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Structure-guided design affirms inhibitors of hepatitis C virus p7 as a viable class of antivirals targeting virion release

Foster, Toshana L.; Thompson, Gary S.; Kalverda, Arnout P.; Kankanala, Jayakanth; Bentham, Matthew; Wetherill, Laura F.; Thompson, Joseph; Barker, Amy M.; Clarke, Dean; Noerenberg, Marko; Pearson, Arwen R.; Rowlands, David J.; Homans, Steven W.; Harris, Mark; Foster, Richard; Griffin, Stephen

Authors

Gary S. Thompson

Arnout P. Kalverda

Jayakanth Kankanala

Matthew Bentham

Laura F. Wetherill

Joseph Thompson

Amy M. Barker

Dean Clarke

Marko Noerenberg

Arwen R. Pearson

David J. Rowlands

Steven W. Homans

Mark Harris

Richard Foster

Stephen Griffin



Abstract

Current interferon‐based therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is inadequate, prompting a shift toward combinations of direct‐acting antivirals (DAA) with the first protease‐targeted drugs licensed in 2012. Many compounds are in the pipeline yet primarily target only three viral proteins, namely, NS3/4A protease, NS5B polymerase, and NS5A. With concerns growing over resistance, broadening the repertoire for DAA targets is a major priority. Here we describe the complete structure of the HCV p7 protein as a monomeric hairpin, solved using a novel combination of chemical shift and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE)‐based methods. This represents atomic resolution information for a full‐length virus‐coded ion channel, or “viroporin,” whose essential functions represent a clinically proven class of antiviral target exploited previously for influenza A virus therapy. Specific drug‐protein interactions validate an allosteric site on the channel periphery and its relevance is demonstrated by the selection of novel, structurally diverse inhibitory small molecules with nanomolar potency in culture. Hit compounds represent a 10,000‐fold improvement over prototypes, suppress rimantadine resistance polymorphisms at submicromolar concentrations, and show activity against other HCV genotypes. Conclusion: This proof‐of‐principle that structure‐guided design can lead to drug‐like molecules affirms p7 as a much‐needed new target in the burgeoning era of HCV DAA.

Citation

Foster, T. L., Thompson, G. S., Kalverda, A. P., Kankanala, J., Bentham, M., Wetherill, L. F., …Griffin, S. (2014). Structure-guided design affirms inhibitors of hepatitis C virus p7 as a viable class of antivirals targeting virion release. Hepatology, 59(2), 408-422. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.26685

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 7, 2013
Online Publication Date Aug 12, 2013
Publication Date Jan 29, 2014
Deposit Date Mar 21, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Hepatology
Print ISSN 0270-9139
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 59
Issue 2
Pages 408-422
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.26685
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1673005
Publisher URL https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hep.26685

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