To further evaluate selectivity, the activity of 34 against the human serine protease dipeptidyl peptidase\4 (DPP4), the aspartate protease beta\secretase 1 (BACE1) and cysteine protease cathepsin?B was measured in an inhibition assay (Figure?6). 3CLpro over several human proteases. This study presents the first example of metal complexes as Ibuprofen Lysine (NeoProfen) inhibitors for the 3CLpro cysteine protease. 427). To investigate if the metal complex was bound to the predicted cysteine residue, 3CLpro was first incubated with the well\characterized inhibitor GC376, which covalently binds to Cys145 as confirmed by macromolecular X\ray crystallography. [14] As expected, GC376 formed a new species (34?201) with a mass difference of 404, corresponding to the correct mass for the GC376\protein covalent adduct (Figure?S15). Incubation of 3CLpro with GC376, followed by incubation with 22 resulted in only the formation of the GC376\protein covalent adduct (34?201), with no mixture of adducts and no addition of the ReI tricarbonyl complex (Figure?S16). These results strongly suggest that 22 is targeting the same residue as GC376, namely active site Cys145. Following this initial assessment, the inhibition activity against the SARS\CoV\2 3CLpro was investigated. The 3CLpro protease was pre\incubated with ReI compounds and enzyme inhibition was monitored by conversion of a non\fluorescent substrate to a fluorescent product (see Supporting Information for details). Compounds 1C42 were screened against 3CLpro at a concentration of 200?M (Figure?5). As Ibuprofen Lysine (NeoProfen) expected, due to the slow release of the chloride atom, compounds 1C21 did not show significant inhibition activity. In contrast, all aqua compounds 22C42 were able to inhibit the activity of the protease, with remaining enzymatic activity reduced to 20C40?%. The aqua compounds were subsequently screened against 3CLpro at a lower concentration of 50?M (Figure?5). Interestingly, the 4,4\ (27C35) and 5,5\ (36C39) substituted complexes generally displayed stronger inhibitory activity when compared to the 3,3\ (22C26) and 6,6\ (40C42) substituted complexes. However, none of the compounds displayed significantly greater activity than the unsubstituted parent compound 22. Overall, compounds 22, 31C34, 37C39 were identified as having the strongest inhibitory effect and were therefore studied further. Open in a separate window Figure 5 Enzyme activity assay of 3CLpro with 1C42 (C=control, no inhibitor; I=known covalent inhibitor GC376) at a concentration of: 200?M (457). Covalent 3CLpro inhibitors could also bind and inhibit cathepsins, especially cathepsin?B, resulting in undesired side reactions and off\target effects. [55] Inhibition of cathepsins is particularly relevant because they are found in the respiratory system, where SARS\CoV\2 would infect. [56] To investigate this potential shortcoming, cathepsin?B was incubated with 34 for 2?h followed by analysis by mass spectrometry. While matrix\assisted laser ionization\time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI\TOF\MS) identified the covalent adduct of 34 with 3CLpro (Figure?S22), no adduct formation was observed between 34 and cathepsin?B (Figure?S23), indicative of some selectivity of 34 towards 3CLpro over this cysteine protease. To further evaluate selectivity, the activity of 34 against the human serine protease dipeptidyl peptidase\4 (DPP4), the aspartate protease beta\secretase 1 (BACE1) Rabbit Polyclonal to NBPF1/9/10/12/14/15/16/20 and cysteine protease cathepsin?B was measured in an inhibition assay (Figure?6). Encouragingly, compound 34 did not show measurable activity (IC50 value 100?M) towards DPP4 and cathepsin?B, and showed only weak inhibition of BACE1 (IC50 value=89.25.7?M). These preliminary studies indicate that selective inhibition of 3CLpro can be achieved over several human proteases. Open in a separate Ibuprofen Lysine (NeoProfen) window Figure 6 Enzymatic activity of the lead compound 34 at a concentration of 50?M towards serine protease DPP4, aspartate protease BACE1, cysteine protease cathepsin B, and cysteine protease 3CLpro. Conclusion In summary, the synthesis and biophysical evaluation of ReI tricarbonyl complexes as inhibitors of the SARS\CoV\2 main protease 3CLpro has been achieved. A series of ReI complexes with chloride and water as capping ligands and differently substituted 2,2\bipyridine ligands were prepared. While the coordinated chloride was only slowly released, the aqua complex 22 showed reactivity towards amino acids within one hour. Mass spectrometry experiments verified the coordinate covalent binding of a single ReI tricarbonyl complex to 3CLpro. Using an enzymatic assay against 3CLpro, several complexes were found to be active, with IC50 values of 10?M. Preliminary investigations show selectivity against human proteases. These results suggest that ReI tricarbonyl complexes can serve as a starting scaffold for the Ibuprofen Lysine (NeoProfen) development of potent, selective SARS\CoV\2 inhibitors. Conflict of interest The.