Cys44 of SARS-CoV-2 3CL affects its catalytic activity.

SARS-CoV-2 encodes a 3C-like protease (3CL) that is essential for viral replication. This cysteine protease cleaves viral polyproteins to release functional nonstructural proteins, making it a prime target for antiviral drug development. We investigated the inhibitory effects of halicin, a known c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor, on 3CL.

SARS-CoV-2 uses Spike glycoprotein to control the host's anaerobic metabolism by inhibiting LDHB.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, responsible for approximately 7 million deaths worldwide, highlights the urgent need to understand the molecular mechanisms of the virus in order to prevent future outbreaks. The Spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, which is critical for viral entry through its interaction with ACE2 and other host cell receptors, has been a focus of this study. The present research goes beyond receptor recognition to explore Spike's influence on cellular metabolism.

Comparative Analysis of the Inhibitory Mechanism of Aβ Aggregation by Diruthenium Complexes.

There is a growing interest in the search for metal-based therapeutics for protein misfolding disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). A novel and largely unexplored class of metallodrugs is constituted by paddlewheel diruthenium complexes, which exhibit unusual water solubility and stability and unique coordination modes to proteins. Here, we investigate the ability of the complexes [RuCl(DPhF)(OCCH)]·HO (), [RuCl(DPhF)(OCCH)]·HO (), and K[Ru(DPhF)(CO)]·3HO () (DPhF = ,'-diphenylformamidinate) to interfere with the amyloid aggregation of the Aβ peptide.

A Diruthenium Metallodrug as a Potent Inhibitor of Amyloid-β Aggregation: Synergism of Mechanisms of Action.

The physical and chemical properties of paddlewheel diruthenium compounds are highly dependent on the nature of the ligands surrounding the bimetallic core. Herein, we compare the ability of two diruthenium compounds, [RuCl(D--FPhF)(OCCH)]·HO () (D--FPhF = -bis(4-fluorophenyl)formamidinate) and K[Ru(OCO)]·3HO (), to act as inhibitors of amyloid aggregation of the Aβ peptide and its peculiar fragments, Aβ and Aβ. A wide range of biophysical techniques has been used to determine the inhibition capacity against aggregation and the possible mechanism of action of these compounds (Thioflavin T fluorescence and autofluorescence assays, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and electron scanning microscopy).

From the Discovery of Targets to Delivery Systems: How to Decipher and Improve the Metallodrugs' Actions at a Molecular Level.

Metals are indispensable for the life of all organisms, and their dysregulation leads to various disorders due to the disruption of their homeostasis. Nowadays, various transition metals are used in pharmaceutical products as diagnostic and therapeutic agents because their electronic structure allows them to adjust the properties of molecules differently from organic molecules. Therefore, interest in the study of metal-drug complexes from different aspects has been aroused, and numerous approaches have been developed to characterize, activate, deliver, and clarify molecular mechanisms.