Allosteric Inhibitors of Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Targeting Protease in “Super-Open” Conformation

The Zika virus (ZIKV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is considered a major health threat causing multiple cases of microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. In this study, we targeted a transient, deep, and hydrophobic pocket of the “super-open” conformation of ZIKV NS2B...

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Main Authors: Ittipat Meewan, Sergey A. Shiryaev, Julius Kattoula, Chun-Teng Huang, Vivian Lin, Chiao-Han Chuang, Alexey V. Terskikh, Ruben Abagyan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/5/1106
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author Ittipat Meewan
Sergey A. Shiryaev
Julius Kattoula
Chun-Teng Huang
Vivian Lin
Chiao-Han Chuang
Alexey V. Terskikh
Ruben Abagyan
author_facet Ittipat Meewan
Sergey A. Shiryaev
Julius Kattoula
Chun-Teng Huang
Vivian Lin
Chiao-Han Chuang
Alexey V. Terskikh
Ruben Abagyan
author_sort Ittipat Meewan
collection DOAJ
description The Zika virus (ZIKV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is considered a major health threat causing multiple cases of microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. In this study, we targeted a transient, deep, and hydrophobic pocket of the “super-open” conformation of ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease to overcome the limitations of the active site pocket. After virtual docking screening of approximately seven million compounds against the novel allosteric site, we selected the top six candidates and assessed them in enzymatic assays. Six candidates inhibited ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease proteolytic activity at low micromolar concentrations. These six compounds, targeting the selected protease pocket conserved in ZIKV, serve as unique drug candidates and open new opportunities for possible treatment against several flavivirus infections.
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spelling doaj.art-d82dfc16c47e4ce8a8d1bcd1aada43df2023-11-18T03:39:05ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152023-04-01155110610.3390/v15051106Allosteric Inhibitors of Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Targeting Protease in “Super-Open” ConformationIttipat Meewan0Sergey A. Shiryaev1Julius Kattoula2Chun-Teng Huang3Vivian Lin4Chiao-Han Chuang5Alexey V. Terskikh6Ruben Abagyan7Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, ThailandSanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USASkaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USASanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USASanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USASanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USASanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USASkaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USAThe Zika virus (ZIKV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is considered a major health threat causing multiple cases of microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. In this study, we targeted a transient, deep, and hydrophobic pocket of the “super-open” conformation of ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease to overcome the limitations of the active site pocket. After virtual docking screening of approximately seven million compounds against the novel allosteric site, we selected the top six candidates and assessed them in enzymatic assays. Six candidates inhibited ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease proteolytic activity at low micromolar concentrations. These six compounds, targeting the selected protease pocket conserved in ZIKV, serve as unique drug candidates and open new opportunities for possible treatment against several flavivirus infections.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/5/1106Zika virus protease inhibitorsallosteric inhibitorsZika virus NS2B-NS3 proteasesuper-open conformation
spellingShingle Ittipat Meewan
Sergey A. Shiryaev
Julius Kattoula
Chun-Teng Huang
Vivian Lin
Chiao-Han Chuang
Alexey V. Terskikh
Ruben Abagyan
Allosteric Inhibitors of Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Targeting Protease in “Super-Open” Conformation
Viruses
Zika virus protease inhibitors
allosteric inhibitors
Zika virus NS2B-NS3 protease
super-open conformation
title Allosteric Inhibitors of Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Targeting Protease in “Super-Open” Conformation
title_full Allosteric Inhibitors of Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Targeting Protease in “Super-Open” Conformation
title_fullStr Allosteric Inhibitors of Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Targeting Protease in “Super-Open” Conformation
title_full_unstemmed Allosteric Inhibitors of Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Targeting Protease in “Super-Open” Conformation
title_short Allosteric Inhibitors of Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Targeting Protease in “Super-Open” Conformation
title_sort allosteric inhibitors of zika virus ns2b ns3 protease targeting protease in super open conformation
topic Zika virus protease inhibitors
allosteric inhibitors
Zika virus NS2B-NS3 protease
super-open conformation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/5/1106
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