DOCKING STUDIES AGAINST SARS-COV-2 M PRO INHIBITORS (original) (raw)
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Molecular Diversity
The importance of the main protease (M pro) enzyme of SARS-CoV-2 in the digestion of viral polyproteins introduces M pro as an attractive drug target for antiviral drug design. This study aims to carry out the molecular docking, molecular dynamics studies, and prediction of ADMET properties of selected potential antiviral molecules. The study provides an insight into biomolecular interactions to understand the inhibitory mechanism and the spatial orientation of the tested ligands and further, identification of key amino acid residues within the substrate-binding pocket that can be applied for structure-based drug design. In this regard, we carried out molecular docking studies of chloroquine (CQ), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), remdesivir (RDV), GS441524, arbidol (ARB), and natural product glycyrrhizin (GA) using AutoDock 4.2 tool. To study the drug-receptor complex's stability, selected docking possesses were further subjected to molecular dynamics studies with Schrodinger software. The prediction of ADMET/toxicity properties was carried out on ADMET Prediction™. The docking studies suggested a potential role played by CYS145, HIS163, and GLU166 in the interaction of molecules within the active site of COVID-19 M pro. In the docking studies, RDV and GA exhibited superiority in binding with the crystal structure of M pro over the other selected molecules in this study. Spatial orientations of the molecules at the active site of M pro exposed the significance of S1-S4 subsites and surrounding amino acid residues. Among GA and RDV, RDV showed better and stable interactions with the protein, which is the reason for the lesser RMSD values for RDV. Overall, the present in silico study indicated the direction to combat COVID-19 using FDA-approved drugs as promising agents, which do not need much toxicity studies and could also serve as starting points for lead optimization in drug discovery.
Molecular Diversity
Papain-like protease (nsp-3; non-structural protein) of novel corona virus is an ideal target for developing drugs as it plays multiple important functions for viral growth and replication. For instance, role of nsp-3 has been recognized in cleavage of viral polyprotein; furthermore, in infected host it weakens the immune system via downregulating the production of type I interferon. This downregulation is promoted by removal of ubiquitin-like interferon-stimulated gene 15 protein (ISG15) from interferon-responsive factor 3 (IRF3) protein. Among known inhibitors of SARS-CoV-PLpro GRL0617 is by far the most effective inhibitor. As PLpro of SARS-CoV2 is having more than 80% similarity with SARS-CoV-PLpro, GRL0617 is reported to be effective even against SARS-CoV2. Owing to this similarity, certain key amino acids remain the same/ conserved in both proteins. Among conserved amino acids Tyr268 for SARS-CoV2 and Tyr269 for SARS-CoV produce important hydrophobic interactions with aromatic rings of GRL0617. Here, in this study antibacterial compounds were collected from ZINC database, and they were filtered to select compounds that are having similar structural features as GRL0617. This filtered library of compound was then docked with SARS-CoV and CoV2-PLpro. Five hits were noted that were able to interact with Tyr268 (SARS-CoV2) and Tyr269 (SARS-CoV). Further, best hit 2-(2-((benzofuran-2-carboxamido)methyl)-5-methoxy-1H-indol-1-yl)acetic acid (ZINC44459905) was studied using molecular dynamic simulation where stability of protein-ligand complex as well as stability of produced interactions was noted.
Cellulose Chemistry and Technology
Several carbohydrate-based drugs are currently being used to treat a number of diseases in humans worldwide. Thus, our research group has focused on the synthesis of new methyl α-D-mannopyranoside (MDM) derivatives and their antimicrobial evaluation through computational studies. A series of MDM derivatives (2-6) were synthesized through facile regioselective acylation, using the direct method affording 6-O-(3-chlorobenzoyl) derivatives. This isolated 6-O-derivative was further transformed to 2,3,4-tri-O-acyl derivatives, bearing a wide variety of functionalities in a single molecular framework. The structures of the newly designed molecules were elucidated with the aid of IR, 1H NMR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The prediction of the activity spectra for the compounds (PASS) and their in vitro antimicrobial evaluation were performed, demonstrating them to be potential antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial tests demonstrated that the compounds 3 and 5 were the most p...
