Probing the SAM binding site of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 in vitro using SAM competitive inhibitors guides developing selective bisubstrate inhibitors Journal Article


Authors: Devkota, K.; Schapira, M.; Perveen, S.; Khalili Yazdi, A.; Li, F.; Chau, I.; Ghiabi, P.; Hajian, T.; Loppnau, P.; Bolotokova, A.; Satchell, K. J. F.; Wang, K.; Li, D.; Liu, J.; Smil, D.; Luo, M.; Jin, J.; Fish, P. V.; Brown, P. J.; Vedadi, M.
Article Title: Probing the SAM binding site of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp14 in vitro using SAM competitive inhibitors guides developing selective bisubstrate inhibitors
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly brought the healthcare systems worldwide to a breaking point, along with devastating socioeconomic consequences. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the disease, uses RNA capping to evade the human immune system. Nonstructural protein (nsp) 14 is one of the 16 nsps in SARS-CoV-2 and catalyzes the methylation of the viral RNA at N7-guanosine in the cap formation process. To discover small-molecule inhibitors of nsp14 methyltransferase (MTase) activity, we developed and employed a radiometric MTase assay to screen a library of 161 in-house synthesized S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) competitive MTase inhibitors and SAM analogs. Among six identified screening hits, SS148 inhibited nsp14 MTase activity with an IC50 value of 70 ± 6 nM and was selective against 20 human protein lysine MTases, indicating significant differences in SAM binding sites. Interestingly, DS0464 with an IC50 value of 1.1 ± 0.2 μM showed a bisubstrate competitive inhibitor mechanism of action. DS0464 was also selective against 28 out of 33 RNA, DNA, and protein MTases. The structure–activity relationship provided by these compounds should guide the optimization of selective bisubstrate nsp14 inhibitors and may provide a path toward a novel class of antivirals against COVID-19, and possibly other coronaviruses. © The Author(s) 2021.
Keywords: coronavirus; covid-19; sars-cov-2; nsp14
Journal Title: SLAS Discovery
Volume: 26
Issue: 9
ISSN: 2472-5552
Publisher: Sage Publications  
Date Published: 2021-10-01
Start Page: 1200
End Page: 1211
Language: English
DOI: 10.1177/24725552211026261
PUBMED: 34192965
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8458670
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 October 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Minkui Luo
    70 Luo
  2. Ke Wang
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  3. Deyao Li
    2 Li