Ligand-based drug repurposing strategy identified SARS-CoV-2 RNA G-quadruplex binders

Federica Moraca; Simona Marzano; Francesco D'Amico; Antonio Lupia; Silvia Di Fonzo; Eleonora Vertecchi; Erica Salvati; Anna Di Porzio; Bruno Catalanotti; Antonio Randazzo; Bruno Pagano; Jussara Amato

doi:10.1039/D2CC03135C

Ligand-based drug repurposing strategy identified SARS-CoV-2 RNA G-quadruplex binders†

Federica Moraca,

^ab Simona Marzano,^a Francesco D'Amico,

^c Antonio Lupia,^ab Silvia Di Fonzo,

^c Eleonora Vertecchi,^d Erica Salvati,^d Anna Di Porzio,^a Bruno Catalanotti,^a Antonio Randazzo,

^a Bruno Pagano

*^a and Jussara Amato

*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
E-mail: bruno.pagano@unina.it, jussara.amato@unina.it

^b Net4Science srl, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy

^c Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S. C. p. A., Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy

^d Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, Via degli Apuli 4, 00185 Rome, Italy

Abstract

The single-stranded RNA genome of SARS-CoV-2 contains some G-quadruplex-forming G-rich elements which are putative drug targets. Here, we performed a ligand-based pharmacophore virtual screening of FDA approved drugs to find candidates targeting such RNA structures. Further in silico and in vitro assays identified three drugs as emerging SARS-CoV-2 RNA G-quadruplex binders.

Chemical Communications

Ligand-based drug repurposing strategy identified SARS-CoV-2 RNA G-quadruplex binders†

Abstract

Supplementary files

Article information

Download Citation

Permissions

Ligand-based drug repurposing strategy identified SARS-CoV-2 RNA G-quadruplex binders

Social activity

Search articles by author

Spotlight

Advertisements