The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has been identified as the causative agent for the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. 3CL protease (3CL pro ) plays a pivotal role in the processing of viral polyproteins. We report peptidomimetic compounds with a unique benzothiazolyl ketone as a warhead group, which display potent activity against SARS-CoV-2 3CL pro . The most potent inhibitor YH-53 can strongly block the SARS-CoV-2 replication. X-ray structural analysis revealed that YH-53 establishes multiple hydrogen bond interactions with backbone amino acids and a covalent bond with the active site of 3CL pro . Further results from computational and experimental studies, including an in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion profile, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and metabolic analysis of YH-53 suggest that it has a high potential as a lead candidate to compete with COVID-19.

We report the design and synthesis of a series of dipeptide-type inhibitors with novel P3 scaffolds that display potent inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV 3CLpro. A docking study involving binding between the dipeptidic lead compound 4 and 3CLpro suggested the modification of a structurally flexible P3 N-(3-methoxyphenyl)glycine with various rigid P3 moieties in 4. The modifications led to the identification of several potent derivatives, including 5c-k and 5n with the inhibitory activities (Ki or IC50) in the submicromolar to nanomolar range. Compound 5h, in particular, displayed the most potent inhibitory activity, with a Ki value of 0.006 μM. This potency was 65-fold higher than the potency of the lead compound 4 (Ki=0.39 μM). In addition, the Ki value of 5h was in very good agreement with the binding affinity (16 nM) observed in isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). A SAR study around the P3 group in the lead 4 led to the identification of a rigid indole-2-carbonyl unit as one of the best P3 moieties (5c). Further optimization showed that a methoxy substitution at the 4-position on the indole unit was highly favorable for enhancing the inhibitory potency.

Neuromedin U (NMU) are bioactive peptides with a common C-terminal heptapeptide sequence (FLFRPRN-amide, 1a) among mammals, which is responsible for receptor activation, namely NMU receptor types 1 (NMUR1) and 2 (NMUR2). Among the various physiological actions of NMU, the anorexigenic effect has recently attracted attention in drug discovery efforts for treating obesity. Although several structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies have been reported, receptor-selective small peptide agonists have yet to be disclosed. Herein a SAR study of 1a-derived peptide derivatives is described. We initially screened both human NMUR1- and NMUR2-selective peptides in calcium-mobilization assays with cells transiently expressing receptors. Then we performed a precise assay with a stable expression system of receptors and consequently discovered hexapeptides 8d and 6b possessing selective agonist activity toward each respective receptor. Hexapeptide 6b, which selectively activates NMUR2 without significant NMUR1 activation, should aid in the development of anorexigenic drugs as well as advance NMU-related endocrinological research.

Neuromedin U (NMU) and S (NMS) display various physiological activities, including an anorexigenic effect, and share a common C-terminal heptapeptide-amide sequence that is necessary to activate two NMU receptors (NMUR1 and NMUR2). On the basis of this knowledge, we recently developed hexapeptide agonists 2 and 3, which are highly selective to human NMUR1 and NMUR2, respectively. However, the agonists are still less potent than the endogenous ligand, hNMU. Therefore, we performed an additional structure−activity relationship study, which led to the identification of the more potent hexapeptide 5d that exhibits similar NMUR1-agonistic activity as compared to hNMU. Additionally, we studied the stability of synthesized agonists, including 5d, in rat serum, and identified two major biodegradation sites: Phe 2 -Arg 3 and Arg 5 -Asn 6 . The latter was more predominantly cleaved than the former. Moreover, substitution with 4-fluorophenylalanine, as in 5d, enhanced the metabolic stability at Phe 2 -Arg 3 . These results provide important information to guide the development of practical hNMU agonists.

This work describes the design, synthesis, and evaluation of low-molecular weight peptidic SARS-CoV 3CL protease inhibitors. The inhibitors were designed based on the potent tripeptidic Z-Val-Leu-Ala(pyrrolidone-3-yl)-2-benzothiazole (8; Ki = 4.1 nM), in which the P3 valine unit was substituted with a variety of distinct moieties. The resulting series of dipeptide-type inhibitors displayed moderate to good inhibitory activities against 3CL(pro). In particular, compounds 26m and 26n exhibited good inhibitory activities with Ki values of 0.39 and 0.33 μM, respectively. These low-molecular weight compounds are attractive leads for the further development of potent peptidomimetic inhibitors with pharmaceutical profiles. Docking studies were performed to model the binding interaction of the compound 26m with the SARS-CoV 3CL protease. The preliminary SAR study of the peptidomimetic compounds with potent inhibitory activities revealed several structural features that boosted the inhibitory activity: (i) a benzothiazole warhead at the S1' position, (ii) a γ-lactam unit at the S1-position, (iii) an appropriately hydrophobic leucine moiety at the S2-position, and (iv) a hydrogen bond between the N-arylglycine unit and a backbone hydrogen bond donor at the S3-position.

Herein we report the first discovery of natural readthrough products that do not display antimicrobial activity. Two natural negamycins, 3-epi-deoxynegamycin and its leucine adduct, isolated 37 years ago, were found to be potent readthrough agents against nonsense mutations of eukaryotes, but not prokaryotes, without displaying antimicrobial activity. These results suggest that the compounds are valuable leads for the development of readthrough drugs against nonsense-mediated genetic diseases without the potential for contributing to the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.

Myostatin inhibition is one of the promising strategies for treating muscle atrophic disorders, including muscular dystrophy. It is well-known that the myostatin prodomain derived from the myostatin precursor acts as an inhibitor of mature myostatin. In our previous study, myostatin inhibitory minimum peptide (WRQNTRYSRIEAIKIQILSKLRL-amide) was discovered from the mouse myostatin prodomain. In the present study, alanine scanning of demonstrated that the key amino acid residues for the effective inhibitory activity are rodent-specific Tyr and C-terminal aliphatic residues, in addition to N-terminal Trp residue. Subsequently, we designed five Pro-substituted peptides and examined the relationship between secondary structure and inhibitory activity. As a result, we found that Pro-substitutions of Ala or Gln residues around the center of significantly decreased both α-helicity and inhibitory activity. These results suggested that an α-helical structure possessing hydrophobic faces formed around the C-terminus is important for inhibitory activity.

Myostatin, a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth, is a promising target for treating muscle atrophic disorders. Recently, we discovered a minimal myostatin inhibitor (WRQNTRYSRIEAIKIQILSKLRL-amide) derived from positions 21-43 of the mouse myostatin prodomain. We previously identified key residues (N-terminal Trp, rodent-specific Tyr, and all aliphatic amino acids) required for effective inhibition through structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies based on and characterized a 3-fold more potent inhibitor bearing a 2-naphthyloxyacetyl group at position 21. Herein, we performed -based SAR studies focused on all aliphatic residues and Ala, discovering that the incorporations of Trp and Ile at positions 32 and 38, respectively, enhanced the inhibitory activity. Combining these findings with , a novel peptide displayed an IC value of 0.32 μM, which is 11 times more potent than . The peptide would have the potential to be a promising drug lead to develop better peptidomimetics.