Polymerase Acidic Protein-Basic Protein 1 (PA-PB1) Protein-Protein Interaction as a Target for Next-Generation Anti-influenza Therapeutics

J Med Chem. 2016 Sep 8;59(17):7699-718. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01474. Epub 2016 Apr 19.

Abstract

The limited therapeutic options against the influenza virus (flu) and increasing challenges in drug resistance make the search for next-generation agents imperative. In this context, heterotrimeric viral PA/PB1/PB2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is an attractive target for a challenging but strategic protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibition approach. Since 2012, the inhibition of the polymerase PA-PB1 subunit interface has become an active field of research following the publication of PA-PB1 crystal structures. In this Perspective, we briefly discuss the validity of flu polymerase as a drug target and its inhibition through a PPI inhibition strategy, including a comprehensive analysis of available PA-PB1 structures. An overview of all of the reported PA-PB1 complex formation inhibitors is provided, and approaches used for identification of the inhibitors, the hit-to-lead studies, and the emerged structure-activity relationship are described. In addition to highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of all of the PA-PB1 heterodimerization inhibitors, we analyze their hypothesized binding modes and alignment with a pharmacophore model that we have developed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Benzofurans / chemistry
  • Benzofurans / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Humans
  • Multiprotein Complexes / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
  • Orthomyxoviridae / drug effects*
  • Orthomyxoviridae / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / chemistry
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / chemistry
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thiazoles / chemistry
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology
  • Thiophenes / chemistry
  • Thiophenes / pharmacology
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Benzofurans
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • PA protein, influenza viruses
  • Peptides
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Thiazoles
  • Thiophenes
  • Viral Proteins
  • influenza virus polymerase basic protein 1
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase