Abstract |
The development of small molecule inhibitors of the viral protease is of considerable interest for the treatment of emergent flaviviral diseases such as Dengue or West Nile fever. Until today little progress has been made in finding drug-like compounds that inhibit the protease and provide a starting point for lead optimization. We describe here the initial steps of a drug discovery effort that focused on the styryl pharmacophore, combined with a ketoamide function to serve as electrophilic trap for the catalytic serine. This resulted in a fragment-like lead compound with reasonable target affinity and good ligand efficiency, which was extensively modified to explore structure-activity relationships. Selected compounds were cross-tested against the West Nile virus protease and thrombin, indicating that selectivity for one or more flaviviral proteases can be achieved. Finally, the antiviral activity of several protease inhibitors was confirmed in a cell-culture model of Dengue virus replication. The SAR presented here may serve as starting point for further drug discovery efforts with the aim of targeting flaviviral proteases.
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Authors | Christian Steuer, Christian Gege, Wolfgang Fischl, Karl H Heinonen, Ralf Bartenschlager, Christian D Klein |
Journal | Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
(Bioorg Med Chem)
Vol. 19
Issue 13
Pg. 4067-74
(Jul 01 2011)
ISSN: 1464-3391 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 21641807
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
- Amides
- Antiviral Agents
- Protease Inhibitors
- Viral Proteins
- Peptide Hydrolases
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Topics |
- Amides
(chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
- Antiviral Agents
(chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
- Binding Sites
- Computer Simulation
- Dengue Virus
(enzymology)
- Humans
- Peptide Hydrolases
(chemistry, metabolism)
- Protease Inhibitors
(chemical synthesis, chemistry, pharmacology)
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- Viral Proteins
(chemistry, metabolism)
- Virus Replication
(drug effects)
- West Nile virus
(enzymology)
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