PaperPlayer biorxiv biochemistry

Inhibition of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 main protease by tafenoquine in vitro


Listen Later

Link to bioRxiv paper:
http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.08.14.250258v1?rss=1
Authors: Chen, Y., Yang, W.-H., Huang, L.-M., Wang, Y.-C., Yang, C.-S., Liu, Y.-L., Hou, M.-H., Tsai, C.-L., Chou, Y.-Z., Huang, B.-Y., Hung, C.-F., Hung, Y.-L., Chen, J.-S., Chiang, Y.-P., Cho, D.-Y., Jeng, L.-B., Tsai, C.-H., Hung, M.-C.
Abstract:
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the current pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has taken a huge toll on human lives and the global economy. Therefore, effective treatments against this disease are urgently needed. Here, we established a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based high-throughput screening platform to screen compound libraries to identify drugs targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), in particular those which are FDA-approved, to be used immediately to treat patients with COVID-19. Mpro has been shown to be one of the most important drug targets among SARS-related coronaviruses as impairment of Mpro blocks processing of viral polyproteins which halts viral replication in host cells. Our findings indicate that the anti-malarial drug tafenoquine (TFQ) induces significant conformational change in SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and diminishes its protease activity. Specifically, TFQ reduces the alpha-helical content of Mpro, which converts it into an inactive form. Moreover, TFQ greatly inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture system. Hence, the current study provides a mechanistic insight into the mode of action of TFQ against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Moreover, the low clinical toxicity of TFQ and its strong antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 should warrant further testing in clinical trials.
Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

PaperPlayer biorxiv biochemistryBy Multimodal LLC