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Pereira F, Bedda L, Tammam MA, Alabdullah AK, Arafa R, El-Demerdash A. Investigating the antiviral therapeutic potentialities of marine polycyclic lamellarin pyrrole alkaloids as promising inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 and Zika main proteases (Mpro). J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:3983-4001. [PMID: 37232419 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2217513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The new coronavirus variant (SARS-CoV-2) and Zika virus are two world-wide health pandemics. Along history, natural products-based drugs have always crucially recognized as a main source of valuable medications. Considering the SARS-CoV-2 and Zika main proteases (Mpro) as the re-production key element of the viral cycle and its main target, herein we report an intensive computer-aided virtual screening for a focused list of 39 marine lamellarins pyrrole alkaloids, against SARS-CoV-2 and Zika main proteases (Mpro) using a set of combined modern computational methodologies including molecular docking (MDock), molecule dynamic simulations (MDS) and structure-activity relationships (SARs) as well. Indeed, the molecular docking studies had revealed four promising marine alkaloids including [lamellarin H (14)/K (17)] and [lamellarin S (26)/Z (39)], according to their notable ligand-protein energy scores and relevant binding affinities with the SARS-CoV-2 and Zika (Mpro) pocket residues, respectively. Consequentially, these four chemical hits were further examined thermodynamically though investigating their MD simulations at 100 ns, where they showed prominent stability within the accommodated (Mpro) pockets. Moreover, in-deep SARs studies suggested the crucial roles of the rigid fused polycyclic ring system, particularly aromatic A- and F- rings, position of the phenolic -OH and δ-lactone functionalities as essential structural and pharmacophoric features. Finally, these four promising lamellarins alkaloids were investigated for their in-silico ADME using the SWISS ADME platform, where they displayed appropriated drug-likeness properties. Such motivating outcomes are greatly recommending further in vitro/vivo examinations regarding those lamellarins pyrrole alkaloids (LPAs).Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florbela Pereira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Loay Bedda
- Drug Design and Discovery Laboratory, Helmy Institute for Medical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
- Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Tammam
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | | | - Reem Arafa
- Drug Design and Discovery Laboratory, Helmy Institute for Medical Sciences, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
- Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Science and Technology, Zewail City of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
| | - Amr El-Demerdash
- Division of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, the John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
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2
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Starvaggi J, Previti S, Zappalà M, Ettari R. The Inhibition of NS2B/NS3 Protease: A New Therapeutic Opportunity to Treat Dengue and Zika Virus Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4376. [PMID: 38673962 PMCID: PMC11050111 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the global pandemic scenario, dengue and zika viruses (DENV and ZIKV, respectively), both mosquito-borne members of the flaviviridae family, represent a serious health problem, and considering the absence of specific antiviral drugs and available vaccines, there is a dire need to identify new targets to treat these types of viral infections. Within this drug discovery process, the protease NS2B/NS3 is considered the primary target for the development of novel anti-flavivirus drugs. The NS2B/NS3 is a serine protease that has a dual function both in the viral replication process and in the elusion of the innate immunity. To date, two main classes of NS2B/NS3 of DENV and ZIKV protease inhibitors have been discovered: those that bind to the orthosteric site and those that act at the allosteric site. Therefore, this perspective article aims to discuss the main features of the use of the most potent NS2B/NS3 inhibitors and their impact at the social level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (J.S.); (S.P.); (M.Z.)
