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Most enveloped viruses rely on the host cell endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control (QC) machinery for proper folding of glycoproteins. The key ER α-glucosidases (α-Glu) I and II of the ERQC machinery are attractive targets for developing broad-spectrum antivirals. Iminosugars based on deoxynojirimycin have been extensively studied as ER α-glucosidase inhibitors; however, other glycomimetic compounds are less established. Accordingly, we synthesized a series of N-substituted derivatives of valiolamine, the iminosugar scaffold of type 2 diabetes drug voglibose. To understand the basis for up to 100,000-fold improved inhibitory potency, we determined high-resolution crystal structures of mouse ER α-GluII in complex with valiolamine and 10 derivatives. The structures revealed extensive interactions with all four α-GluII subsites. We further showed that N-substituted valiolamines were active against dengue virus and SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. This study introduces valiolamine-based inhibitors of the ERQC machinery as candidates for developing potential broad-spectrum therapeutics against the existing and emerging viruses.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the causative pathogen of the COVID-19 pandemic which as of Nov 15, 2020 has claimed 1,319,946 lives worldwide. Vaccine development focuses on the viral trimeric spike glycoprotein as the main target of the humoral immune response. Viral spikes carry glycans that facilitate immune evasion by shielding specific protein epitopes from antibody neutralisation. Immunogen integrity is therefore important for glycoprotein-based vaccine candidates. Here we show how site-specific glycosylation differs between virus-derived spikes and spike proteins derived from a viral vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate. We show that their distinctive cellular secretion pathways result in different protein glycosylation and secretion patterns, which may have implications for the resulting immune response and future vaccine design.

Herein we provide a living summary of the data generated during the COVID Moonshot project focused on the development of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitors. Our approach uniquely combines crowdsourced medicinal chemistry insights with high throughput crystallography, exascale computational chemistry infrastructure for simulations, and machine learning in triaging designs and predicting synthetic routes. This manuscript describes our methodologies leading to both covalent and non-covalent inhibitors displaying protease IC50 values under 150 nM and viral inhibition under 5 uM in multiple different viral replication assays. Furthermore, we provide over 200 crystal structures of fragment-like and lead-like molecules in complex with the main protease. Over 1000 synthesized and ordered compounds are also reported with the corresponding activity in Mpro enzymatic assays using two different experimental setups. The data referenced in this document will be continually updated to reflect the current experimental progress of the COVID Moonshot project, and serves as a citable reference for ensuing publications. All of the generated data is open to other researchers who may find it of use.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder that a barren global antiviral pipeline has grave humanitarian consequences. Pandemics could be prevented in principle by accessible, easily deployable broad-spectrum oral antivirals. Here we report the results of theCOVID Moonshot, a fully open-science, crowd sourced, structure-enabled drug discovery campaign targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. We discovered a novel chemical series that is differentiated from current Mpro inhibitors in that it maintains a new non-covalent, non-peptidic scaffold with nanomolar potency. Our approach leveraged crowdsourcing, high-throughput structural biology, machine learning, and exascale molecular simulations and high-throughput chemistry. In the process, we generated a detailed map of the structural plasticity of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, extensive structure-activity relationships for multiple chemotypes, and a wealth of biochemical activity data. In a first for a structure-based drug discovery campaign, all compound designs (>18,000 designs), crystallographic data (>840 ligand-bound X-ray structures), assay data (>10,000 measurements), and synthesized molecules (>2,400 compounds) for this campaign were shared rapidly and openly, creating a rich open and IP-free knowledgebase for future anti-coronavirus drug discovery.

Influenza and dengue viruses present a growing global threat to public health. Both viruses depend on the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER) glycoprotein folding pathway. In 2014, Sadat et al. reported two siblings with a rare genetic defect in ER α-glucosidase I (ER Glu I) who showed resistance to viral infections, identifying ER Glu I as a key antiviral target. Here, we show that a single dose of UV-4B (the hydrochloride salt form of N-(9'-methoxynonyl)-1-deoxynojirimycin; MON-DNJ) capable of inhibiting Glu I in vivo is sufficient to prevent death in mice infected with lethal viral doses, even when treatment is started as late as 48 h post infection. The first crystal structure of mammalian ER Glu I will constitute the basis for the development of potent and selective inhibitors. Targeting ER Glu I with UV-4B-derived compounds may alter treatment paradigms for acute viral disease through development of a single-dose therapeutic regime.

