Ligand and structure-based virtual screening applied to the SARS-CoV-2 main protease: an in silico repurposing study

Future Med Chem. 2020 Oct;12(20):1815-1828. doi: 10.4155/fmc-2020-0165. Epub 2020 Aug 13.

Abstract

Aim: The identification of drugs for the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic remains urgent. In this manner, drug repurposing is a suitable strategy, saving resources and time normally spent during regular drug discovery frameworks. Essential for viral replication, the main protease has been explored as a promising target for the drug discovery process. Materials & methods: Our virtual screening pipeline relies on the known 3D properties of noncovalent ligands and features of crystalized complexes, applying consensus analyses in each step. Results: Two oral (bedaquiline and glibenclamide) and one buccal drug (miconazole) presented 3D similarity to known ligands, reasonable predicted binding modes and micromolar predicted binding affinity values. Conclusion: We identified three approved drugs as promising inhibitors of the main viral protease and suggested design insights for future studies for development of novel selective inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects
  • Betacoronavirus / enzymology*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus 3C Proteases
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Diarylquinolines / chemistry
  • Diarylquinolines / pharmacology
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Glyburide / chemistry
  • Glyburide / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Miconazole / chemistry
  • Miconazole / pharmacology
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Protease Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Diarylquinolines
  • Ligands
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • bedaquiline
  • Miconazole
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Coronavirus 3C Proteases
  • Glyburide