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3
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Mensah IK, Norvil AB, He M, Lendy E, Hjortland N, Tan H, Pomerantz RT, Mesecar A, Gowher H. Development of a sensitive microplate assay for characterizing RNA methyltransferase activity: Implications for epitranscriptomics and drug development. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105257. [PMID: 37716702 PMCID: PMC10582764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA methylation is a ubiquitous post-transcriptional modification found in diverse RNA classes and is a critical regulator of gene expression. In this study, we used Zika virus RNA methyltransferase (MTase) to develop a highly sensitive microplate assay that uses a biotinylated RNA substrate and radiolabeled AdoMet coenzyme. The assay is fast, highly reproducible, exhibits linear progress-curve kinetics under multiple turnover conditions, has high sensitivity in competitive inhibition assays, and significantly lower background levels compared with the currently used method. Using our newly developed microplate assay, we observed no significant difference in the catalytic constants of the full-length nonstructural protein 5 enzyme and the truncated MTase domain. These data suggest that, unlike the Zika virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, the MTase activity is unaffected by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase-MTase interdomain interaction. Given its quantitative nature and accuracy, this method can be used to characterize various RNA MTases, and, therefore, significantly contribute to the field of epitranscriptomics and drug development against infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaiah K Mensah
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Allison B Norvil
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Ming He
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Emma Lendy
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Nicole Hjortland
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Hern Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Richard T Pomerantz
- Department Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew Mesecar
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Humaira Gowher
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
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Murali A, Kumar S, Akshaya S, Singh SK. Drug repurposing toward the inhibition of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of various flaviviruses through computational study. J Cell Biochem 2023; 124:127-145. [PMID: 36502494 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Numerous pathogens affecting human is present in the flavivirus family namely west nile, dengue, yellow fever, and zika which involves in development of global burden and distressing the environment economically. Till date, no approved drugs are available for targeting these viruses. The threat which urged the identification of small molecules for the inhibition of these viruses is the spreading of serious viral diseases. The recent outbreak of zika and dengue infections postured a solemn risk to worldwide public well-being. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is the supreme adaptable enzymes of all the RNA viruses which is responsible for the replication and transcription of genome among the structural and nonstructural proteins of flaviviruses. It is understood that the RdRp of the flaviviruses are similar stating that the japanese encephalitis and west nile shares 70% identity with zika whereas the dengue serotype 2 and 3 shares the identity of 76% and 81%, respectively. In this study, we investigated the binding site of four flaviviral RdRp and provided insights into various interaction of the molecules using the computational approach. Our study helps in recognizing the potent compounds that could inhibit the viral protein as a common inhibitor. Additionally, with the conformational stability analysis, we proposed the possible mechanism of inhibition of the identified common small molecule toward RdRp of flavivirus. Finally, this study could be an initiative for the identification of common inhibitors and can be explored further for understanding the mechanism of action through in vitro studies for the study on efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarthy Murali
- Computer Aided Drug Designing and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Computer Aided Drug Designing and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Sanjeev K Singh
- Computer Aided Drug Designing and Molecular Modeling Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Data Sciences, Centre of Biomedical Research, Sanjay Gandhi Post Institute of Medical Sciences Campus, Lucknow, India
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Mottin M, de Paula Sousa BK, de Moraes Roso Mesquita NC, de Oliveira KIZ, Noske GD, Sartori GR, de Oliveira Albuquerque A, Urbina F, Puhl AC, Moreira-Filho JT, Souza GE, Guido RV, Muratov E, Neves BJ, da Silva JHM, Clark AE, Siqueira-Neto JL, Perryman AL, Oliva G, Ekins S, Andrade CH. Discovery of New Zika Protease and Polymerase Inhibitors through the Open Science Collaboration Project OpenZika. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:6825-6843. [PMID: 36239304 PMCID: PMC9923514 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a neurotropic arbovirus considered a global threat to public health. Although there have been several efforts in drug discovery projects for ZIKV in recent years, there are still no antiviral drugs approved to date. Here, we describe the results of a global collaborative crowdsourced open science project, the OpenZika project, from IBM's World Community Grid (WCG), which integrates different computational and experimental strategies for advancing a drug candidate for ZIKV. Initially, molecular docking protocols were developed to identify potential inhibitors of ZIKV NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5 RdRp), NS3 protease (NS2B-NS3pro), and NS3 helicase (NS3hel). Then, a machine learning (ML) model was built to distinguish active vs inactive compounds for the cytoprotective effect against ZIKV infection. We performed three independent target-based virtual screening campaigns (NS5 RdRp, NS2B-NS3pro, and NS3hel), followed by predictions by the ML model and other filters, and prioritized a total of 61 compounds for further testing in enzymatic and phenotypic assays. This yielded five non-nucleoside compounds which showed inhibitory activity against ZIKV NS5 RdRp in enzymatic assays (IC50 range from 0.61 to 17 μM). Two compounds thermally