Journal of King Saud University - Science, 2021
In this study, we examined five previously synthesized compounds and checked their binding affinity towards the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M pro) by molecular docking study, and compared the data with three FDA approved drugs, i.e., Remdesivir, Ivermectine and Hydroxychlorochine. In addition, we have investigated the docking study against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (M pro) by using Autodock 4.2 software package. The results suggested that the investigated compounds have property to bind the active position of the protein as reported in approved drugs. Hence, further experimental studies are required. The formation of intermolecular interactions, negative values of scoring functions, free binding energy and the calculated binding constants confirmed that the studied compounds have significant affinity for the specified biotarget. These studied compounds were passed the drug-likeness criteria as suggested by calculating ADME data by SwissADME server. Moreover, the ADMET properties suggested that the investigated compounds to be orally active compounds in human. Furthermore, density functional computations (DFT) were executed by applying GAUSSIAN 09 suit program. In addition, Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) was studied by applying HyperChem Professional 8.0.3 program.
Molecular Diversity
COVID-19 is a viral pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Due to its highly contagious nature, millions of people are getting affected worldwide knocking down the delicate global socioeconomic equilibrium. According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 has affected over 186 million people with a mortality of around 4 million as of July 09, 2021. Currently, there are few therapeutic options available for COVID-19 control. The rapid mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genome and development of new virulent strains with increased infection and mortality among COVID-19 patients, there is a great need to discover more potential drugs for SARS-CoV-2 on a priority basis. One of the key viral enzymes responsible for the replication and maturation of SARS-CoV-2 is M pro protein. In the current study, structure-based virtual screening was used to identify four potential ligands against SARS-CoV-2 M pro from a set of 8,722 ASINEX library compounds. These four compounds were evaluated using ADME filter to check their ADME profile and druggability, and all the four compounds were found to be within the current pharmacological acceptable range. They were individually docked to SARS-CoV-2 M pro protein to assess their molecular interactions. Further, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations was carried out on protein-ligand complex using Desmond at 100 ns to explore their binding conformational stability. Based on RMSD, RMSF and hydrogen bond interactions, it was found that the stability of protein-ligand complex was maintained throughout the entire 100 ns simulations for all the four compounds. Some of the key ligand amino acid residues participated in stabilizing the protein-ligand interactions includes GLN 189, SER 10, GLU 166, ASN 142 with PHE 66 and TRP 132 of SARS-CoV-2 M pro. Further optimization of these compounds could lead to promising drug candidates for SARS-CoV-2 M pro target.
Journal of King Saud University - Science, 2021
The aim of this work is to contribute to the research in finding lead compounds for clinical use, to identify new drugs that target the SARS-CoV-2 virus main protease (Mpro). In this study, we used molecular docking strategies to analyze 2.5-diaminobenzophenone compounds against Malaria and to compare results with the Nelfinavir as a FDA-approved HIV-1 protease inhibitor recommended for the treatment of COVID-19. These efforts identified the potential compounds against SAR-COV-2 Mpro with the docking scores ranges from À6.1 to À7.75 kcal/mol, which exhibited better interactions than the Nelfinavir. Among thirty-six studied, compounds 20c, 24c, 30c, 34c, 35c and 36c showed the highest affinity and involved in forming hydrophobic interactions with Glu166, Thr24, Thr25, and Thr26 residues and forming H-bonding interactions with Gln189, Cys145, and His41residues. Pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity (ADMET) were also determined for identified compounds. This study result in the identification of two compounds 35 and 36 having high binding affinity, good pharmacokinetics properties and lowest toxicity. The structural stability and dynamics of lead compounds within the active site of 3CLpro was also examined using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Essential dynamics demonstrated that the two complexes remain stable during the entire duration of simulation. We have shown that these two lead molecules would have the potential to act as promising drug-candidates and would be of interest as starting point for designing compounds against the SARS-CoV-2.
Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 2021
A series of drugs was investigated to determine structural, electronic and pharmacological properties, as well as the molecular affinity for the main protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). The drugs were submitted to density functional theory calculations to optimize structures and predict binding preferences. The optimized geometries were used in molecular docking simulations. In the docking study, the receiver was considered rigid and the drugs flexible. The Lamarckian genetic algorithm with global search and Pseudo-Solis and Wets with local search were adopted for docking. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicological properties were obtained from the Pre-ADMET online server. In this series, the antiviral atazanavir showed the potential to inhibit the main protease of SARS‑CoV‑2, based on the free binding energy, inhibition constant, binding interactions and its favorable pharmacological properties. Therefore, we recommend ca...
