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An essential protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the envelope protein E, forms a homopentameric cation channel that is important for virus pathogenicity. Here we report a 2.1-Å structure and the drug-binding site of E’s transmembrane domain (ETM), determined using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. In lipid bilayers that mimic the endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) membrane, ETM forms a five-helix bundle surrounding a narrow pore. The protein deviates from the ideal α-helical geometry due to three phenylalanine residues, which stack within each helix and between helices. Together with valine and leucine interdigitation, these cause a dehydrated pore compared with the viroporins of influenza viruses and HIV. Hexamethylene amiloride binds the polar amino-terminal lumen, whereas acidic pH affects the carboxy-terminal conformation. Thus, the N- and C-terminal halves of this bipartite channel may interact with other viral and host proteins semi-independently. The structure sets the stage for designing E inhibitors as antiviral drugs.A solid-state NMR structure of the transmembrane domain from SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein in the phospholipid environment reveals determinants of cation selectivity, a dehydrated pore and an N-terminal drug-binding site.

Double life of flu virus protein The current H1N1 strain pandemic virus is resistant to the established antiviral agents amantadine and rimantadine, which target the M2 protein, a multifunctional membrane-spanning proton channel. The structure of this channel has been a subject of some controversy, since an X-ray crystal structure of part of the M2 channel showed electron density that corresponded to a single molecule of amantadine in the N-terminal half of the pore, whereas a solution NMR structure of a larger portion of the channel showed four rimantadine molecules bound to the C-terminal lipid-facing surface of the helices. The matter now appears resolved with the publication of the high-resolution structure of the M2 channel in a phospholipid bilayer, determined using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. This reveals two amantadine-binding sites: a high-affinity site in the N-terminal channel lumen and a low-affinity site on the C-terminal protein surface. This work could be of value for the development of new anti-influenza drugs, an important goal since the 2009 seasonal virus is amantadine-sensitive but resistant to Tamiflu, raising the possibility that multiply resistant virus types might emerge in future. The antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine target the M2 protein of influenza A virus, making an understanding of its structure important for the study of drug resistance. The results of a recent crystal structure of M2 differ from those of a solution NMR structure with regards to binding of these drugs, indicating a different mechanism of inhibition in each case. Here, using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, two different amantadine-binding sites are shown to exist in the phospholipid bilayers of M2. The M2 protein of influenza A virus is a membrane-spanning tetrameric proton channel targeted by the antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine 1 . Resistance to these drugs has compromised their effectiveness against many influenza strains, including pandemic H1N1. A recent crystal structure of M2(22–46) showed electron densities attributed to a single amantadine in the amino-terminal half of the pore 2 , indicating a physical occlusion mechanism for inhibition. However, a solution NMR structure of M2(18–60) showed four rimantadines bound to the carboxy-terminal lipid-facing surface of the helices 3 , suggesting an allosteric mechanism. Here we show by solid-state NMR spectroscopy that two amantadine-binding sites exist in M2 in phospholipid bilayers. The high-affinity site, occupied by a single amantadine, is located in the N-terminal channel lumen, surrounded by residues mutated in amantadine-resistant viruses. Quantification of the protein–amantadine distances resulted in a 0.3 Å-resolution structure of the high-affinity binding site. The second, low-affinity, site was observed on the C-terminal protein surface, but only when the drug reaches high concentrations in the bilayer. The orientation and dynamics of the drug are distinct in the two sites, as shown by 2 H NMR. These results indicate that amantadine physically occludes the M2 channel, thus paving the way for developing new antiviral drugs against influenza viruses. The study demonstrates the ability of solid-state NMR to elucidate small-molecule interactions with membrane proteins and determine high-resolution structures of their complexes.

The influenza A virus M2 proton channel (A/M2) is the target of the antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine, whose use has been discontinued due to widespread drug resistance. Among the handful of drug-resistant mutants, S31N is found in more than 95% of the currently circulating viruses and shows greatly decreased inhibition by amantadine. The discovery of inhibitors of S31N has been hampered by the limited size, polarity, and dynamic nature of its amantadine-binding site. Nevertheless, we have discovered small-molecule drugs that inhibit S31N with potencies greater than amantadine’s potency against WT M2. Drug binding locks the protein into a well-defined conformation, and the NMR structure of the complex shows the drug bound in the homotetrameric channel, threaded between the side chains of Asn31. Unrestrained molecular dynamics simulations predicted the same binding site. This S31N inhibitor, like other potent M2 inhibitors, contains a charged ammonium group. The ammonium binds as a hydrate to one of three sites aligned along the central cavity that appear to be hotspots for inhibition. These sites might stabilize hydronium-like species formed as protons diffuse through the outer channel to the proton-shuttling residue His37 near the cytoplasmic end of the channel.

