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Targeting CK2 mediated signaling to impair/tackle SARS-CoV-2 infection: a computational biology approach
Jamilet Miranda1, Ricardo Bringas2, Jorge Fernandez-de-Cossio2
1Division of Informatics, Department of Bioinformatics, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba. jamilet.miranda@cigb.edu.cu.
Background:
Similarities in the hijacking mechanisms used by SARS-CoV-2 and several types of cancer, suggest the repurposing of cancer drugs to treat Covid-19. CK2 kinase antagonists have been proposed for cancer treatment. A recent study in cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 found a significant CK2 kinase activity, and the use of a CK2 inhibitor showed antiviral responses. CIGB-300, originally designed as an anticancer peptide, is an antagonist of CK2 kinase activity that binds to the CK2 phospho-acceptor sites. Recent preliminary results show the antiviral activity of CIGB-300 using a surrogate model of coronavirus. Here we present a computational biology study that provides evidence, at the molecular level, of how CIGB-300 may interfere with the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle within infected human cells.
Methods:
Sequence analyses and data from phosphorylation studies were combined to predict infection-induced molecular mechanisms that can be interfered by CIGB-300. Next, we integrated data from multi-omics studies and data focusing on the antagonistic effect on the CK2 kinase activity of CIGB-300. A combination of network and functional enrichment analyses was used.
Results:
Firstly, from the SARS-CoV studies, we inferred the potential incidence of CIGB-300 in SARS-CoV-2 interference on the immune response. Afterwards, from the analysis of multiple omics data, we proposed the action of CIGB-300 from the early stages of viral infections perturbing the virus hijacking of RNA splicing machinery. We also predicted the interference of CIGB-300 in virus-host interactions that are responsible for the high infectivity and the particular immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, we provided evidence of how CIGB-300 may participate in the attenuation of phenotypes related to muscle, bleeding, coagulation and respiratory disorders.
Conclusions:
Our computational analysis proposes putative molecular mechanisms that support the antiviral activity of CIGB-300.
Insights
This study reveals how CIGB-300, an anticancer drug, may fight SARS-CoV-2 by disrupting viral hijacking of cell machinery. Computational analysis supports its potential as an antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Computational Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
Background:
- SARS-CoV-2 shares hijacking mechanisms with cancer, suggesting cancer drug repurposing for COVID-19.
- CK2 kinase antagonists, like CIGB-300, show promise against cancer and have demonstrated antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 in preliminary studies.
- CIGB-300, an anticancer peptide, inhibits CK2 kinase activity by binding to its phospho-acceptor sites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide molecular-level evidence for CIGB-300's interference with the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which CIGB-300 exerts antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.
- To support the potential repurposing of CIGB-300 as a COVID-19 therapeutic.
Main Methods:
- Combined sequence analyses and phosphorylation data to predict CIGB-300's interference targets.
- Integrated multi-omics data and CK2 kinase inhibition data.
- Utilized network and functional enrichment analyses to understand CIGB-300's effects.
Main Results:
- Inferred CIGB-300's potential role in modulating SARS-CoV-2's impact on the immune response.
- Proposed CIGB-300 perturbs viral hijacking of RNA splicing machinery early in infection.
- Predicted CIGB-300 interference in virus-host interactions, infectivity, and immune response, and potential attenuation of associated disorders.
Conclusions:
- Computational analysis provides putative molecular mechanisms supporting CIGB-300's antiviral activity.
- CIGB-300 shows potential for disrupting key SARS-CoV-2 processes.
- The findings support further investigation of CIGB-300 as a COVID-19 treatment.
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