Within every living organism, countless reactions occur every second. These reactions typically occur more rapidly and with greater efficiency than would be possible under the same conditions in the chemical laboratory, and while using only the subset of elements that are readily available in nature. Despite these apparent differences between life and the laboratory, biological reactions are governed by the same rules as any other chemical reaction. Thus, a firm understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry is invaluable in biochemistry. There are entire textbooks devoted to the application of chemical principles in biological systems and so it is not possible to cover all of the relevant topics in depth in this short article. The aim is instead to provide a brief overview of those areas in chemistry that are most relevant to biochemistry. We summarize the basic principles, give examples of how these principles are applied in biological systems and suggest further reading on individual topics.

α-Glycosidase enzymes hydrolyse α-glycosidic linkages and are involved in bodily processes such as the catabolism of glycans, intestinal digestion, and the degradation of glycoproteins. Various types of diseases which are caused by the failure of this enzyme to function properly can be treated through enzyme inhibition. The hydroxyethyl derivative of DNJ (Miglitol) is a clinical drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Although the iminosugar D-deoxynojirimisin (D-DNJ) is an excellent micromolar glycosidase inhibitor, the α-glucosidase inhibition activity of D-DNJ lactone intermediates has yet to be reported. Therefore, the scalable synthesis of the D-DNJ intermediates 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucurono-3,6-lactone (2), 1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-L-idurono-3,6-lactone (3) and 5-azido-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucurono-3,6-lactone (4) was carried out using D-glucuronolactone (1) as the starting material based on the method reported by Best et al. 2010 with some modification and subsequently, evaluated for anti-α-glucosidase activity. All products were characterised and identified by HPLC-ELSD, mass spectrometry (DI-ESI-MS) and NMR spectroscopy (via comparison of 1D 1H and 13C data with previously reported values). The inhibitory activity of compounds 1-4 towards α-glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was evaluated using the p-nitrophenyl α-D-glucopyranoside substrate. Compound 3 showed 29.5% inhibition followed by 2 (21.4%), 1 (15.8%) and 4 (15.7%) compared to the positive control, quercetin (72.7%).

Iminosugars have therapeutic potential against a range of diseases, due to their efficacy as glycosidase inhibitors. A major challenge in the development of iminosugar drugs lies in making a compound that is selective for the glycosidase associated with a given disease. We report the synthesis of ToP-DNJ, an antiviral iminosugar–tocopherol conjugate. Tocopherol was incorporated into the design of the iminosugar in order to direct the drug to the liver and immune cells, specific tissues of interest for antiviral therapy. ToP-DNJ inhibits ER α-glucosidase II at low micromolar concentrations and selectively accumulates in the liver in vivo. In cellular assays, the drug showed efficacy exclusively in immune cells of the myeloid lineage. Taken together, these data demonstrate that inclusion of a native metabolite into an iminosugar provides selectivity with respect to target enzyme, target cell, and target tissue.

In an effort to elucidate the mechanism of movement of nanovehicles on nonconducting surfaces, the synthesis and optical properties of five fluorescently tagged nanocars are reported. The nanocars were specifically designed for studies by single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and bear a tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate fluorescent tag for excitation at 532 nm. The molecules were designed such that the arrangement of their molecular axles and p-carborane wheels relative to the chassis would be conducive to the control of directionality in the motion of these nanovehicles.

We disclose the synthesis of a porphyrin-fullerene pinwheel that was subsequently observed by scanning tunneling microscopy. The molecule was designed to further our understanding of fullerene-surface interactions, directional control, and surface-rolling versus pivoting capabilities of this class of nanomachines. The inner porphyrin provides the square planar configuration that might lead to realization of the pinwheel spiraling motion on surfaces.