Exploring the exportin-1 inhibitors for COVID-19 and anticancer treatment

Nuclear export protein 1, also known as XPO1, plays a crucial role in cellular homeostasis and assists in the nucleocytoplasmic transfer of ribonucleic acids (RNAs) and proteins. In addition, this nuclear export receptor is essential for the export of a variety of cargo molecules, such as proteins implicated in the immune response, tumor suppression, and cell cycle regulation. XPO1 has emerged as a promising target to disrupt the life cycles of multiple viruses and treat cancers. In our current work, we used a computational approach consisting of pharmacophore-assisted virtual screening complemented by molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and solvation-based free-energy studies to identify new inhibitors of the XPO1 protein. The identified compounds displayed highly stable RMSD plots, hydrogen bonding interactions, and relatively good binding affinities in both docking and free energy studies. These molecules were validated in vitro against SARS-CoV-2 and cancer cell lines. The study identified novel inhibitors of the XPO1 protein with both antiviral and anticancer activities.