Crystallographic Fragment Screening of the Dengue Virus Polymerase Reveals Multiple Binding Sites for the Development of Non-nucleoside Antiflavivirals.
Saini, M., Aschenbrenner, J.C., Ruiz, F.X., Chopra, A., Chandran, A.V., Marples, P.G., Balcomb, B.H., Fearon, D., von Delft, F., Arnold, E.(2025) J Med Chem 68: 18356-18369
- PubMed: 40892049 Search on PubMedSearch on PubMed Central
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c01014
- PubMed Abstract: 
Dengue viruses (DENVs) infect approximately 400 million people each year, and currently, there are no effective therapeutics available. To explore potential starting points for antiviral drug development, we conducted a large-scale crystallographic fragment screen targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain of the nonstructural protein 5 (NS5) from DENV serotype 2. Our screening, which involved 1108 fragments, identified 60 hit compounds across various known binding sites, including the active site, N pocket, and RNA tunnel. Additionally, we discovered a novel binding site and a fragment-binding hot spot in thumb site II. These structural findings open amenable avenues for developing non-nucleoside inhibitors and offer valuable insights for future structure-based drug design aimed at DENV and other flaviviral RdRps.
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States.
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