This paper reports the synthesis, structural characterization, and biological evaluation of a novel series of CuI and CuII complexes supported by an amantadine-functionalized bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate ligand (LAd) as potential anticancer agents for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). Comprehensive spectroscopic and structural investigations, including SR-XPS, XANES/EXAFS, and DFT modeling, confirmed the successful coordination of LAd to copper centers in both oxidation states, affording well-defined molecular architectures with distinct coordination geometries. Among the synthesized compounds, the CuI complexes bearing triphenylphosphine co-ligands (compounds 4 and 5) exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity against U87 MG and LN18 GBM cell lines, showing IC50 values lower than those of cisplatin. These complexes induced a pronounced redox imbalance through reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and glutathione (GSH) depletion, leading to G2/M cell cycle arrest and cell death. Flow cytometry and Western blot analyses demonstrated that cell death occurs via caspase-dependent apoptosis in LN18 cells, as evidenced by PARP cleavage, downregulation of Bcl-xL, release of cytochrome c, and mitochondrial translocation of Bax. Altogether, these findings highlight the potential of lipophilic amantadine-functionalized CuI complexes as promising anticancer candidates targeting glioma cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and redox-mediated pathways.

This article describes the design and synthesis of a series of novel amantadine-thiourea conjugates (3a–j) as Jack bean urease inhibitors. The synthesized hybrids were assayed for their in vitro urease inhibition. Accordingly, N-(adamantan-1-ylcarbamothioyl)octanamide (3j) possessing a 7-carbon alkyl chain showed excellent activity with IC50 value 0.0085 ± 0.0011 µM indicating that the long alkyl chain plays a vital role in enzyme inhibition. Whilst N-(adamantan-1-ylcarbamothioyl)-2-chlorobenzamide (3g) possessing a 2-chlorophenyl substitution was the next most efficient compound belonging to the aryl series with IC50 value of 0.0087 ± 0.001 µM. The kinetic mechanism analyzed by Lineweaver–Burk plots revealed the non-competitive mode of inhibition for compound 3j. Moreover, in silico molecular docking against target protein (PDBID 4H9M) indicated that most of the synthesized compounds exhibit good binding affinity with protein. The compound 3j forms two hydrogen bonds with amino acid residue VAL391 having a binding distance of 1.858 Å and 2.240 Å. The interaction of 3j with amino acid residue located outside the catalytic site showed its non-competitive mode of inhibition. Based upon these results, it is anticipated that compound 3j may serve as a lead structure for the design of more potent urease inhibitors.

Sulfonamide derivatives serve as an important building blocks in the drug design discovery and development (4D) process. Ciprofloxacin-, sulfadiazine- and amantadine-based sulfonamides were synthesized as potent inhibitors of jack bean urease and free radical scavengers. Molecular diversity was explored and electronic factors were also examined. All 24 synthesized compounds exhibited excellent potential against urease enzyme. Compound 3e (IC50 = 0.081 ± 0.003 µM), 6a (IC50 = 0.0022 ± 0.0002 µM), 9e (IC50 = 0.0250 ± 0.0007 µM) and 12d (IC50 = 0.0266 ± 0.0021 µM) were found to be the lead compounds compared to standard (thiourea, IC50 = 17.814 ± 0.096 µM). Molecular docking studies were performed to delineate the binding affinity of the molecules and a kinetic mechanism of enzyme inhibition was propounded. Compounds 3e, 6a and 12d exhibited a mixed type of inhibition, while derivative 9e revealed a non-competitive mode of inhibition. Compounds 12a, 12b, 12d, 12e and 12f showed excellent radical scavenging potency in comparison to the reference drug vitamin C.

