scholarly journals Long-chain polyphosphates impair SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication: a route for therapy in man

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Ferrucci ◽  
Dae-Young Kong ◽  
Fatemeh Asadzadeh ◽  
Laura Marrone ◽  
Roberto Siciliano ◽  
...  

AbstractAnti-viral activities of long-chain inorganic polyphosphates (PolyPs) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection were investigated. In molecular docking analyses, PolyPs interacted with several conserved angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) amino acids. We thus tested PolyPs for functional interactions in vitro in SARS-CoV-2–infected Vero E6, Caco2 and human primary nasal epithelial cells. Immunofluorescence, qPCR, direct RNA sequencing, FISH and Immunoblotting were used to determine virus loads and transcription levels of genomic(g)RNAs and sub-genomic(sg)RNAs. We show that PolyP120 binds to ACE2 and enhances its proteasomal degradation. PolyP120 shows steric hindrance of the genomic Sars-CoV-2-RNA/RdRP complex, to impair synthesis of positive-sense gRNAs, viral subgenomic transcripts and structural proteins needed for viral replication. Thus, PolyP120 impairs infection and replication of Korean and European (containing non-synonymous variants) SARS-CoV-2 strains. As PolyPs have no toxic activities, we envision their use as a nebulised formula for oropharyngeal delivery to prevent infections of SARS-CoV-2 and during early phases of antiviral therapy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joongoo Lee ◽  
Kevin J. Schwarz ◽  
Do Soon Kim ◽  
Jeffrey S. Moore ◽  
Michael C. Jewett

Biologics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-128
Author(s):  
Majid Hassanzadeganroudsari ◽  
Amir Hossein Ahmadi ◽  
Niloufar Rashidi ◽  
Md Kamal Hossain ◽  
Amanda Habib ◽  
...  

Thus far, in 2021, 219 countries with over 175 million people have been infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 is a positive sense, single-stranded RNA virus, and is the causal agent for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Due to the urgency of the situation, virtual screening as a computational modeling method offers a fast and effective modality of identifying drugs that may be effective against SARS-CoV-2. There has been an overwhelming abundance of molecular docking against SARS-CoV-2 in the last year. Due to the massive volume of computational studies, this systematic review has been created to evaluate and summarize the findings of existing studies. Herein, we report on computational articles of drugs which target, (1) viral protease, (2) Spike protein-ACE 2 interaction, (3) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and (4) other proteins and nonstructural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the studies presented, there are 55 identified natural or drug compounds with potential anti-viral activity. The next step is to show anti-viral activity in vitro and translation to determine effectiveness into human clinical trials.


1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 420-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. R. Ganion ◽  
R. G. Kessel

The incorporation of leucine-3H into either ovarian or oocyte proteins occurs throughout vitellogenesis, but is at a maximum during early phases of this process. The labeling of ovarian and oocyte proteins is inhibited with cycloheximide. Oocytes are permeable to actinomycin D, and this drug does not affect the incorporation of amino acids into oocyte proteins but does block oocyte RNA synthesis. By means of both light microscope and high resolution radioautography, it has been demonstrated that the initial incorporation of leucine-3H under both in vitro and in vivo conditions occurs in elements of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum in the oocyte. Under pulse-chase conditions, the label subsequently becomes associated with intracisternal (precursor yolk) granules now aggregated within the cisternae of the connected smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. By 7 days, mature yolk globules are extensively labeled. The results of experiments designed to assess the possible contribution of maternal blood proteins to yolk deposition indicate that such a contribution is minimal. It is concluded that the crayfish oocyte is programmed for and capable of synthesizing the massive store of proteinaceous yolk present in the egg at the end of oogenesis.


Author(s):  
Olusegun O. Onabajo ◽  
A. Rouf Banday ◽  
Wusheng Yan ◽  
Adeola Obajemu ◽  
Megan L. Stanifer ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for entry into target cells. ACE2 has been proposed as an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG). Thus, interferon-induced variability in ACE2 expression levels could be important for susceptibility to COVID-19 or its outcomes. Here, we report the discovery of a novel, primate-specific isoform of ACE2, which we designate as deltaACE2 (dACE2). We demonstrate that dACE2, but not ACE2, is an ISG. In vitro, dACE2, which lacks 356 N-terminal amino acids, was non-functional in binding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and as a carboxypeptidase. Our results reconcile current knowledge on ACE2 expression and suggest that the ISG-type induction of dACE2 in IFN-high conditions created by treatments, inflammatory tumor microenvironment, or viral co-infections is unlikely to affect the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and promote infection.