destabilized NS3hel and showed binding affinity in the micromolar range (Kd range from 9 to 35 μM). Moreover, the compounds LabMol-301 inhibited both NS5 RdRp and NS2B-NS3pro (IC50 of 0.8 and 7.4 μM, respectively) and LabMol-212 thermally destabilized the ZIKV NS3hel (Kd of 35 μM). Both also protected cells from death induced by ZIKV infection in in vitro cell-based assays. However, while eight compounds (including LabMol-301 and LabMol-212) showed a cytoprotective effect and prevented ZIKV-induced cell death, agreeing with our ML model for prediction of this cytoprotective effect, no compound showed a direct antiviral effect against ZIKV. Thus, the new scaffolds discovered here are promising hits for future structural optimization and for advancing the discovery of further drug candidates for ZIKV. Furthermore, this work has demonstrated the importance of the integration of computational and experimental approaches, as well as the potential of large-scale collaborative networks to advance drug discovery projects for neglected diseases and emerging viruses, despite the lack of available direct antiviral activity and cytoprotective effect data, that reflects on the assertiveness of the computational predictions. The importance of these efforts rests with the need to be prepared for future viral epidemic and pandemic outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Mottin
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Bruna Katiele de Paula Sousa
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gabriela Dias Noske
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fabio Urbina
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Ana C. Puhl
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - José Teófilo Moreira-Filho
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Guilherme E. Souza
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Rafael V.C. Guido
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Eugene Muratov
- University of North Carolina - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599, USA
- Universidade Federal de Paraíba, Joao Pessoa, PB, 58051-900, Brazil
| | - Bruno Junior Neves
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | | | - Alex E. Clark
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA
| | - Jair L. Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA
| | - Alexander L. Perryman
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University–New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
- Repare Therapeutics, 7210 Rue Frederick-Banting, Suite 100, Montreal, QC, H4S 2A1, Canada
| | - Glaucius Oliva
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
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Eberle RJ, Olivier DS, Pacca CC, Avilla CMS, Nogueira ML, Amaral MS, Willbold D, Arni RK, Coronado MA. In vitro study of Hesperetin and Hesperidin as inhibitors of zika and chikungunya virus proteases. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246319. [PMID: 33661906 PMCID: PMC7932080 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential outcome of flavivirus and alphavirus co-infections is worrisome due to the development of severe diseases. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide live under the risk of infections caused by viruses like chikungunya virus (CHIKV, genus Alphavirus), dengue virus (DENV, genus Flavivirus), and zika virus (ZIKV, genus Flavivirus). So far, neither any drug exists against the infection by a single virus, nor against co-infection. The results described in our study demonstrate the inhibitory potential of two flavonoids derived from citrus plants: Hesperetin (HST) against NS2B/NS3pro of ZIKV and nsP2pro of CHIKV and, Hesperidin (HSD) against nsP2pro of CHIKV. The flavonoids are noncompetitive inhibitors and the determined IC50 values are in low µM range for HST against ZIKV NS2B/NS3pro (12.6 ± 1.3 µM) and against CHIKV nsP2pro (2.5 ± 0.4 µM). The IC50 for HSD against CHIKV nsP2pro was 7.1 ± 1.1 µM. The calculated ligand efficiencies for HST were > 0.3, which reflect its potential to be used as a lead compound. Docking and molecular dynamics simulations display the effect of HST and HSD on the protease 3D models of CHIKV and ZIKV. Conformational changes after ligand binding and their effect on the substrate-binding pocket of the proteases were investigated. Additionally, MTT assays demonstrated a very low cytotoxicity of both the molecules. Based on our results, we assume that HST comprise a chemical structure that serves as a starting point molecule to develop a potent inhibitor to combat CHIKV and ZIKV co-infections by inhibiting the virus proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael J. Eberle
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation, Departament of Physics, Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas (Ibilce), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | | | - Carolina C. Pacca
- Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas (Ibilce), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
- FACERES Medical School, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Clarita M. S. Avilla
- Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas (Ibilce), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauricio L. Nogueira
- Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto–FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Marcos S. Amaral
- Institute of Physics, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße, Düsseldorf, Germany
- JuStruct: Jülich Centre for Structural Biology, Forchungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Raghuvir K. Arni
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation, Departament of Physics, Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas (Ibilce), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Monika A. Coronado