Influenza changes channels Until recently, the pH-gated proton channel of influenza A virus, M2, was effectively targeted by amantadine-based antivirals, but resistance to these drugs is now widespread. Two groups now present structural studies of M2 proton channel. Jason Schnell and James Chou determine the structure of a 38-residue segment of M2, in complex with rimantadine, by NMR spectroscopy. Amanda Stouffer et al . determined the crystal structure of a 25-residue fragment of M2, with and without amantadine, using X-ray diffraction. Strikingly, the resulting structures suggest two very different mechanisms by which the drug inhibits the channel. The proposed mechanisms are discussed by Christopher Miller in an accompanying News & Views article. A vital component of influenza A virus' replication machinery is the M2 proton channel. Until recently, M2 was effectively targeted by amantadane-based antivirals, but resistance to these drugs is now so widespread that they have become ineffective. In the second of two related manuscripts, the crystal structure of a 25-residue fragment of M2, both with and without amantadine, is described. It is concluded that a single amantadine molecule binds in the centre of the M2 tetramer to physically occlude the pore. The M2 protein from influenza A virus is a pH-activated proton channel that mediates acidification of the interior of viral particles entrapped in endosomes. M2 is the target of the anti-influenza drugs amantadine and rimantadine; recently, resistance to these drugs in humans, birds and pigs has reached more than 90% (ref. 1 ). Here we describe the crystal structure of the transmembrane-spanning region of the homotetrameric protein in the presence and absence of the channel-blocking drug amantadine. pH-dependent structural changes occur near a set of conserved His and Trp residues that are involved in proton gating 2 . The drug-binding site is lined by residues that are mutated in amantadine-resistant viruses 3 , 4 . Binding of amantadine physically occludes the pore, and might also perturb the p K a of the critical His residue. The structure provides a starting point for solving the problem of resistance to M2-channel blockers.

A structural series of 7-MEOTA-adamantylamine thioureas was designed, synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and human butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE). The compounds were prepared based on the multi-target-directed ligand strategy with different linker lengths (n = 2–8) joining the well-known NMDA antagonist adamantine and the hAChE inhibitor 7-methoxytacrine (7-MEOTA). Based on in silico studies, these inhibitors proved dual binding site character capable of simultaneous interaction with the peripheral anionic site (PAS) of hAChE and the catalytic active site (CAS). Clearly, these structural derivatives exhibited very good inhibitory activity towards hBChE resulting in more selective inhibitors of this enzyme. The most potent cholinesterase inhibitor was found to be thiourea analogue 14 (with an IC50 value of 0.47 µM for hAChE and an IC50 value of 0.11 µM for hBChE, respectively). Molecule 14 is a suitable novel lead compound for further evaluation proving that the strategy of dual binding site inhibitors might be a promising direction for development of novel AD drugs.

Amantadine (AMA) and its derivatives are illicit veterinary drugs that are hard to detect at very low concentrations. Developing a fast, simple and highly sensitive method for the detection of AMA is highly in demand. Here, we designed an anthracyclic compound (ABAM) that binds to a cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) host with a high association constant of up to 8.7 × 108 M−1. The host-guest complex was then used as a fluorescent probe for the detection of AMA. Competition by AMA for occupying the cavity of CB[7] allows ABAM to release from the CB[7]-ABAM complex, causing significant fluorescence quenching of ABAM (indicator displacement assay, IDA). The linear range of the method is from 0.000188 to 0.375 μg/mL, and the detection limit can be as low as 6.5 × 10−5 μg/mL (0.35 nM). Most importantly, due to the high binding affinity between CB[7] and ABAM, this fluorescence host-guest system shows great anti-interference capacity. Thus, we are able to accurately determine the concentration of AMA in various samples, including pharmaceutical formulations.

A zone-fluidics (ZF) based automated fluorimetric sensor for the determination of pharmaceutically active adamantine derivatives, i.e., amantadine (AMA), memantine (MEM) and rimantadine (RIM) is reported. Discrete zones of the analytes and reagents (o-phthalaldehyde and N-acetylcysteine) mix and react under stopped-flow conditions to yield fluorescent iso-indole derivatives (λex/ λem = 340/455 nm). The proposed ZF sensor was developed and validated to prove suitable for quality control tests (assay and content uniformity) of commercially available formulations purchased from the Greek market (EU licensed) and from non-EU web-pharmacies at a sampling rate of 16 h−1. Interestingly, a formulation obtained through the internet and produced in a third—non-EU—country (AMA capsules, 100 mg per cap), was found to be out of specifications (mean assay of 85.3%); a validated HPLC method was also applied for confirmatory purposes.