Exploring possible drug target sites in the novel Coronavirus structure

What is it about?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unforeseen challenge for the global healthcare system, which lacks well-calibrated treatment regimens to tackle this novel disease. Learning more about the virus itself can open the doors to better and more accurate treatment options. One potential "Achilles' heel" of the virus, the main protease or Mpro, is the one of most lucrative antiviral targets since it is responsible for the main biological activities. Inhibiting this Mpro can prevent viral replication, but specific inhibitors haven't been discovered yet. The authors of this study use molecular dynamics simulations to identify high-potency drug molecules, inhibitors, and docking sites for ligands and their stability inside Mpro's pocket. They combined computational data with existing experimental results to theoretically elucidate the ligand-binding mechanisms between Mpro and various marketed drug molecules to test their action against the COVID-19 virus. The results reveal that the binding stability of a ligand can be increased if it binds itself to the "anchor" site in the Mpro's pocket via hydrophobic interactions; antiretroviral drugs like nelfinavir can be good candidates for this treatment.

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Photo by Louis Reed on Unsplash

Photo by Louis Reed on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Drug development is an arduous and expensive process. It involves determining the structural components of the drug and target protein at an atomic level, understanding their binding mechanisms, and finding ways to improve the selectivity and affinity. Considering the urgency of the global pandemic, computational molecular dynamics and docking studies can help prioritize the testing process and expedite the discovery of highly potent drug molecules that can fight COVID-19 infection. The findings of this study can help develop highly potent Mpro inhibitors for the COVID-19 virus. KEY TAKEAWAY: The study shows that the potency of a COVID-19 drug can be improved by designing a ligand with a hydrophobic bulky group that can occupy the "anchor" site inside the virus' Mpro pocket.