Optimization of a fragment linking hit toward Dengue and Zika virus NS5 methyltransferases inhibitors

Abstract

No antiviral drugs to treat or prevent life-threatening flavivirus infections such as those caused by mosquito-borne Dengue (DENV) and more recently Zika (ZIKV) viruses are yet available. We aim to develop, through a structure-based drug design approach, novel inhibitors targeting the NS5 AdoMet-dependent mRNA methyltransferase (MTase), a viral protein involved in the RNA capping process essential for flaviviruses replication. Herein, we describe the optimization of a hit (5) identified using fragment-based and structure-guided linking techniques, which binds to a proximal site of the AdoMet binding pocket. X-ray crystallographic structures and computational docking were used to guide our optimization process and lead to compounds 30 and 33 (DENV IC₅₀ = 26 μM and 23 μM; ZIKV IC₅₀ = 28 μM and 19 μM, respectively), two representatives of novel non-nucleoside inhibitors of flavivirus MTases.

Keywords: Dengue and Zika viruses; Flavivirus NS5 methyltransferase inhibitors; Fragment growing; Structure-based drug design.