Thiophene-fused γ-lactams inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease via reversible covalent acylation

<p>Enzyme inhibitors working by&nbsp;<em>O</em>-acylation of nucleophilic serine residues are of immense medicinal importance, as exemplified by the &beta;-lactam antibiotics. By contrast, inhibition of nucleophilic cysteine enzymes by&nbsp;<em>S</em>-acylat...

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Main Authors: Gayatri, Brewitz, L, Ibbotson, L, Salah, E, Basak, S, Choudhry, H, Schofield, CJ
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Royal Society of Chemistry 2024
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author Gayatri
Brewitz, L
Ibbotson, L
Salah, E
Basak, S
Choudhry, H
Schofield, CJ
author_facet Gayatri
Brewitz, L
Ibbotson, L
Salah, E
Basak, S
Choudhry, H
Schofield, CJ
author_sort Gayatri
collection OXFORD
description <p>Enzyme inhibitors working by&nbsp;<em>O</em>-acylation of nucleophilic serine residues are of immense medicinal importance, as exemplified by the &beta;-lactam antibiotics. By contrast, inhibition of nucleophilic cysteine enzymes by&nbsp;<em>S</em>-acylation has not been widely exploited for medicinal applications. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>) is a nucleophilic cysteine protease and a validated therapeutic target for COVID-19 treatment using small-molecule inhibitors. The clinically used M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>&nbsp;inhibitors nirmatrelvir and simnotrelvir work&nbsp;<em>via</em>&nbsp;reversible covalent reaction of their electrophilic nitrile with the M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>&nbsp;nucleophilic cysteine (Cys145). We report combined structure activity relationship and mass spectrometric studies revealing that appropriately functionalized &gamma;-lactams can potently inhibit M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>&nbsp;by reversible covalent reaction with Cys145 of M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>. The results suggest that &gamma;-lactams have potential as electrophilic warheads for development of covalently reacting small-molecule inhibitors of M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>&nbsp;and, by implication, other nucleophilic cysteine enzymes.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:6f80c033-1a7b-41d4-9b1a-1125146956e62024-08-28T13:39:10ZThiophene-fused γ-lactams inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease via reversible covalent acylationJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:6f80c033-1a7b-41d4-9b1a-1125146956e6EnglishSymplectic ElementsRoyal Society of Chemistry2024GayatriBrewitz, LIbbotson, LSalah, EBasak, SChoudhry, HSchofield, CJ<p>Enzyme inhibitors working by&nbsp;<em>O</em>-acylation of nucleophilic serine residues are of immense medicinal importance, as exemplified by the &beta;-lactam antibiotics. By contrast, inhibition of nucleophilic cysteine enzymes by&nbsp;<em>S</em>-acylation has not been widely exploited for medicinal applications. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>) is a nucleophilic cysteine protease and a validated therapeutic target for COVID-19 treatment using small-molecule inhibitors. The clinically used M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>&nbsp;inhibitors nirmatrelvir and simnotrelvir work&nbsp;<em>via</em>&nbsp;reversible covalent reaction of their electrophilic nitrile with the M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>&nbsp;nucleophilic cysteine (Cys145). We report combined structure activity relationship and mass spectrometric studies revealing that appropriately functionalized &gamma;-lactams can potently inhibit M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>&nbsp;by reversible covalent reaction with Cys145 of M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>. The results suggest that &gamma;-lactams have potential as electrophilic warheads for development of covalently reacting small-molecule inhibitors of M<small><sup>pro</sup></small>&nbsp;and, by implication, other nucleophilic cysteine enzymes.</p>
spellingShingle Gayatri
Brewitz, L
Ibbotson, L
Salah, E
Basak, S
Choudhry, H
Schofield, CJ
Thiophene-fused γ-lactams inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease via reversible covalent acylation
title Thiophene-fused γ-lactams inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease via reversible covalent acylation
title_full Thiophene-fused γ-lactams inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease via reversible covalent acylation
title_fullStr Thiophene-fused γ-lactams inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease via reversible covalent acylation
title_full_unstemmed Thiophene-fused γ-lactams inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease via reversible covalent acylation
title_short Thiophene-fused γ-lactams inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease via reversible covalent acylation
title_sort thiophene fused γ lactams inhibit the sars cov 2 main protease via reversible covalent acylation
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