Discovery of Highly Potent Noncovalent Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease through Computer-Aided Drug Design.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a clear need to ensure rapid and equitable global access to health interventions in preparation for future coronavirus-driven pandemics. Here, we report the discovery of highly potent noncovalent inhibitors of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (Mpro) with pan-coronavirus (pan-CoV) Mpro inhibition through computer-aided drug design. Virtual screening led to the identification of a noncovalent hit compound with a piperazine core. Structure-guided scaffold morphing provided a novel trisubstituted piperidine core. Free energy perturbation (FEP)-guided designs, with induced-fit of Met49/Met165 and Gln189, resulted in the identification of highly potent compound 30, which exhibits pan-CoV Mpro inhibition an

SUBMITTER: Okabe A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12557384 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature