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Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Covalent Fragment Screening Using the Quantitative Irreversible Tethering Assay
Published on: February 28, 2025
Covalent inhibitors: an opportunity for rational target selectivity
Roman Lagoutte1, Remi Patouret1, Nicolas Winssinger1
1Faculty of Science, Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
Covalent inhibitors targeting cysteine or lysine residues offer precise drug design. Advances in structural biology and proteomics enhance the discovery and selectivity of these targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Drug Discovery
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- Covalent interactions are regaining prominence in drug development.
- Cysteine thiols are reactive nucleophiles, ideal for targeted covalent inhibition.
- Lysine amines also present opportunities for covalent modification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in the discovery and design of covalent inhibitors.
- To highlight the role of specific amino acids in targeted covalent inhibition.
- To discuss the impact of structural biology and proteomics on this field.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of recent literature on covalent inhibitor design.
- Examination of examples showcasing cysteine and lysine engagement.
- Discussion of proteomic techniques for assessing selectivity.
Main Results:
- Covalent inhibitors can achieve high target selectivity through specific amino acid interactions.
- Protein structure databases aid in identifying suitable targets for covalent modification.
- Proteomic technologies allow for detailed analysis of covalent drug engagement.
Conclusions:
- Covalent inhibitors represent a powerful strategy for developing targeted therapeutics.
- The rational design of covalent inhibitors is facilitated by structural and proteomic data.
- Further exploration of cysteine and lysine reactivity will expand the scope of covalent drug discovery.
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