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Dichlorophenylpyridine-Based Molecules Inhibit Furin through an Induced-Fit Mechanism
Sven O Dahms1, Gisela Schnapp2, Martin Winter3
1Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Straße 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria.
Furin inhibitors, potent against SARS-CoV-2, bind by inducing conformational changes. This structural rearrangement creates new pockets for drug discovery, offering broad-spectrum antiviral potential.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Virology
Background:
- Proprotein convertase furin inhibitors show potential as broad-spectrum antiviral agents.
- Specific (3,5-dichlorophenyl)pyridine derivatives exhibit high cellular potency and activity against SARS-CoV-2.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the binding mechanism of (3,5-dichlorophenyl)pyridine-derived furin inhibitors.
- To characterize the structural and biophysical interactions between inhibitors and furin.
Main Methods:
- Established a MALDI-TOF-MS-based furin activity assay.
- Determined IC50 values for inhibitor potency.
- Solved X-ray crystal structures of furin-inhibitor complexes.
- Utilized surface plasmon resonance and differential scanning fluorimetry.
Main Results:
- Inhibitors induced significant conformational rearrangement of the furin active-site cleft.
- A buried tryptophan residue was exposed, forming an extended hydrophobic surface.
- The 3,5-dichlorophenyl moiety inserted into a newly formed binding pocket.
- Observed slow off-rate binding kinetics and enhanced structural stabilization.
Conclusions:
- The binding mechanism involves inhibitor-induced conformational changes in furin.
- This altered furin conformation presents novel opportunities for structure-based drug design.
- These findings support the development of furin inhibitors as antiviral therapeutics.
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