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation, Departament of Physics, Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas (Ibilce), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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Bujalowski PJ, Bujalowski W, Choi KH. Identification of the viral RNA promoter stem loop A (SLA)-binding site on Zika virus polymerase NS5. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13306. [PMID: 32764551 PMCID: PMC7413259 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70094-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus has recently emerged as an important human pathogen that has spread to more than 60 countries. Infection of a pregnant woman with Zika virus can cause severe brain malformations in the child such as microcephaly and other birth defects. Despite the medical importance of Zika virus infection, the mechanism of viral replication, a process commonly targeted by antiviral therapeutics, is not well understood. Stem-loop A (SLA), located in the 5' untranslated region of the viral genome, acts as a promotor for viral replication and thus is critical for recognition of the viral genome by the viral polymerase NS5. However, how NS5 engages SLA is not clear. We have quantitatively examined the intrinsic affinities between Zika virus SLA and NS5, and identified the SLA-binding site on NS5. Amino acid substitutions in the thumb subdomain of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and the methyltransferase (MTase) domain reduced SLA-binding affinity, indicating that they each are part of the SLA-binding site. Furthermore, stopped-flow kinetic analysis of Zika NS5-, RdRp- and MTase-SLA interactions identified distinct intermediates during NS5 and SLA complex formation. These data suggest a model for SLA recognition and the initiation of flaviviral replication by NS5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Bujalowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Wlodzimierz Bujalowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Kyung H Choi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
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Braun NJ, Quek JP, Huber S, Kouretova J, Rogge D, Lang‐Henkel H, Cheong EZK, Chew BLA, Heine A, Luo D, Steinmetzer T. Structure-Based Macrocyclization of Substrate Analogue NS2B-NS3 Protease Inhibitors of Zika, West Nile and Dengue viruses. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:1439-1452. [PMID: 32501637 PMCID: PMC7497253 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A series of cyclic active-site-directed inhibitors of the NS2B-NS3 proteases from Zika (ZIKV), West Nile (WNV), and dengue-4 (DENV4) viruses has been designed. The most potent compounds contain a reversely incorporated d-lysine residue in the P1 position. Its side chain is connected to the P2 backbone, its α-amino group is converted into a guanidine to interact with the conserved Asp129 side chain in the S1 pocket, and its C terminus is connected to the P3 residue via different linker segments. The most potent compounds inhibit the ZIKV protease with Ki values <5 nM. Crystal structures of seven ZIKV protease inhibitor complexes were determined to support the inhibitor design. All the cyclic compounds possess high selectivity against trypsin-like serine proteases and furin-like proprotein convertases. Both WNV and DENV4 proteases are inhibited less efficiently. Nonetheless, similar structure-activity relationships were observed for these enzymes, thus suggesting their potential application as pan-flaviviral protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas J. Braun
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps UniversityMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
| | - Jun P. Quek
- Lee Kong Chian School of MedicineNanyang Technological University, EMB 03–0759 Nanyang DriveSingapore636921Singapore
- Institute of Structural BiologyNanyang Technological University EMB 06–0159 Nanyang DriveSingapore636921Singapore
| | - Simon Huber
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps UniversityMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
| | - Jenny Kouretova
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps UniversityMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
| | - Dorothee Rogge
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps UniversityMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
| | - Heike Lang‐Henkel
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps UniversityMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
| | - Ezekiel Z. K. Cheong
- School of Biological SciencesNanyang Technological University60 Nanyang Dr.Singapore637551Singapore
| | - Bing L. A. Chew
- Lee Kong Chian School of MedicineNanyang Technological University, EMB 03–0759 Nanyang DriveSingapore636921Singapore
- Institute of Structural BiologyNanyang Technological University EMB 06–0159 Nanyang DriveSingapore636921Singapore
- Institute of Health TechnologiesInterdisciplinary Graduate ProgrammeNanyang Technological University61 Nanyang Dr.Singapore637335Singapore
| | - Andreas Heine
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps UniversityMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
| | - Dahai Luo
- Lee Kong Chian School of MedicineNanyang Technological University, EMB 03–0759 Nanyang DriveSingapore636921Singapore
- Institute of Structural BiologyNanyang Technological University EMB 06–0159 Nanyang DriveSingapore636921Singapore
- School of Biological SciencesNanyang Technological University60 Nanyang Dr.Singapore637551Singapore
| | - Torsten Steinmetzer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps UniversityMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
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9
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Fajardo T, Sanford TJ, Mears HV, Jasper A, Storrie S, Mansur DS, Sweeney TR. The flavivirus polymerase NS5 regulates translation of viral genomic RNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:5081-5093. [PMID: 32313955 PMCID: PMC7229856 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses, including dengue virus and Zika virus, contain a single-stranded positive sense RNA genome that encodes viral proteins essential for replication and also serves as the template for new genome synthesis. As these processes move in opposite directions along the genome, translation must be inhibited at a defined point following infection to clear the template of ribosomes to allow efficient replication. Here, we demonstrate in vitro and in cell-based assays that the viral RNA polymerase, NS5, inhibits translation of the viral genome. By reconstituting translation in vitro using highly purified components, we show that this translation block occurs at the initiation stage and that translation inhibition depends on NS5-RNA interaction, primarily through association with the 5' replication promoter region. This work supports a model whereby expression of a viral protein signals successful translation of the infecting genome, prompting a switch to a ribosome depleted replication-competent form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodoro Fajardo
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas J Sanford
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Harriet V Mears
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Annika Jasper
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Skye Storrie
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daniel S Mansur
