Download MendeleyStructural insights into DENV-2 NS2B-NS3 protease and inhibition by glutathione-coated gold nanocluster.
Zhu, H., Niu, W., Xu, Y., Li, Z., Xia, D., Chen, S., Zhang, B., Wang, J., Yang, H., Gao, X., Chen, Y., Gong, Y., Cao, P., Zhou, Y.(2026) Arch Virol 171
- PubMed: 42337180 Search on PubMed
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-026-06662-w
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9XVJ - PubMed Abstract:
Dengue virus (DENV) continues to pose a significant global health threat, with increasing infection rates and limited treatment options. The viral NS2B-NS3 protease (NS2B-NS3pro), a highly conserved two-component enzyme essential for polyprotein processing and replication, is a key target for antiviral drug development. Here, we report the 2.25 Å-resolution crystal structure of DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2) NS2B-NS3pro, in which a PEG fragment is bound within a solvent-exposed pocket between β10, β11, β14 and β15 of NS3. This structure reveals a previously unrecognized solvent-exposed PEG-binding pocket, which may represent a putative ligand-binding surface for future validation and inhibitor-design studies. We also show that the glutathione-coated gold nanocluster (GSH-AuNC) directly inhibits DENV-2 NS2B-NS3pro. Bio-layer interferometry and fluorescence-based protease assays indicate that the nanocluster binds NS2B-NS3pro with a dissociation constant of 15.64 µM and inhibits its catalytic activity with an IC 50 of 16.04 µM, consistent with a direct inhibitory effect at the in vitro enzymatic level. Molecular dynamics simulations further suggest that GSH-AuNC is predicted to interact with the catalytic triad of NS2B-NS3pro, forming stable electrostatic and van der Waals interactions that may interfere with substrate access. Collectively, these findings provide an in vitro structural and biochemical basis for targeting DENV-2 NS2B-NS3pro and may inform future development of small-molecule or nanomedicine-based inhibitors, although cell-based antiviral efficacy, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake remain to be evaluated.
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China.
Organizational Affiliation:
