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| Title | Covalent inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 NiRAN domain via an active-site cysteine. |
|---|---|
| Journal, issue, pages | J Biol Chem, Vol. 301, Issue 4, Page 108378, Year 2025 |
| Publish date | Mar 4, 2025 |
Authors | Genaro Hernandez / Adam Osinski / Abir Majumdar / Jennifer L Eitson / Monika Antczak / Krzysztof Pawłowski / Hanspeter Niederstrasser / Kelly A Servage / Bruce Posner / John W Schoggins / Joseph M Ready / Vincent S Tagliabracci / ![]() |
| PubMed Abstract | The kinase-like nidovirus RdRp-associated nucleotidyl transferase (NiRAN) domain of nsp12 in SARS-CoV-2 catalyzes the formation of the 5' RNA cap structure. This activity is required for viral ...The kinase-like nidovirus RdRp-associated nucleotidyl transferase (NiRAN) domain of nsp12 in SARS-CoV-2 catalyzes the formation of the 5' RNA cap structure. This activity is required for viral replication, offering a new target for the development of antivirals. Here, we develop a high-throughput assay to screen for small molecule inhibitors targeting the SARS-CoV-2 NiRAN domain. We identified NiRAN covalent inhibitor 2 (NCI-2), a compound with a reactive chloromethyl group that covalently binds to an active site cysteine (Cys53) in the NiRAN domain, inhibiting its activity. NCI-2 can enter cells, bind to, and inactivate ectopically expressed nsp12. A cryo-EM reconstruction of the SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex bound to NCI-2 offers a detailed structural blueprint for rational drug design. Although NCI-2 showed limited potency against SARS-CoV-2 replication in cells, our work lays the groundwork for developing more potent and selective inhibitors targeting the NiRAN domain. This approach presents a promising therapeutic strategy for effectively combating COVID-19 and potentially mitigating future coronavirus outbreaks. |
External links | J Biol Chem / PubMed:40049411 / PubMed Central |
| Methods | EM (single particle) |
| Resolution | 2.7 Å |
| Structure data | EMDB-45587, PDB-9cgv: |
| Chemicals | ![]() ChemComp-ZN: ![]() PDB-1awq: ![]() ChemComp-MN: ![]() ChemComp-HOH: |
| Source |
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Keywords | VIRAL PROTEIN/RNA/INHIBITOR / Complex / Covalent / Inhibitor / SARS-CoV-2 / Polymerase / NiRAN / VIRAL PROTEIN-RNA-INHIBITOR complex |
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