title: Binding mechanism of coronavirus main proteinase with ligands and its implication to drug design against SARS.
abstract: In order to stimulate the development of drugs against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), based on the atomic coordinates of the SARS coronavirus main proteinase determined recently [Science 13 (May) (2003) (online)], studies of docking KZ7088 (a derivative of AG7088) and the AVLQSGFR octapeptide to the enzyme were conducted. It has been observed that both the above compounds interact with the active site of the SARS enzyme through six hydrogen bonds. Also, a clear definition of the binding pocket for KZ7088 has been presented. These findings may provide a solid basis for subsite analysis and mutagenesis relative to rational design of highly selective inhibitors for therapeutic application. Meanwhile, the idea of how to develop inhibitors of the SARS enzyme based on the knowledge of its own peptide substrates (the so-called "distorted key" approach) was also briefly elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Gordon Life Science Institute, 7088 Arbor Valley, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA. kchou@chartermi.net
authors.forename: Kuo-Chen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Dong-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Wei-Zhu
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015195:Drug Design; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D008024:Ligands; D010450:Endopeptidases