High-throughput screening identifies established drugs as SARS-CoV-2 PLpro inhibitors.
Protein Cell
; 12(11): 877-888, 2021 11.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1188202
ABSTRACT
A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been identified as the etiologic agent for the COVID-19 outbreak. Currently, effective treatment options remain very limited for this disease; therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new anti-COVID-19 agents. In this study, we screened over 6,000 compounds that included approved drugs, drug candidates in clinical trials, and pharmacologically active compounds to identify leads that target the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro). Together with main protease (Mpro), PLpro is responsible for processing the viral replicase polyprotein into functional units. Therefore, it is an attractive target for antiviral drug development. Here we discovered four compounds, YM155, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and GRL0617 that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 PLpro with IC50 values ranging from 1.39 to 5.63 µmol/L. These compounds also exhibit strong antiviral activities in cell-based assays. YM155, an anticancer drug candidate in clinical trials, has the most potent antiviral activity with an EC50 value of 170 nmol/L. In addition, we have determined the crystal structures of this enzyme and its complex with YM155, revealing a unique binding mode. YM155 simultaneously targets three "hot" spots on PLpro, including the substrate-binding pocket, the interferon stimulating gene product 15 (ISG15) binding site and zinc finger motif. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of this screening and repurposing strategy, which has led to the discovery of new drug leads with clinical potential for COVID-19 treatments.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Protease Inhibitors
/
High-Throughput Screening Assays
/
Coronavirus Papain-Like Proteases
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Traditional medicine
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Protein Cell
Journal subject:
Biochemistry
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S13238-021-00836-9
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