Monkeypox, or mpox, is a disease that has recently resurfaced and spread across the globe. Despite the availability of an FDA-approved vaccine (JYNNEOS) and an effective drug (tecovirimat), concerns remain over the possible recurrence of a viral pandemic. Like any other virus, mpox virus must overcome the immune system to replicate. Viruses have evolved various strategies to overcome both innate and adaptive immunity. Poxviruses possess an unusual nuclease, poxin, which cleaves 2'-3'-cGAMP, a cyclic dinucleotide, which is an important second messenger in the cGAS-STING signaling pathway. Here, we present the crystal structure of mpox poxin. The structure reveals a conserved, predominantly β-sheet fold and highlights the high conservation of the cGAMP binding site and of the catalytic residues His17, Tyr138, and Lys142. This research suggests that poxin inhibitors could be effective against multiple poxviruses.

• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• opičí neštovice * MeSH
• Poxviridae * MeSH
• racionální návrh léčiv MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• virus opičích neštovic MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are second messengers that activate stimulator of interferon genes (STING). The cGAS-STING pathway plays a promising role in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we describe the synthesis of CDNs containing 7-substituted 7-deazapurine moiety. We used mouse cyclic GMP-AMP synthase and bacterial dinucleotide synthases for the enzymatic synthesis of CDNs. Alternatively, 7-(het)aryl 7-deazapurine CDNs were prepared by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings. New CDNs were tested in biochemical and cell-based assays for their affinity to human STING. Eight CDNs showed better activity than 2'3'-cGAMP, the natural ligand of STING. The effect on cytokine and chemokine induction was also evaluated. The best activities were observed for CDNs bearing large aromatic substituents that point above the CDN molecule. We solved four X-ray structures of complexes of new CDNs with human STING. We observed π-π stacking interactions between the aromatic substituents and Tyr240 that are involved in the stabilization of CDN-STING complexes.

• MeSH
• cytokiny MeSH
• interferony MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• membránové proteiny * metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nukleotidy cyklické * chemie   MeSH
• nukleotidyltransferasy MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 7-deazapurine MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytokiny MeSH
• interferony MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• membránové proteiny * MeSH
• nukleotidy cyklické * MeSH
• nukleotidyltransferasy MeSH