Author(s):  
Parth Sarthi Sen Gupta ◽  
Satyaranjan Biswal ◽  
Saroj Kumar Panda ◽  
Abhik Kumar Ray ◽  
Malay Kumar Rana

<p>While an FDA approved drug Ivermectin was reported to dramatically reduce the cell line of SARS-CoV-2 by ~5000 folds within 48 hours, the precise mechanism of action and the COVID-19 molecular target involved in interaction with this in-vitro effective drug are unknown yet. Among 12 different COVID-19 targets studied here, the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) with RNA and Helicase NCB site show the strongest affinity to Ivermectin amounting -10.4 kcal/mol and -9.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Molecular dynamics of corresponding protein-drug complexes reveals that the drug bound state of RdRp with RNA has better structural stability than the Helicase NCB site, with MM/PBSA free energy of -135.2 kJ/mol, almost twice that of Helicase (-76.6 kJ/mol). The selectivity of Ivermectin to RdRp is triggered by a cooperative interaction of RNA-RdRp by ternary complex formation. Identification of the target and its interaction profile with Ivermectin can lead to more powerful drug designs for COVID-19 and experimental exploration. </p>


Author(s):  
A.Z. Dautova ◽  
E.A. Khazhieva ◽  
V.G. Shamratova ◽  
L.Z. Sadykova

The aim of the paper was to study the association of polymorphic variants of rs4646994 (I/D) of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene (ACE) and rs5810761 (+9/-9) of the bradykinin B2 receptor gene (BDKRB2) with erythrocyte adrenoreactivity (ARE) in athletes and untrained young men. Materials and Methods. The study involved 61 young men (aged 21–23) with different levels of motor activity (MA). ARE was evaluated according to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) change under adrenaline in vitro at final concentrations 10-5, 10-6, 10-7, 10-9, 10-11, 10-13 g/ml of venous blood. According to the effect observed and ESR shifts under adrenaline, we distinguished 3 ARE types: antiaggregative (AnAg), areactive (Ar) and aggregative (Ar). Results. The results of comparative and correlation analyses demonstrated that young athletes with +9/-9 (BDKRB2) genotype were characterized by a higher aggregative resistance of erythrocytes to the effects of both physiological (<10-9 g/ml) (physiological adrenaline concentration, PAC) and stressful doses (>10-9 g/ml) of adrenaline (stress adrenaline concentration, SAC), as well as by predominance of AnAg and Ar ARE types. In athletes, among the representatives of different genotypes of АСЕ gene I/D polymorphism, the erythrocyte response to adrenaline did not have any statistically significant differences. In physically inactive students, namely individuals with the D/D genotype, maximal ESR deviation under PAC was less than in those with I/D genotype. Conclusion. Athletes with *-9 allele (+9/-9 genotype) in their genotype can be considered more stress-resistant, which is provided by optimal adaptive and compensatory body mechanisms. Apparently, resistance of cells to the adrenaline contributes much to the work of these mechanisms. As for the ACE gene polymorphism, its effect on the suspension characteristics of erythrocytes is less pronounced not only in physically inactive young men, but in athletes as well. Keywords: erythrocyte adrenoreactivity (ARE), stress tolerance, β2 bradykinin receptor gene (BDKRB2), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene, motor activity. Цель работы – изучить ассоциацию полиморфных вариантов rs4646994 (I/D) гена ангиотензинпревращающего фермента (АСЕ) и rs5810761 (+9/-9) гена рецептора брадикинина 2 типа (BDKRB2) с адренореактивностью эритроцитов (АРЭ) у спортсменов и юношей, ведущих физически малоактивный образ жизни. Материалы и методы. В исследовании принял участие 61 юноша с разным уровнем двигательной активности (ДА) в возрасте 21–23 лет. Оценку АРЭ проводили по изменению скорости оседания эритроцитов (СОЭ) под действием адреналина in vitro в конечных концентрациях 10-5, 10-6, 10-7, 10-8, 10-9, 10-11, 10-13 г/мл венозной крови. По характеру наблюдаемого эффекта в соответствии с направленностью сдвигов СОЭ в присутствии адреналина мы выделили 3 типа АРЭ: антиагрегационный (АнАг), ареактивный (Ар) и агрегационный (Аг). Результаты. По результатам сравнительного и корреляционного анализа установлено, что юноши-спортсмены с генотипом +9/-9 (BDKRB2) характеризуются более высокой агрегативной устойчивостью эритроцитов к воздействию как физиологических (10-9 г/мл и ниже), так и повышенных (стрессовых) доз (выше 10-8 г/мл крови) адреналина, а также преобладанием АнАг- и Ар-типов АРЭ. У представителей разных генотипов полиморфизма I/D гена АСЕ реакция эритроцитов на адреналин не имела статистически значимых различий в группе спортсменов, тогда как в группе малоактивных студентов у лиц с генотипом D/D максимальное отклонение СОЭ при ФКА было меньше, чем при генотипе I/D. Выводы. Спортсменов, имеющих в своём генотипе аллель *-9 (+9/-9 генотип), можно считать более стрессоустойчивыми, что обеспечивается оптимальными адаптивно-компенсаторными механизмами организма, существенная роль в обеспечении которых, по-видимому, принадлежит устойчивости клеток к действию адреналина. Что касается полиморфизма гена АСЕ, то его влияние на суспензионные характеристики эритроцитов выражено слабее не только у физически малоактивных юношей, но и у спортсменов. Ключевые слова: адренореактивность эритроцитов (АРЭ), стрессоустойчивость, ген рецептора брадикинина β2 (BDKRB2), ген ангиотензинпревращающего фермента (АСЕ), двигательная активность.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (22) ◽  
pp. 1952-1961 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Sobrinho ◽  
A.F. Francisco ◽  
R. Simões-Silva ◽  
A.M. Kayano ◽  
J.J. Alfonso Ruiz Diaz ◽  
...  

