Development of a S-adenosylmethionine analog that intrudes the RNA-cap binding site of Zika methyltransferase

Sci Rep. 2017 May 9;7(1):1632. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01756-7.

Abstract

The Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as a major health hazard. We present here a high resolution structure (1.55 Å) of ZIKV NS5 methyltransferase bound to a novel S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) analog in which a 4-fluorophenyl moiety substitutes for the methyl group. We show that the 4-fluorophenyl moiety extends into a portion of the RNA binding tunnel that typically contains the adenosine 2'OH of the RNA-cap moiety. Together, the new SAM analog and the high-resolution crystal structure are a step towards the development of antivirals against ZIKV and other flaviviruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Drug Development*
  • Humans
  • Methyltransferases / chemistry
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • RNA Caps / metabolism*
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / chemistry
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / metabolism*
  • Thermodynamics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism
  • Zika Virus / enzymology*

Substances

  • RNA Caps
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Methyltransferases