Broad-spectrum antivirals against 3C or 3C-like proteases of picornaviruses, noroviruses, and coronaviruses

J Virol. 2012 Nov;86(21):11754-62. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01348-12. Epub 2012 Aug 22.

Abstract

Phylogenetic analysis has demonstrated that some positive-sense RNA viruses can be classified into the picornavirus-like supercluster, which includes picornaviruses, caliciviruses, and coronaviruses. These viruses possess 3C or 3C-like proteases (3Cpro or 3CLpro, respectively), which contain a typical chymotrypsin-like fold and a catalytic triad (or dyad) with a Cys residue as a nucleophile. The conserved key sites of 3Cpro or 3CLpro may serve as attractive targets for the design of broad-spectrum antivirals for multiple viruses in the supercluster. We previously reported the structure-based design and synthesis of potent protease inhibitors of Norwalk virus (NV), a member of the Caliciviridae family. We report herein the broad-spectrum antiviral activities of three compounds possessing a common dipeptidyl residue with different warheads, i.e., an aldehyde (GC373), a bisulfite adduct (GC376), and an α-ketoamide (GC375), against viruses that belong to the supercluster. All compounds were highly effective against the majority of tested viruses, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations in the high nanomolar or low micromolar range in enzyme- and/or cell-based assays and with high therapeutic indices. We also report the high-resolution X-ray cocrystal structures of NV 3CLpro-, poliovirus 3Cpro-, and transmissible gastroenteritis virus 3CLpro- GC376 inhibitor complexes, which show the compound covalently bound to a nucleophilic Cys residue in the catalytic site of the corresponding protease. We conclude that these compounds have the potential to be developed as antiviral therapeutics aimed at a single virus or multiple viruses in the picornavirus-like supercluster by targeting 3Cpro or 3CLpro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3C Viral Proteases
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Coronavirus / drug effects*
  • Coronavirus / enzymology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Models, Molecular
  • Norovirus / drug effects*
  • Norovirus / enzymology
  • Picornaviridae / drug effects*
  • Picornaviridae / enzymology
  • Protease Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Viral Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Viral Proteins
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • 3C Viral Proteases