Natural diketones as potential covalent ligands for SARS-CoV-2 proteins: an <i>in silico</i> docking study

Abstract

Our computer-aided protein-ligand docking test using Autodock Vina software allowed to reveal the potential of few α- and β-diketones from plants and alternative living organisms as covalent ligands for few proteins of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 – a causative agent of COVID-19. It has been established that values for energy of binding (docking score, Ebind, kcal/mol) less than –7.5 and for distances of ligands’ carbonyl groups to side chain nitrogens of arginine residues of some coronaviral enzymes within 0.4 nm have been true for β-diketones 6-gingerdione (Pubchem code CID162952), 8-gingerdione (CID14440537), tetrahydrocurcumine (CID124072) as well as α-diketone wallitaxane E (CID132967478). The in silico revealed interactions are interesting to be verified in vitro and they point out a possibility of investigation of the compounds and related natural materials as tools for struggle against coronaviral infections.