Development and application of a high-throughput screening assay    based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer for    SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease inhibitors

  • QI Haiyan ,
  • YAN Gangan ,
  • YAN Haohao ,
  • LIU Zhicheng ,
  • LIU Xiaoli ,
  • LIU Xiaoping ,
  • CHEN Yunyu
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  • Institute for Drug Screening and Evaluation, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China

Received date: 2023-02-13

  Online published: 2024-11-19

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to screen SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease(PLpro) inhibitors, a high-throughput screening (HTS) assay based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology was established. Methods: The recombiant PLpro was expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta(DE3) cells, and a FRET-based method that used a fluorescently labeled substrate was used to test the biological activity of PLpro. For screening the hit compounds, the FRET HTS assay of PLpro was developed by optimizing experimental conditions, and evaluated by determining the Z′ factor value of the HTS assay. Results: The soluble PLpro was successfully expressed in in E. coli cells and the enzymatic activity of PLpro was more than 3000 U/mg. After optimization, the HTS assay conditions were determined: the concentration of NaCl in HEPES buffer (pH 7.0) was set at 50 mmol/L, the incubation temperature was 25 ℃, the incubation time was 30 min, the concentration of PLpro was 18 μmol/L, and the substrate concentration was 2 μmol/L.The Z′factor value was 0.74, indicating that the model can be used for screening PLpro inhibitors. The screening of natural product compound library revealed that ginkgolic acid C17∶1(GA17∶1) had mixed inhibitory effects on PLpro with an IC50 value of 15.5 μmol/L. Conclusion: A FRET-based HTS assay for PLpro inhibitors was successfully established, and GA17∶1 was initially identified as a novel anti-PLpro hit compounds. This screening assay is essential for rapid screening of inhibitors targeting SARS-CoV-2 PLpro.

Cite this article

QI Haiyan , YAN Gangan , YAN Haohao , LIU Zhicheng , LIU Xiaoli , LIU Xiaoping , CHEN Yunyu . Development and application of a high-throughput screening assay    based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer for    SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease inhibitors[J]. Journal of Baotou Medical College, 2024 , 40(9) : 74 -80 . DOI: 10.16833/j.cnki.jbmc.2024.09.014

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