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Trevor R Sweeney
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
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10
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Spizzichino S, Mattedi G, Lauder K, Valle C, Aouadi W, Canard B, Decroly E, Kaptein SJF, Neyts J, Graham C, Sule Z, Barlow DJ, Silvestri R, Castagnolo D. Design, Synthesis and Discovery of N,N'-Carbazoyl-aryl-urea Inhibitors of Zika NS5 Methyltransferase and Virus Replication. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:385-390. [PMID: 31805205 PMCID: PMC7106487 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201900533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection worldwide make the discovery of novel antivirals against flaviviruses a research priority. This work describes the identification of novel inhibitors of ZIKV through a structure-based virtual screening approach using the ZIKV NS5-MTase. A novel series of molecules with a carbazoyl-aryl-urea structure has been discovered and a library of analogues has been synthesized. The new compounds inhibit ZIKV MTase with IC50 between 23-48 μM. In addition, carbazoyl-aryl-ureas also proved to inhibit ZIKV replication activity at micromolar concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Spizzichino
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 9NHUK
- Department of Drug Chemistry and TechnologiesSapienza University of RomeLaboratory Affiliated to Instituto Pasteur Italia – Fondazione Cenci BolognettiPiazzale Aldo Moro 500185RomaItaly
| | - Giulio Mattedi
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 9NHUK
| | - Kate Lauder
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 9NHUK
| | - Coralie Valle
- AFMB, CNRSAix-Marseille University UMR 7257, Case 925163 Avenue de Luminy13288Marseille Cedex 09France
| | - Wahiba Aouadi
- AFMB, CNRSAix-Marseille University UMR 7257, Case 925163 Avenue de Luminy13288Marseille Cedex 09France
| | - Bruno Canard
- AFMB, CNRSAix-Marseille University UMR 7257, Case 925163 Avenue de Luminy13288Marseille Cedex 09France
| | - Etienne Decroly
- AFMB, CNRSAix-Marseille University UMR 7257, Case 925163 Avenue de Luminy13288Marseille Cedex 09France
| | - Suzanne J. F. Kaptein
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation Rega Institute for Medical Research Laboratory of Virology and ChemotherapyKU LeuvenMinderbroedersstraat 103000LeuvenBelgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation Rega Institute for Medical Research Laboratory of Virology and ChemotherapyKU LeuvenMinderbroedersstraat 103000LeuvenBelgium
| | - Carl Graham
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 9NHUK
| | - Zakary Sule
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 9NHUK
| | - David J. Barlow
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 9NHUK
| | - Romano Silvestri
- Department of Drug Chemistry and TechnologiesSapienza University of RomeLaboratory Affiliated to Instituto Pasteur Italia – Fondazione Cenci BolognettiPiazzale Aldo Moro 500185RomaItaly
| | - Daniele Castagnolo
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 9NHUK
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11
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Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak, which started in the year 2015, is considered the fastest and most widely spread outbreak reported for this flavivirus. The polymerase domain of the NS5 protein has been targeted in other viral infections and is recognized as a suitable target in ZIKV infection. Different novel modified compounds against ZIKV NS5 have been tested in silico. A few structures have been solved for ZIKV polymerase and deposited in the protein data bank website. Two of these solved structures (with a resolution of less than 1.9 A) are used in this study to test the binding of 74 novel compounds in silico. Molecular docking is used to quantify the binding affinities of ZIKV polymerase and compare it to the hepatitis C virus NS5B. A total of 19 novel compounds revealed results that are either similar to or better than the physiological molecule, guanosine triphosphate. Water molecules are found to facilitate the binding of the compounds to ZIKV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) structures. The presented 19 novel compounds represent good binders to ZIKV RdRp and could be suitable candidates for developing a new and effective anti-ZIKV polymerase nucleotide inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdo A. Elfiky
- Biophysics Department, Faculty of SciencesCairo UniversityGizaEgypt
- Quantitative Life Science SectionThe Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Strada CostieraTriesteItaly
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12
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Nutho B, Mulholland AJ, Rungrotmongkol T. The reaction mechanism of Zika virus NS2B/NS3 serine protease inhibition by dipeptidyl aldehyde: a QM/MM study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:14945-14956. [PMID: 31236554 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp02377a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has become a global public health problem, associated with microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Currently, there are no commercially available anti-ZIKV drugs. The viral protease NS2B/NS3, which is involved in viral replication and maturation, is a potential drug target. Peptidomimetic aldehyde inhibitors bind covalently to the catalytic S135 of the NS3 protease. Here, we apply hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) free-energy simulations at the PDDG-PM3/ff14SB level to investigate the inhibition mechanism of the ZIKV protease by a dipeptidyl aldehyde inhibitor (acyl-KR-aldehyde). The results show that proton transfer from the catalytic S135 to H51 occurs in concert with nucleophilic addition on the aldehyde warhead by S135. The anionic covalent complex between the dipeptidyl aldehyde and the ZIKV protease is analogous to the tetrahedral intermediate for substrate hydrolysis. Spontaneous protonation by H51 forms the hemiacetal. In addition, we use correlated ab initio QM/MM potential energy path calculations at levels up to LCCSD(T)/(aug)-cc-pVTZ to obtain accurate potential energy profiles of the reaction, which also support a concerted mechanism. These results provide detailed insight into the mechanism of ZIKV protease inhibition by a peptidyl aldehyde inhibitor, which will guide in the design of inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bodee Nutho
- Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK.
