Effect of chitooligosaccharide on the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 main protease

Background: The main protease (Mpro) is a crucial target for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Chitooligosaccharide (CS) has broad-spectrum antiviral activity and can effectively inhibit the activity of SARS-CoV. Here, based on the high homology between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, this study explores the effect and mechanism of CS with various molecular weights on the activity of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.

Methods: We used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), UV-Vis, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and computational simulation to investigate the molecular interaction and the interaction mechanism between CS and SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.

Results: Four kinds of CS with different molecular weights significantly inhibited the activity of Mpro by combining the hydrogen bonding and the salt bridge interaction to form a stable complex. Glu166 appeared to be the key amino acid. Among them, chitosan showed the highest inhibition effect on Mpro enzyme activity and the greatest impact on the spatial structure of protein. Chitosan would be one of the most potential anti-viral compounds.

Conclusion: This study provides the theoretical basis to develop targeted Mpro inhibitors for the screening and application of anti-novel coronavirus drugs.