In silico identification of promising inhibitor against RNA-dependent RNA polymerase target of SARS-CoV-2

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 State Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, Chhattisgarh-492099 India

2 Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India

3 Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Science Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462020 India

4 Department of Biological Science and Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462003 India

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome is a viral respiratory disease recognised as COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Formerly, no precise remedies are available, and many studies regarding COVID-19 prevention and treatment are under development. Several targets for the design of drugs are identified, and studies are in headway to explore the potential target. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) protein identified as a promising target against SARS-CoV-2 infection for the drug design due to its significant role in viral replication. The present study focuses on identifying the binding effect of previously known RdRp inhibitors with RdRp of SARS-CoV-2 using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation approaches. Molecular docking and binding free energy calculations against RdRp enzyme identified suramin as a potential compound that showed the highest docking score of -7.83 Kcal/mole and binding energy of -80.83 Kcal/mole as a comparison to other compounds. Further, molecular dynamics simulation studies were moreover showed the stable binding behaviour of suramin docked complex in the protein active site. Thus, the study concludes that suramin might be helpful as a potential inhibitor against RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SRAS-CoV-2. However, further investigation is needed to assess the possible effect of inhibitors on RdRp through in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Keywords

References

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