Preventing the Interaction between Coronaviruses Spike Protein and Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme 2: An <i>In Silico</i> Mechanistic Case Study on Emodin as a Potential Model Compound

• Main Authors: Luca Dellafiora, Jean Lou C M Dorne, Gianni Galaverna, Chiara Dall’Asta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: emodin; antiviral activity; molecular modeling; spike protein; coronavirus; mechanism of action
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/18/6358

Emodin, a widespread natural anthraquinone, has many biological activities including health-protective and adverse effects. Amongst beneficial effects, potential antiviral activity against coronavirus responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2002–2003 has been described associated with the inhibition of the host cells target receptors recognition by the viral Spike protein. However, the inhibition mechanisms have not been fully characterized, hindering the rational use of emodin as a model compound to develop more effective analogues. This work investigates emodin interaction with the Spike protein to provide a mechanistic explanation of such inhibition. A 3D molecular modeling approach consisting of docking simulations, pharmacophoric analysis and molecular dynamics was used. The plausible mechanism is described as an interaction of emodin at the protein–protein interface which destabilizes the viral protein-target receptor complex. This analysis has been extended to the Spike protein of the coronavirus responsible for the current pandemic hypothesizing emodin’s functional conservation. This solid knowledge-based foothold provides a possible mechanistic rationale of the antiviral activity of emodin as a future basis for the potential development of efficient antiviral cognate compounds. Data gaps and future work on emodin-related adverse effects in parallel to its antiviral pharmacology are explored.