A Dual-Target-Based Screening Strategy for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Active Compounds Enabling the Identification of Macrocyclic Peptide Natural Products: Chloropeptins

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Abstract
Toward the development of innovative antiviral drugs, potential dual inhibitors were screened from the O̅mura natural compound library by the use of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro enzyme activity and SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer-ACE2 ELISA assays. This screening identified macrocyclic peptide natural products, chloropeptins, as potential dual inhibitors. Further evaluation of their anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity against several variants demonstrated their strong potency (IC50 = 2.96-4.36 μM). Pseudovirus and BlaM-Vpr assays utilizing SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudovirus confirmed that chloropeptin 1 effectively blocks viral entry. Additionally, molecular docking simulations revealed that chloropeptins form hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions with Lys353 and His34 of ACE2, implicating key roles involved in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding. These findings highlight chloropeptins as promising candidates for the development of novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics.
Funding Information
  • Takeda Science Foundation
  • Sumitomo Foundation
  • Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (JP21am0101096, JP25ama121030)
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (22K07103)
  • Uehara Memorial Foundation

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