Background: Several studies have aimed to identify molecules that inhibit the toxic actions of snake venom phospholipases A2 (PLA2s). Studies carried out with PLA2 inhibitors (PLIs) have been shown to be efficient in this assignment. Objective: This work aimed to analyze the interaction of peptides derived from Bothrops atrox PLIγ (atPLIγ) with a PLA2 and to evaluate the ability of these peptides to reduce phospholipase and myotoxic activities. Methods: Peptides were subjected to molecular docking with a homologous Lys49 PLA2 from B. atrox venom modeled by homology. Phospholipase activity neutralization assay was performed with BthTX-II and different ratios of the peptides. A catalytically active and an inactive PLA2 were purified from the B. atrox venom and used together in the in vitro myotoxic activity neutralization experiments with the peptides. Results: The peptides interacted with amino acids near the PLA2 hydrophobic channel and the loop that would be bound to calcium in Asp49 PLA2. They were able to reduce phospholipase activity and peptides DFCHNV and ATHEE reached the highest reduction levels, being these two peptides the best that also interacted in the in silico experiments. The peptides reduced the myotubes cell damage with a highlight for the DFCHNV peptide, which reduced by about 65%. It has been suggested that myotoxic activity reduction is related to the sites occupied in the PLA2 structure, which could corroborate the results observed in molecular docking. Conclusion: This study should contribute to the investigation of the potential of PLIs to inhibit the toxic effects of PLA2s.


1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (12) ◽  
pp. 2170-2177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdenko Procházka ◽  
Jiřina Slaninová
Keyword(s):  

Solid phase technique on p-methylbenzhydrylamine resin was used for the synthesis of four analogs of oxytocin and four analogs of vasopressin with the non-coded amino acids L- or D- and 1- or 2-naphthylalanine and D-homoarginine. [L-1-Nal2]oxytocin, [D-1-Nal2]oxytocin, [L-2-Nal2]oxytocin, [D-2-Nal2]oxytocin, [L-1-Nal2, D-Har8]vasopressin, [D-1-Nal2, D-Har8]vasopressin, [L-2-Nal2, D-Har8]vasopressin and [D-2-Nal2, D-Har8]vasopressin were synthesized. All eight analogs were found to be uterotonic inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. Analogs with 2-naphthylalanine are stronger inhibitors, particularly in the vasopressin series than the analogs with 1-naphthylalanine. Analogs with 1-naphthylalanine have no activity in the pressor test, analogs with 2-naphthylalanine are weak pressor inhibitors.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document