Designing of improved drugs for COVID-19: Crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro
A research highlight written by Hylemariam Mihiretie Mengist titled “Designing of improved drugs for COVID-19: Crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro” was published online (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-020-0178-y) in Signal transduction and targeted therapy on 9th May, 2020. Congratulations.
The co-first author of this paper is Dr.Xiaojiao Fan. Prof. Tengchuan Jin is the corresponding author. Congratulations to all authors.
Abstract
Recently, Zhang and colleagues published a study in Science which reports about the crystal structure of the main protease (Mpro, 3CLpro) of SARS-CoV-21. The authors reported the X-ray structure of unliganded SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and its complex with α-ketoamide inhibitor after a modification from the previously designed inhibitor through incorporating P3-P2 amide bond into pyridone ring so as to increase its half-life in plasma. Finally the authors demonstrated that the crystal structure of Mpro provides a basis for designing of a potent inhibitor to the protease with a marked tropism to the lung and with ease of administration through inhalation.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Main protease, Inhibitors, COVID-19
