Abstract
The papain-like protease (PL pro ) from SARS-CoV-2 is an important target for the development of antivirals against COVID-19. The safe drug disulfiram (DSF) presents antiviral activity inhibiting PL pro in vitro, and it is under clinical trial studies, indicating to be a promising anti-COVID-19 drug. In this work, we aimed to understand the mechanism of PL pro inhibition by DSF and verify if DSF metabolites and derivatives could be potential inhibitors too. Molecular docking, DFT, and ADMET techniques were applied. The carbamoylation of the active site cysteine residue by DSF metabolite (DETC-MeSO) is kinetically and thermodynamically favorable (ΔG ‡ = 3.15 and ΔG = – 12.10 kcal mol -1 , respectively). Our results strongly suggest that the sulfoxide metabolites from DSF are promising covalent inhibitors of PL pro and should be tested in in vitro and in vivo assays to confirm their antiviral action.
Keywords: Antiviral compounds; COVID-19; DFT calculations; Disulfiram; Docking; Organochalcogens.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Antiviral compounds, docking, DFT calculations, disulfiram, Organochalcogens., 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, clinical trial, Antiviral, in vitro, antiviral activity, Papain-like protease, in vivo, inhibitor, mechanism, metabolite, Safe, antiviral action, derivative, tested, applied, inhibiting, cysteine residue, DSF, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, metabolites, binding, derivative,