Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease for Treatment of COVID-19: Covalent Inhibitors Structure-Activity Relationship Insights and Evolution Perspectives

J Med Chem. 2022 Oct 13;65(19):12500-12534. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01005. Epub 2022 Sep 28.

Abstract

The viral main protease is one of the most attractive targets among all key enzymes involved in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. Covalent inhibition of the cysteine145 of SARS-CoV-2 MPRO with selective antiviral drugs will arrest the replication process of the virus without affecting human catalytic pathways. In this Perspective, we analyzed the in silico, in vitro, and in vivo data of the most representative examples of covalent SARS-CoV-2 MPRO inhibitors reported in the literature to date. In particular, the studied molecules were classified into eight different categories according to their reactive electrophilic warheads, highlighting the differences between their reversible/irreversible mechanism of inhibition. Furthermore, the analyses of the most recurrent pharmacophoric moieties and stereochemistry of chiral carbons were reported. The analyses of noncovalent and covalent in silico protocols, provided in this Perspective, would be useful for the scientific community to discover new and more efficient covalent SARS-CoV-2 MPRO inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Coronavirus 3C Proteases
  • Cysteine
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protease Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protease Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • 3C-like proteinase, SARS-CoV-2
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Coronavirus 3C Proteases
  • Cysteine