| | - Thanyada Rungrotmongkol
- Biocatalyst and Environmental Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. and Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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13
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Jacobs S, Delang L, Verbeken E, Neyts J, Kaptein SJF. A Viral Polymerase Inhibitor Reduces Zika Virus Replication in the Reproductive Organs of Male Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20092122. [PMID: 31032814 PMCID: PMC6539190 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, Zika virus and viral RNA have been detected in semen up to 2.2 months and 6 months post infection (pi), respectively. Although the contribution of sexual transmission to the spread of ZIKV is too low to sustain an outbreak, it can increase the risk of infection and the epidemic size as well as prolong the duration of an outbreak. In this study, we explored the potential of antivirals to serve as an effective strategy to prevent sexual transmission. Male AG129 mice infected with a ZIKV isolate from Suriname were treated with the nucleoside analog, 7-deaza-2′-C-methyladenosine (7DMA), that was previously shown to be efficacious in reducing ZIKV viremia and delaying ZIKV-induced disease in mice. Following treatment, viral RNA and infectious virus titers were consistently reduced in the male reproductive organs compared to vehicle-treated mice. This reduction of ZIKV loads in the testis was confirmed by the detection of lower levels of ZIKV antigens. Our data illustrate the value of this mouse model to validate the efficacy of new potential ZIKV drugs at the level of the male reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Jacobs
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Leen Delang
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | | | - Johan Neyts
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Suzanne J F Kaptein
- KU Leuven Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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14
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Ferrero DS, Ruiz-Arroyo VM, Soler N, Usón I, Guarné A, Verdaguer N. Supramolecular arrangement of the full-length Zika virus NS5. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007656. [PMID: 30951555 PMCID: PMC6469808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, has emerged as a major public health threat, since ZIKV infection has been connected to microcephaly and other neurological disorders. Flavivirus genome replication is driven by NS5, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) that also contains a N-terminal methyltransferase domain essential for viral mRNA capping. Given its crucial roles, ZIKV NS5 has become an attractive antiviral target. Here, we have used integrated structural biology approaches to characterize the supramolecular arrangement of the full-length ZIKV NS5, highlighting the assembly and interfaces between NS5 monomers within a dimeric structure, as well as the dimer-dimer interactions to form higher order fibril-like structures. The relative orientation of each monomer within the dimer provides a model to explain the coordination between MTase and RdRP domains across neighboring NS5 molecules and mutational studies underscore the crucial role of the MTase residues Y25, K28 and K29 in NS5 dimerization. The basic residue K28 also participates in GTP binding and competition experiments indicate that NS5 dimerization is disrupted at high GTP concentrations. This competition represents a first glimpse at a molecular level explaining how dimerization might regulate the capping process. The lack of vaccine or antiviral drugs to combat Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has encouraged scientists to characterize in depth potential drug targets. One attractive candidate is NS5, responsible for the catalysis of the 5’-RNA capping, methylation and RNA synthesis, during flavivirus genome replication. To fulfill these activities, the methyltransferase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domains of NS5 need to cooperate with each other. The structural and biophysical data presented in this work demonstrate that the ZIKV NS5 protein has the ability to form dimers, as well as higher order oligomers that may participate in the fine-tuning regulation of the multiple enzyme functions in the replication complex. In addition, we have found that NS5 dimerization is disrupted at high GTP concentrations, explaining how dimerization might regulate the capping process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego S. Ferrero
- Structural Biology Unit, Institut de Biología Molecular de Barcelona CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victor M. Ruiz-Arroyo
- Structural Biology Unit, Institut de Biología Molecular de Barcelona CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nicolas Soler
- Structural Biology Unit, Institut de Biología Molecular de Barcelona CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Usón
- Structural Biology Unit, Institut de Biología Molecular de Barcelona CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Guarné
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Núria Verdaguer
- Structural Biology Unit, Institut de Biología Molecular de Barcelona CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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15
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Nutho B, Mulholland AJ, Rungrotmongkol T. Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) Calculations Support a Concerted Reaction Mechanism for the Zika Virus NS2B/NS3 Serine Protease with Its Substrate. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:2889-2903. [PMID: 30845796 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b02157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is mainly transmitted to humans by Aedes species mosquitoes and is associated with serious pathological disorders including microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Currently, there is no vaccine or anti-ZIKV drug available for preventing or controlling ZIKV infection. An attractive drug target for ZIKV treatment is a two-compartment (NS2B/NS3) serine protease that processes viral polyprotein during infection. Here, conventional molecular dynamics simulations of the ZIKV protease in complex with peptide substrate (TGKRS) sequence at the C-terminus of NS2B show that the substrate is in the active conformation for the cleavage reaction by ZIKV protease. Hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) umbrella sampling simulations (PM6/ff14SB) of acylation results reveal that proton transfer from S135 to H51 and nucleophilic attack on the substrate by S135 are concerted. The rate-limiting step involves the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate. In addition, the single-point energy QM/MM calculations, precisely at the level of coupled cluster theory (LCCSD(T)/(aug)-cc-pVTZ), were performed to correct the potential energy profiles for the first step of the acylation process. The average computed activation barrier at this level of theory is 16.3 kcal mol-1. Therefore, the computational approaches presented here are helpful for further designing of NS2B/NS3 inhibitors based on transition-state analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TS , U.K
