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Article
Nature Chemical Biology 5, 640–646 (1 September 2009) | doi:10.1038/nchembio.192
Inhibition of a viral enzyme by a small-molecule dimer disruptor
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Abstract
We identified small-molecule dimer disruptors that inhibit an essential dimeric protease of human Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) by screening an α-helical mimetic library. Next, we synthesized a second generation of low-micromolar inhibitors with improved potency and solubility. Complementary methods including size exclusion chromatography and 1H-13C HSQC titration using selectively labeled 13C-Met samples revealed that monomeric protease is enriched in the presence of inhibitor. 1H-15N HSQC titration studies mapped the inhibitor binding site to the dimer interface, and mutagenesis studies targeting this region were consistent with a mechanism where inhibitor binding prevents dimerization through the conformational selection of a dynamic intermediate. These results validate the interface of herpesvirus proteases and other similar oligomeric interactions as suitable targets for the development of small-molecule inhibitors.
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