Identification of potential targets against SARS‐CoV‐2 of antiviral drugs based on photoaffinity probes

Abstract

Facing the sudden outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), it is extremely urgent to develop effective antiviral drugs against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Drug repurposing is a promising strategy for the treatment of COVID‐19. To identify the precise target protein of marketed medicines, we initiate a chemical biological program to identify precise target of potential antivirus drugs. In this study, two types of recombinant human coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2 RdRp protein capturing probes with various photoaffinity labeling units were designed and synthesized based on the structure of FDA‐approved drugs stavudine, remdesivir, acyclovir, and aladenosine. Fortunately, it was found that one novel photoaffinity probe, RD‐1, could diaplayed good affinity with SARS‐CoV‐2 RdRp around the residue ARG_553. In addition, RD‐1 probe also exhibited potent inhibitory activity against 3CLpro protease. Taken together, our findings will elucidate the structural basis for the efficacy of marketed drugs, and explore a rapid and efficient strategy of drug repurposing based on the identification of new targets. Moreover, these results could also provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of marketed drugs.