Identification of nitrile-containing isoquinoline-related natural product derivatives as coronavirus entry inhibitors in silico and in vitro - 08/11/24


Abstract |
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused millions of infections and deaths worldwide since its emergence in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Natural product inhibitors targeting the interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), crucial for viral attachment and cellular entry, are of significant interest as potential antiviral agents. In this study a library of nitrile- and sulfur-containing natural product derived compounds were used for virtual drug screening against the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The top 18 compounds from docking were tested for their efficacy to inhibit virus entry. In vitro experiments revealed that compounds 9, 14, and 15 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus and live virus entry in HEK-ACE2 and Vero E6 host cells at low micromolar IC50 values. Cell viability assays showed these compounds exerted low cytotoxicity towards MRC5, Vero E6, and HEK-ACE2 cell lines. Microscale thermophoresis revealed all three compounds strongly bound to the RBDs of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 XBB, SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and HCoV-HKU1, with their Kd values increasing as RBD sequence similarity decreased. Molecular docking studies indicated compounds 9, 14, and 15 bound to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD and interacted with hotspot amino acid residues required for the RBD-ACE2 interaction and cellular infection. These three nitrile-containing candidates, particularly compound 15, should be considered for further development as potential pan-coronavirus entry inhibitors.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Graphical Abstract |
Highlights |
• | Identification of three natural product derivatives (out of 143 sulfur- and nitrile-containing compounds) as SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors by virtual screening. |
• | Discovery of three novel nitrile-containing isoquinoline-related natural product derivatives as SARS-CoV2 inhibitors with low toxicity. |
• | The new nitrile-containing compounds bind directly to RBD of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 XBB, SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and HCoV-HKU1 as detected by microscale thermophoresis. |
Keywords : ACE2, SARS-CoV-2, Nitrile-containing natural product derivatives, Isoquinoline, Pan-entry inhibitor, Virtual drug screening
Plan
Vol 180
Article 117517- novembre 2024 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.