the enzyme is an attractive target for the discovery of norovirus therapeutics and prophylactics. In order to gain insight and understanding into the interaction of macrocyclic inhibitors with the enzyme, as well as probe the effect of ring size on pharmacological activity and cellular permeability, additional macrocyclic inhibitors are synthesized and high resolution cocrystal structures determined. The macrocyclic scaffold may hamper optimal binding to the active site by impeding concerted cross-talk between the S2 and S4 subsites
noroviruses have a single-stranded, positive sense 7 to 8 kb RNA genome which encodes a polyprotein precursor that is processed by a virus-encoded 3C-like cysteine protease (NV 3CLpro) to generate at least six mature nonstructural proteins. Processing of the polyprotein is essential for virus replication
the Calicivirus proteases cleaves the viral precursor polyprotein encoded by open reading frame1 into multiple intermediate and mature proteins. The Calicivirus protease is a Cys protease with catalytic Cys139, and the His30-Glu54-Cys139 catalytic triad formation is important for protease activity. The substrate recognition mechanism may be different between Caliciviridae, i.e. the Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus and Sapporo virus proteases and the Norwalk virus and Feline calicivirus proteases. Proteolytic cleavage occurs at several cleavage sites in the ORF1 polyprotein without a functional acid residue in the NoV protease
acidic amino acid (Glu or Asp), as well as the His and Cys in the putative catalytic triad, cannot be replaced by Ala for normal processing activity of the ORF1 polyprotein in vitro. Similarly, normal activity is not retained if the nucleophile Cys is replaced with Ser
purified recombinant enzyme free and bound to inhibitor (2S)-2-([N-[(benzyloxy)carbonyl]-L-leucyl]amino)-1-hydroxy-3-(2-oxopyrrolidin-3-yl)propane-1-sulfonic acid, X-ray diffraction structure determination and analysis at 1.50 and 1.65 A resolution, respectively, molecular replacement
sitting drop vapor diffusion plates at 20°C, 2.25 A resolution structure of Norovirus 3CL protease in complex with a triazole-based macrocyclic inhibitor
acidic amino acid (Glu or Asp), as well as the His and Cys in the putative catalytic triad, cannot be replaced by Ala for normal processing activity of the ORF1 polyprotein in vitro. Similarly, normal activity is not retained if the nucleophile Cys is replaced with Ser
the conserved key site of the enzyme may serve as attractive target for the design of broad-spectrum antivirals for multiple viruses in the supercluster
establishment of a mammalian cell-based system for analysis of human norovirus replication and, thus makes it feasible to investigate antiviral agents in mammalian cells