Ligand- and Structure-Based Virtual Screening Identifies New Inhibitors of the Interaction of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein with the ACE2 Host Receptor

Identifier:  imarina:9444821

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9444821

Authors:  Delgado-Maldonado, T; González-González, A; Moreno-Rodríguez, A; Bocanegra-García, V; Martinez-Vazquez, AV; de Luna-Santillana, ED; Pujadas, G; Rojas-Verde, G; Lara-Ramírez, EE; Rivera, G

Abstract:
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a fast-spreading viral pathogen and poses a serious threat to human health. New SARS-CoV-2 variants have been arising worldwide; therefore, is necessary to explore more therapeutic options. The interaction of the viral spike (S) protein with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) host receptor is an attractive drug target to prevent the infection via the inhibition of virus cell entry. In this study, Ligand- and Structure-Based Virtual Screening (LBVS and SBVS) was performed to propose potential inhibitors capable of blocking the S receptor-binding domain (RBD) and ACE2 interaction. The best five lead compounds were confirmed as inhibitors through ELISA-based enzyme assays. The docking studies and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations of the selected compounds maintained the molecular interaction and stability (RMSD fluctuations less than 5 & Aring;) with key residues of the S protein. The compounds DRI-1, DRI-2, DRI-3, DRI-4, and DRI-5 efficiently block the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and receptor ACE2 (from 69.90 to 99.65% of inhibition) at 50 mu M. The most potent inhibitors were DRI-2 (IC50 = 8.8 mu M) and DRI-3 (IC50 = 2.1 mu M) and have an acceptable profile of cytotoxicity (CC50 > 90 mu M). Therefore, these compounds could be good candidates for further SARS-CoV-2 preclinical experiments.