title: Vaccinia virus virulence factor N1L is a novel promising target for antiviral therapeutic intervention.
abstract: The 14 kDa homodimeric N1L protein is a potent vaccinia and variola (smallpox) virulence factor. It is not essential for viral replication, but it causes a strong attenuation of viral production in culture when deleted. The N1L protein is predicted to contain the BH3-like binding domain characteristic of Bcl-2 family proteins, and it is able to bind the BH3 peptides. Its overexpression has been reported to prevent infected cells from committing apoptosis. Therefore, interfering with the N1L apoptotic blockade may be a legitimate therapeutic strategy affecting the viral growth. By using in silico ligand docking and an array of in vitro assays, we have identified submicromolar (600 nM) N1L antagonists belonging to the family of polyphenols. Their affinity is comparable to that of the BH3 peptides (70-1000 nM). We have also identified the natural polyphenol resveratrol as a moderate N1L inhibitor. Finally, we show that our ligands efficiently inhibit growth of vaccinia virus.
authors.affiliation: Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Anton V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Cheltsov
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aleshin
authors.forename: Eric Chi-Wang
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gilliland
authors.forename: Dayong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Andrey A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bobkov
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Liddington
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abagyan
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D001665:Binding Sites; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002460:Cell Line; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry; D010636:Phenols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014461:Ultracentrifugation; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C000606775:BCL2L11 protein, human; C474007:Bax protein (53-86); D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C464479:N1L protein, Vaccinia virus; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010636:Phenols; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D013267:Stilbenes; D014764:Viral Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000077185:Resveratrol