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16
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Coronado MA, Eberle RJ, Bleffert N, Feuerstein S, Olivier DS, de Moraes FR, Willbold D, Arni RK. Zika virus NS2B/NS3 proteinase: A new target for an old drug - Suramin a lead compound for NS2B/NS3 proteinase inhibition. Antiviral Res 2018; 160:118-125. [PMID: 30393012 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Zika virus infection is the focus of much research due to the medical and social repercussions. Due the role of the viral NS2B/NS3 proteinase in maturation of the viral proteins, it had become an attractive antiviral target. Numerous investigations on viral epidemiology, structure and function analysis, vaccines, and therapeutic drugs have been conducted around the world. At present, no approved vaccine or even drugs have been reported. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop therapeutic agents to cure this epidemic disease. In the present study, we identified the polyanion suramin, an approved antiparasitic drug with antiviral properties, as a potential inhibitor of Zika virus complex NS2B/NS3 proteinase with IC50 of 47 μM. Using fluorescence spectroscopy results we could determine a kd value of 28 μM and had shown that the ligand does not affect the thermal stability of the protein. STD NMR spectroscopy experiments and molecular docking followed by molecular dynamics simulation identified the binding epitopes of the molecule and shows the mode of interaction, respectively. The computational analysis showed that suramin block the Ser135 residue and interact with the catalytically histidine residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Aparecida Coronado
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation, Department of Physics, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto SP, 15054-000, Brazil.
| | - Raphael Josef Eberle
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation, Department of Physics, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Nicole Bleffert
- Institute of Complex System, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forchungszentrum Jülich, Germany; Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße, Germany
| | - Sophie Feuerstein
- Institute of Complex System, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forchungszentrum Jülich, Germany; Institute of Complex System, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forchungszentrum Jülich, Germany
| | - Danilo Silva Olivier
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation, Department of Physics, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Fabio Rogerio de Moraes
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation, Department of Physics, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Complex System, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forchungszentrum Jülich, Germany; Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße, Germany
| | - Raghuvir Krishnaswamy Arni
- Multiuser Center for Biomolecular Innovation, Department of Physics, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto SP, 15054-000, Brazil.
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17
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Li L, Wang J, Jia Z, Shaw N. Structural view of the helicase reveals that Zika virus uses a conserved mechanism for unwinding RNA. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2018; 74:205-213. [PMID: 29633968 PMCID: PMC5894106 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x18003813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest a link between infection by Zika virus (ZIKV) and the development of neurological complications. The lack of ZIKV-specific therapeutics has alarmed healthcare professionals worldwide. Here, crystal structures of apo and AMPPNP- and Mn2+-bound forms of the essential helicase of ZIKV refined to 1.78 and 1.3 Å resolution, respectively, are reported. The structures reveal a conserved trimodular topology of the helicase. ATP and Mn2+ are tethered between two RecA-like domains by conserved hydrogen-bonding interactions. The binding of ligands induces the movement of backbone Cα and side-chain atoms. Numerous solvent molecules are observed in the vicinity of the AMPPNP, suggesting a role in catalysis. These high-resolution structures could be useful for the design of inhibitors targeting the helicase of ZIKV for the treatment of infections caused by ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/National Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and MOE Laboratory of Protein Science, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center/National Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and MOE Laboratory of Protein Science, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhihui Jia
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and MOE Laboratory of Protein Science, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People’s Republic of China
| | - Neil Shaw
- National Laboratory of Macromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, People’s Republic of China
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18
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Elfiky AA, Elshemey WM. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed binding of nucleotide inhibitors to ZIKV polymerase over 444 nanoseconds. J Med Virol 2018; 90:13-18. [PMID: 28922464 PMCID: PMC7166584 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the year 2015, new Zika virus (ZIKV) broke out in Brazil and spread away in more than 80 countries. Scientists directed their efforts toward viral polymerase in attempt to find inhibitors that might interfere with its function. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) was performed over 444 ns for a ZIKV polymerase model. Molecular docking (MD) was then performed every 10 ns during the MDS course to ensure the binding of small molecules to the polymerase over the entire time of the simulation. MD revealed the binding ability of four suggested guanosine inhibitors (GIs); (Guanosine substituted with OH and SH (phenyl) oxidanyl in the 2' carbon of the ribose ring). The GIs were compared to guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and five anti-hepatitis C virus drugs (either approved or under clinical trials). The mode of binding and the binding performance of GIs to ZIKV polymerase were found to be the same as GTP. Hence, these compounds were capable of competing GTP for the active site. Moreover, GIs bound to ZIKV active site more tightly compared to ribavirin, the wide-range antiviral drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdo A. Elfiky
