functional protein essential for virus replication. The un-cleaved viral precursor protein, ProPol (NS5-6) was 100-fold more efficient in catalyzing VPg nucleotidylylation than the mature polymerase (Pol, NS6), suggesting a specific intracellular role for ProPol. Sequential and single-point alanine substitutions revealed that several positively charged amino acids in the N-terminal region of VPg regulate its nucleotidylylation by ProPol. We provide evidence that VPg directly binds NTPs, inhibition of binding inhibits nucleotidylylation, and NTP binding appears to involve the first 13 amino acids of the protein. Substitution of multiple positively charged amino acids within the first 12 amino acids of the N-terminal region inhibits nucleotidylylation without affecting binding. Substitution of only Lys20 abolishes nucleotidylylation, but not NTP binding. These studies indicate that positively charged amino acids in the first 20 amino acids of hNoV VPg regulate its nucleotidylylation though several potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei Medvedev
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Prasanth Viswanathan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Jared May
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Brent Korba
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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Sarvestani ST, Cotton B, Fritzlar S, O'Donnell TB, Mackenzie JM. Norovirus Infection: Replication, Manipulation of Host, and Interaction with the Host Immune Response. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2016; 36:215-25. [PMID: 27046239 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2015.0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Noroviruses (NoVs) belong to the Caliciviridae family of viruses and are responsible for causing the majority of gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. In the past decade, research on NoV biology has intensified because of the discovery of murine NoV and subsequently the first cell culture system and small animal model for NoV replication and pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the current literature on NoV biology, focusing particularly on NoV replication and the interaction between NoV and the host immune response. Understanding the NoV replication cycle and its interaction with cellular processes and innate immune immunity will help develop molecular targets to control human NoV infection and prevent outbreaks. In addition to the innate immune response, we have documented the current efforts to develop NoV vaccines to control outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soroush T Sarvestani
- 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ben Cotton
- 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Australia .,2 Department of Microbiology, La Trobe University , Melbourne, Australia
| | - Svenja Fritzlar
- 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tanya B O'Donnell
- 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jason M Mackenzie
- 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, Australia
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Emmott E, Sweeney TR, Goodfellow I. A Cell-based Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Sensor Reveals Inter- and Intragenogroup Variations in Norovirus Protease Activity and Polyprotein Cleavage. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:27841-53. [PMID: 26363064 PMCID: PMC4646915 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.688234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The viral protease represents a key drug target for the development of antiviral therapeutics. Because many protease inhibitors mimic protease substrates, differences in substrate recognition between proteases may affect their sensitivity to a given inhibitor. Here we use a cell-based FRET sensor to investigate the activity of different norovirus proteases upon cleavage of various norovirus cleavage sites inserted into a linker region separating cyan fluorescent protein and yellow fluorescent protein. Using this system, we demonstrate that differences in substrate processing exist between proteases from human noroviruses (genogroups I (GI) and II) and the commonly used murine norovirus (MNV, genogroup V) model. These altered the cleavage efficiency of specific cleavage sites both within and between genogroups. The differences observed between these proteases may affect sensitivity to protease inhibitors and the suitability of MNV as a model system for testing such molecules against the human norovirus protease. Finally, we demonstrate that replacement of MNV polyprotein cleavage sites with the GI or GII equivalents, with the exception of the NS6–7 junction, leads to the production of infectious virus when the MNV NS6 protease, but not the GI or GII proteases, are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Emmott
- From the Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Trevor R Sweeney
- From the Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Goodfellow
- From the Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom
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Herod M, Prince C, Skilton R, Ward V, Cooper J, Clarke I. Structure-based design and functional studies of novel noroviral 3C protease chimaeras offer insights into substrate specificity. Biochem J 2014; 464:461-72. [PMID: 25275273 PMCID: PMC4613530 DOI: 10.1042/bj20140959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The norovirus NS6 protease is a key target for anti-viral drug development. Noroviruses encode a 2200 amino acid polyprotein which is cleaved by this critical protease at five defined boundary substrates into six mature non-structural (NS) proteins. Studies of the human norovirus (HNV) NS6 protease, in the context of a full ORF1 polyprotein, have been severely hampered because HNVs are not culturable. Thus, investigations into the HNV NS6 protease have been largely restricted to in vitro assays using Escherichia coli-expressed, purified enzyme. The NS6 protease is formed of two distinct domains joined by a linking loop. Structural data suggest that domain 2 of the protease possesses substantial substrate binding pockets which form the bulk of the interactions with the NS boundaries and largely dictate boundary specificity and cleavage. We have constructed chimaeric murine norovirus (MNV) genomes carrying individual domains from the HNV protease and demonstrated by cell transfection that chimaeric HNV proteases have functional activity in the context of the full-length ORF1 polyprotein. Although domain 2 primarily confers boundary specificity, our data suggest that an inter-domain interaction exists within HNV NS6 protease which influences cleavage of specific substrates. The present study also shows that chimaeric MNVs provide improved models for studying HNV protein function in the context of a full ORF1 polyprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan R. Herod
- Molecular Microbiology Group, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, U.K
| | - Cynthia A. Prince
- Molecular Microbiology Group, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, U.K
| | - Rachel J. Skilton
- Molecular Microbiology Group, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, U.K
| | - Vernon K. Ward
- Otago School of Medical Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan B. Cooper
- Laboratory for Protein Crystallography, Centre for Amyloidosis and Acute Phase Proteins, UCL Division of Medicine (Royal Free Campus), Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, U.K
| | - Ian N. Clarke
- Molecular Microbiology Group, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, U.K
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