Computational and in vitro experimental analyses of the anti-COVID-19 potential of Mortaparib and Mortaparib(Plus)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has become a global health emergency. Although new vaccines have been generated and being implicated, discovery and application of novel preventive and control measures are warranted. We aimed to identify compounds that may possess the potential to either block the entry of virus to host cells or attenuate its replication upon infection. Using host cell surface receptor expression (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2)) analysis as an assay, we earlier screened several synthetic and natural compounds and identified candidates that showed ability to down-regulate their expression. Here, we report experimental and computational analyses of two small molecules, Mortaparib and Mortaparib(Plus) that were initially identified as dual novel inhibitors of mortalin and PARP-1, for their activity against SARS-CoV-2. In silico analyses showed that Mortaparib(Plus), but not Mortaparib, stably binds into the catalytic pocket of TMPRSS2. In vitro analysis of control and treated cells revealed that Mortaparib(Plus) caused down-regulation of ACE2 and TMPRSS2; Mortaparib did not show any effect. Furthermore, computational analysis on SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M(pro)) that also predicted the inhibitory activity of Mortaparib(Plus). However, cell-based antiviral drug screening assay showed 30–60% viral inhibition in cells treated with non-toxic doses of either Mortaparib(Plus) or Mortaparib. The data suggest that these two closely related compounds possess multimodal anti-COVID-19 activities. Whereas Mortaparib(Plus) works through direct interactions/effects on the host cell surface receptors (ACE2 and TMPRSS2) and the virus protein (M(pro)), Mortaparib involves independent mechanisms, elucidation of which warrants further studies.