The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has caused a recent pandemic called COVID-19 and a severe health threat around the world. In the current situation, the virus is rapidly spreading worldwide, and the discovery of a vaccine and potential therapeutics are critically essential. The crystal structure for the main protease (M pro) of SARS-CoV-2, 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CL pro), was recently made available and is considerably similar to the previously reported SARS-CoV. Due to its essentiality in viral replication, it represents a potential drug target. Herein, a computer-aided drug design (CADD) approach was implemented for the initial screening of 13 approved antiviral drugs. Molecular docking of 13 antivirals against the 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CL pro) enzyme was accomplished, and indinavir was described as a lead drug with a docking score of −8.824 and a XP Gscore of −9.466 kcal/mol. Indinavir possesses an important pharmacophore, hydroxyethylamine (HEA), and thus, a new library of HEA compounds (>2500) was subjected to virtual screening that led to 25 hits with a docking score more than indinavir. Exclusively, compound 16 with a docking score of −8.955 adhered to drug-like parameters, and the structure−activity relationship (SAR) analysis was demonstrated to highlight the importance of chemical scaffolds therein. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis performed at 100 ns supported the stability of 16 within the binding pocket. Largely, our results supported that this novel compound 16 binds with domains I and II, and the domain II−III linker of the 3CL pro protein, suggesting its suitability as a strong candidate for therapeutic discovery against COVID-19.
Applied Microbiology: Theory ＆ Technology, 2021
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) is a causative agent of the potentially fatal coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Coronavirus targets the human respiratory system primarily. It can also infect the gastrointestinal, hepatic, and central nervous systems of humans, avians, bats, livestock, mice, and many other wild animals, as these are primary targets of the pathogen. This study aims to screen out the most potent inhibitor for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) spike glycoproteins among the selected drugs, and computational tools have been utilized for this purpose. The selected drugs have been designed to explore their structural properties in this study by molecular orbital calculation. To inhibit the spike glycoproteins, the performance of these drugs was also examined by molecular docking calculation. In improving the performance of drugs, non-bond interactions play a significant role. To determine the chemical reactivity of all the medicines, HOMO and LUMO energy values were also calculated. The combined calculations exhibited that Ledipasvir among the selected drugs can be the most potent drug to treat SARS-CoV-2 compared to other medications.
Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics
The study aims to evaluate the potency of two hundred natural antiviral phytocompounds against the active site of the Severe Acquired Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus À 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Main-Protease (M pro) using AutoDock 4.2.6. The three-dimensional crystal structure of the M pro (PDB Id: 6LU7) was retrieved from the Protein Data Bank (PDB), the active site was predicted using MetaPocket 2.0. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved viral protease inhibitors were used as standards for comparison of results. The compounds theaflavin-3-3'-digallate, rutin, hypericin, robustaflavone, and (-)-solenolide A with respective binding energy of À12.41 (Ki ¼ 794.96 pM); À11.33 (Ki ¼ 4.98 nM); À11.17 (Ki ¼ 6.54 nM); À10.92 (Ki ¼ 9.85 nM); and À10.82 kcal/mol (Ki ¼ 11.88 nM) were ranked top as Coronavirus Disease À 2019 (COVID-19) M pro inhibitors. The interacting amino acid residues were visualized using Discovery Studio 3.5 to elucidate the 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional interactions. The study was validated by i) re-docking the N3-peptide inhibitor-M pro and superimposing them onto co-crystallized complex and ii) docking decoy ligands to M pro. The ligands that showed low binding energy were further predicted for and pharmacokinetic properties and Lipinski's rule of 5 and the results are tabulated and discussed. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed for 50 ns for those compounds using the Desmond package, Schr€ odinger to assess the conformational stability and fluctuations of protein-ligand complexes during the simulation. Thus, the natural compounds could act as a lead for the COVID-19 regimen after in-vitro and in-vivo clinical trials.