- Department of BiophysicsFaculty of ScienceCairo UniversityGizaEgypt
- Department of Quantitative Life ScienceThe Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics ICTPTriesteItaly
| | - Wael M. Elshemey
- Department of BiophysicsFaculty of ScienceCairo UniversityGizaEgypt
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19
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Sze A, Olagnier D, Hadj SB, Han X, Tian XH, Xu HT, Yang L, Shi Q, Wang P, Wainberg MA, Wu JH, Lin R. Sophoraflavenone G Restricts Dengue and Zika Virus Infection via RNA Polymerase Interference. Viruses 2017; 9:v9100287. [PMID: 28972551 PMCID: PMC5691638 DOI: 10.3390/v9100287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses including Zika, Dengue and Hepatitis C virus cause debilitating diseases in humans, and the former are emerging as global health concerns with no antiviral treatments. We investigated Sophora Flavecens, used in Chinese medicine, as a source for antiviral compounds. We isolated Sophoraflavenone G and found that it inhibited Hepatitis C replication, but not Sendai or Vesicular Stomatitis Virus. Pre- and post-infection treatments demonstrated anti-flaviviral activity against Dengue and Zika virus, via viral RNA polymerase inhibition. These data suggest that Sophoraflavenone G represents a promising candidate regarding anti-Flaviviridae research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Sze
- Department of Medicine, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - David Olagnier
- Department of Medicine, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Samar Bel Hadj
- Department of Medicine, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Xiaoying Han
- Department of Medicine, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Xiao Hong Tian
- Department of Medicine, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Hong-Tao Xu
- Department of Medicine, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Long Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
| | - Qingwen Shi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, China.
| | - Penghua Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
| | - Mark A Wainberg
- Department of Medicine, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Jian Hui Wu
- Department of Medicine, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Rongtuan Lin
- Department of Medicine, Lady Davis Institute-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
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20
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Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV), a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes, was an almost neglected pathogen until its introduction in the Americas in 2015 and its subsequent explosive spread throughout the continent, where it has infected millions of people. The virus has caused social and sanitary alarm, mainly due to its association with severe neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly in fetuses and newborns). Nowadays, no specific antiviral therapy against ZIKV is available. However, during the past months, a great effort has been made to search for antiviral candidates using different approaches and methodologies, ranging from testing specific compounds with known antiviral activity to the screening of libraries with hundreds of bioactive molecules. The identified antiviral candidates include drugs targeting viral components as well as cellular ones. Here, an updated review of what has been done in this line is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan-Carlos Saiz
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A Martín-Acebes
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
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21
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Potisopon S, Ferron F, Fattorini V, Selisko B, Canard B. Substrate selectivity of Dengue and Zika virus NS5 polymerase towards 2'-modified nucleotide analogues. Antiviral Res 2016; 140:25-36. [PMID: 28041959 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 12/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In targeting the essential viral RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp), nucleotide analogues play a major role in antiviral therapies. In the Flaviviridae family, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be eradicated from chronically infected patients using a combination of drugs which generally include the 2'-modified uridine analogue Sofosbuvir, delivered as nucleotide prodrug. Dengue and Zika viruses are emerging flaviviruses whose RdRp is closely related to that of HCV, yet no nucleoside drug has been clinically approved for these acute infections. We have purified dengue and Zika virus full-length NS5, the viral RdRps, and used them to assemble a stable binary complex made of NS5 and virus-specific RNA primer/templates. The complex was used to assess the selectivity of NS5 towards nucleotide analogues bearing modifications at the 2'-position. We show that dengue and Zika virus RdRps exhibit the same discrimination pattern: 2'-O-Me > 2'-C-Me-2'-F > 2'-C-Me nucleoside analogues, unlike HCV RdRp for which the presence of the 2'-F is beneficial rendering the discrimination pattern 2'-O-Me > 2'-C-Me ≥ 2'-C-Me-2'-F. Both 2'-C-Me and 2'-C-Me-2'-F analogues act as non-obligate RNA chain terminators. The dengue and Zika NS5 nucleotide selectivity towards 2'-modified NTPs mirrors potency of the corresponding analogues in infected cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supanee Potisopon
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB (Laboratoire d'Architecture et Fonction de Macromolécules Biologiques) UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France; CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - François Ferron
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB (Laboratoire d'Architecture et Fonction de Macromolécules Biologiques) UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France; CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Véronique Fattorini
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB (Laboratoire d'Architecture et Fonction de Macromolécules Biologiques) UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France; CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Barbara Selisko
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB (Laboratoire d'Architecture et Fonction de Macromolécules Biologiques) UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France; CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France.
| | - Bruno Canard
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB (Laboratoire d'Architecture et Fonction de Macromolécules Biologiques) UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France; CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France.
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