Viral Protein Dimerization Quality Control: A Design Strategy for a Potential Viral Inhibitor

J Med Chem. 2024 Oct 10;67(19):16951-16966. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01540. Epub 2024 Sep 20.

Abstract

The global pharmaceutical market has been profoundly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, leading to an increased demand for specific drugs. Consequently, drug resistance has prompted continuous innovation in drug design strategies to effectively combat resistant pathogens or disease variants. Protein dimers play crucial roles in vivo, including catalytic reactions, signal transduction, and structural stability. The site of action for protein dimerization modulators typically does not reside within the active site of the protein, thereby potentially impeding resistance development. Therefore, harnessing viral protein dimerization modulators could represent a promising avenue for combating viral infections. In this Perspective, we provide a detailed introduction to the design principles and applications of dimerization modulators in antiviral research. Furthermore, we analyze various representative examples to elucidate their modes of action while presenting our perspective on dimerization modulators along with the opportunities and challenges associated with this groundbreaking area of investigation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents* / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents* / pharmacology
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Protein Multimerization* / drug effects
  • Quality Control
  • SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects
  • Viral Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Viral Proteins