3-O-β-chacotriosyl glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives as potential small-molecule SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2024.03.08
- VernacularTitle:马铃薯三糖甘草次酸衍生物通过抑制SARS-CoV-2进入靶细胞作为潜在的小分子新冠病毒融合抑制剂
- Author:
Xin WAN
1
;
Chongjun HONG
;
Jinshen WANG
;
Gaopeng SONG
;
Shuwen LIU
Author Information
1. 惠州卫生职业技术学院药学与检验学院,广东 惠州 516000
- Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2;
small-molecule SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors;
spike protein;
glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2024;44(3):474-483
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To study the inhibitory activities of 3-O-β-chacotriosyl glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives against the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells.Methods With pentacyclic triterpene saponin glycyrrhizic acid(a natural SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitor)as the lead compound,a series of 3-O-β-chacotriosyl glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized based on hypridization principle,and their inhibitory activities against virus entry were tested in SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus-infected cells.The antiviral targets of the lead compound 1b was identified by pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 infection assay and surface plasmon resonance(SPR)assay,and the S protein-mediated cell-cell fusion assay was used to evaluate the effect of 1b on virus-cell membrane fusion.Molecular docking and single amino acid mutagenesis were carried out to analyze the effect of 1b on binding activitiy of S protein.Results The lead compound 1b showed significant inhibitory effect against Omicron pseudovirus with an EC50 value of 3.28μmol/L(P<0.05),and had broad-spectrum antiviral activity against other SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus.Spike-dependent cell-cell fusion assay demonstrated an inhibitory effect of 1b against SARS-CoV-2 S protein-mediated cell-cell fusion.Molecular docking analysis predicted that the lead compound 1b could be well fitted into a cavity between the attachment(S1)and fusion(S2)subunits at the 3-fold axis,where it formed multiple hydrophobic interactions with Glu309,Ser305,Arg765 and Lys964 residues with a KD value of-8.6 kcal/mol.The compound 1b at 10,5,2.5 and 1.25 μmol/L showed a significantly reduced inhibitory activity against the pseudovirus with mutated Arg765,Lys964,Glu309 and Leu303(P<0.01).Conclusion 3-O-β-chacotriosyl glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives are capable of stabilizing spike protein in the pre-fusion step to interfere with the fusion of SARS-CoV-2 with host cell membrane,and can thus serve as potential novel small-molecule SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors.
