Design of Potential SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitor

Abstract

This computational study comprises of pharmacophore-base virtual screening of the ZINC database, molecular docking of predicted ligands (pharmacophore agent) against the target protein, SARS-CoV-2 (PDB ID: 5r7y) and the prediction of ADMET descriptors using Swiss ADME and PROTOX-II online web servers.  Meanwhile,  remdesivir, ZINC72392503, ZINC72809903, ZINC06560017, ZINC76101700, ZINC88423098 and ZINC91600695 had a docking scores of -2.0 Kcal/mol, -6.7 Kcal/mol, -6.4 Kcal/mol, -6.0 Kcal/mol, -6.0 Kcal/mol, -6.0 Kcal/mol and-6.0 Kcal/mol respectively.  Meanwhile, ZINC72392503 was selected as the lead molecule and was observed to interact with LUE 27, THR 25, CYS 145, THR 26, SER 46, GLY 143, ASN 142, HIS 163, HIS 41, MET 165, GLU 166, ARG 188, GLN 189, HIS 41, MET 49, SER 46 amino acids.  The ADME descriptor revealed that the lead molecule was soluble, druggable, void of drug-drug interaction that may inhibit essential enzymatic reaction and was noticed to fall into PROTOX-II toxicity class 3.  The lead molecule showed a good affinity for the target protein of SARS-CoV-2, hence, may have a physiological implication that can inhibit a protein responsible for the replication of SARS-CoV-2.