SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors by dual targeting TMPRSS2 and ACE2: An in silico drug repurposing study

Krishnaprasad Baby, Swastika Maitya, Chetan H. Mehta, Akhil Suresh, Usha Y.Nayak, Yogendra Nayak

10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.173922

Research curated

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is spreading between human populations mainly through nasal droplets. Currently, the vaccines have great hope, but it takes years for testing its efficacy in human. As there is no specific drug treatment available for COVID-19 pandemic, we explored in silico repurposing of drugs with dual inhibition properties by targeting transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) from FDA-approved drugs. The TMPRSS2 and ACE2 dual inhibitors in COVID-19 would be a novel antiviral class of drugs called “entry inhibitors.” For this purpose, approximately 2800 US-FDA approved drugs were docked using a virtual docking tool with the targets TMPRSS2 and ACE2. The best-fit drugs were selected as per docking scores and visual outcomes. Later on, drugs were selected on the basis of molecular dynamics simulations. The drugs alvimopan, arbekacin, dequalinum, fleroxacin, lopinavir, and valrubicin were shortlisted by visual analysis and molecular dynamics simulations. Among these, lopinavir and valrubicin were found to be superior in terms of dual inhibition. Thus, lopinavir and valrubicin have the potential of dual-target inhibition whereby preventing SARS-CoV-2 entry to the host. For repurposing of these drugs, further screening in vitro and in vivo would help in exploring clinically.

Source: PubMed

Related molecules

Name	Synonyms	Genes
Arbekacin
Dequalinium
Fleroxacin
Valrubicin
Transmembrane serine 2	TMPRSS2, Serine protease 10	TMPRSS2, PRSS10
Alvimopan
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2	ACE-related carboxypeptidase, ACE2	ACE2
3C-like protease	3CLpro, Mpro, SARS coronavirus main peptidase, 3CLpro-SARS-CoV-2	rep, ORF1a-1b
Lopinavir

Related interactions

Target	Drug	Type	Result
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2	Lopinavir	Computational	positive
3C-like protease	Valrubicin	Computational	positive
Transmembrane serine 2	Valrubicin	Computational	positive
3C-like protease	Alvimopan	Computational	positive
Transmembrane serine 2	Alvimopan	Computational	positive
3C-like protease	Arbekacin	Computational	positive
Transmembrane serine 2	Arbekacin	Computational	positive
3C-like protease	Dequalinium	Computational	positive
Transmembrane serine 2	Dequalinium	Computational	positive
3C-like protease	Fleroxacin	Computational	positive
Transmembrane serine 2	Fleroxacin	Computational	positive
3C-like protease	Lopinavir	Computational	positive