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Trigueiro-Louro J, Correia V, Figueiredo-Nunes I, Gíria M, Rebelo-de-Andrade H. Unlocking COVID therapeutic targets: A structure-based rationale against SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV Spike. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2117-2131. [PMID: 32913581 PMCID: PMC7452956 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There are no approved target therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 or other beta-CoVs. The beta-CoV Spike protein is a promising target considering the critical role in viral infection and pathogenesis and its surface exposed features. We performed a structure-based strategy targeting highly conserved druggable regions resulting from a comprehensive large-scale sequence analysis and structural characterization of Spike domains across SARSr- and MERSr-CoVs. We have disclosed 28 main consensus druggable pockets within the Spike. The RBD and SD1 (S1 subunit); and the CR, HR1 and CH (S2 subunit) represent the most promising conserved druggable regions. Additionally, we have identified 181 new potential hot spot residues for the hSARSr-CoVs and 72 new hot spot residues for the SARSr- and MERSr-CoVs, which have not been described before in the literature. These sites/residues exhibit advantageous structural features for targeted molecular and pharmacological modulation. This study establishes the Spike as a promising anti-CoV target using an approach with a potential higher resilience to resistance development and directed to a broad spectrum of Beta-CoVs, including the new SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19. This research also provides a structure-based rationale for the design and discovery of chemical inhibitors, antibodies or other therapeutic modalities successfully targeting the Beta-CoV Spike protein.
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Key Words
- ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme2
- Bat-SL-CoVs, bat SARS-like coronavirus
- Beta-CoVs, betacoronavirus
- Betacoronavirus
- CC, conserved cluster
- CD, connector domain
- CDP, consensus druggable pocket
- CDR, consensus druggable residue
- CH, central helix
- CP, cytoplasmic domain
- CR, connecting region
- CS, conservation score
- CoVs, coronavirus
- Coronavirus disease
- DGSS, DoGSiteScorer
- DPP4, dipeptidyl peptidase-4
- Druggability prediction
- FP, fusion peptide
- HR1, heptad repeat 1
- HR2, heptad repeat 2
- MERS-CoVs, middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- MERSr-CoVs, middle east respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
- MSA, multiple sequence alignment
- NTD, N-terminal domain
- Novel antiviral targets
- PDB, Protein Data Bank
- PDS, PockDrug-Server
- RBD, Receptor-Binding Domain
- S, Spike
- SARS-CoV-2
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- SARS-CoVs, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- SARSr-CoVs, severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
- SD1, subdomain 1
- SD2, subdomain 2
- SF, SiteFinder from MOE
- SP, small pocket
- Sequence conservation
- Spike protein
- Sv, shorter variant
- T-RHS, top-ranked hot spots
- TMPRSS2, transmembrane protease serine 2
- aa, amino acid
- hSARSr-CoVs, human Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
- nts, nucleotides
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Affiliation(s)
- João Trigueiro-Louro
- Antiviral Resistance Lab, Research & Development Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, IP, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Unit, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Correia
- Antiviral Resistance Lab, Research & Development Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, IP, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Inês Figueiredo-Nunes
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Unit, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Gíria
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Unit, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Helena Rebelo-de-Andrade
- Antiviral Resistance Lab, Research & Development Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, IP, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Unit, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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