Subtle structural differences of nucleotide analogs may impact SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and exoribonuclease activity. 2022

Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
Instituto de Química Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Mérida-Tetiz Km. 4.5, Ucú, Yucatán, Mexico.

The rapid spread and public health impact of the novel SARS-CoV-2 variants that cause COVID-19 continue to produce major global impacts and social distress. Several vaccines were developed in record time to prevent and limit the spread of the infection, thus playing a pivotal role in controlling the pandemic. Although the repurposing of available drugs attempts to provide therapies of immediate access against COVID-19, there is still a need for developing specific treatments for this disease. Remdesivir, molnupiravir and Paxlovid remain the only evidence-supported antiviral drugs to treat COVID-19 patients, and only in severe cases. To contribute on the search of potential Covid-19 therapeutic agents, we targeted the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and the exoribonuclease (ExoN) following two strategies. First, we modeled and analyzed nucleoside analogs sofosbuvir, remdesivir, favipiravir, ribavirin, and molnupiravir at three key binding sites on the RdRp-ExoN complex. Second, we curated and virtually screened a database containing 517 nucleotide analogs in the same binding sites. Finally, we characterized key interactions and pharmacophoric features presumably involved in viral replication halting at multiple sites. Our results highlight structural modifications that might lead to more potent SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors against an expansive range of variants and provide a collection of nucleotide analogs useful for screening campaigns.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
January 2022, Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics,
Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
September 2021, Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP,
Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
January 2023, Computational and structural biotechnology journal,
Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
August 2021, Viruses,
Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
October 2020, IUBMB life,
Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
December 2020, Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy,
Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
October 2022, Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics,
Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
January 2021, Journal of medical virology,
Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
March 2021, Journal of chemical information and modeling,
Abraham Madariaga-Mazón, and José J Naveja, and Arturo Becerra, and José Alberto Campillo-Balderas, and Ricardo Hernández-Morales, and Rodrigo Jácome, and Antonio Lazcano, and Karina Martinez-Mayorga
April 2021, Microorganisms,
Copied contents to your clipboard!