Discovery of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 and Nsp16 Methyltransferase Inhibitors by High-Throughput Virtual Screening
Pharmaceuticals 2021
R Bobrovs, I Kaņepe, N Narvaiss, L Patetko, G Kalniņš, M Sisovs, A.L Bula, S Grīnberga, M Borodušķis, A Ramata-Stunda, N Rostoks, Aigars Jirgensons

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses mRNA capping to evade the human immune system. The cap formation is performed by the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA cap methyltransferases (MTases) nsp14 and nsp16, which are emerging targets for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral agents. Here, we report results from high-throughput virtual screening against these two enzymes. The docking of seven million commercially available drug-like compounds and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) co-substrate analogues against both MTases resulted in 80 virtual screening hits (39 against nsp14 and 41 against nsp16), which were purchased and tested using an enzymatic homogeneous time-resolved fluorescent energy transfer (HTRF) assay. Nine compounds showed micromolar inhibition activity (IC50 < 200 µM). The selectivity of the identified inhibitors was evaluated by cross-checking their activity against human glycine N-methyltransferase. The majority of the compounds showed poor selectivity for a specific MTase, no cytotoxic effects, and rather poor cell permeability. Nevertheless, the identified compounds represent good starting points that have the potential to be developed into efficient viral MTase inhibitors.


Atslēgas vārdi
Antiviral drugs | High-throughput virtual screening | MTase inhibitors | Nsp14 | Nsp16 | SARS-CoV-2
DOI
10.3390/ph14121243
Hipersaite
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/12/1243

Bobrovs, R., Kaņepe, I., Narvaiss, N., Patetko, L., Kalniņš, G., Sisovs, M., Bula, A., Grīnberga, S., Borodušķis, M., Ramata-Stunda, A., Rostoks, N., Jirgensons, A. Discovery of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 and Nsp16 Methyltransferase Inhibitors by High-Throughput Virtual Screening. Pharmaceuticals, 2021, Vol. 14, No. 12, Article number 1243. e-ISSN 1424-8247. Pieejams: doi:10.3390/ph14121243

Publikācijas valoda
English (en)
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