AUTHOR=Mengist Hylemariam Mihiretie , Dilnessa Tebelay , Jin Tengchuan TITLE=Structural Basis of Potential Inhibitors Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry VOLUME=9 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2021.622898 DOI=10.3389/fchem.2021.622898 ISSN=2296-2646 ABSTRACT=

The Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is still devastating the world causing significant social, economic, and political chaos. Corresponding to the absence of globally approved antiviral drugs for treatment and vaccines for controlling the pandemic, the number of cases and/or mortalities are still rising. Current patient management relies on supportive treatment and the use of repurposed drugs as an indispensable option. Of a crucial role in the viral life cycle, ongoing studies are looking for potential inhibitors to the main protease (Mpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2) to tackle the pandemic. Although promising results have been achieved in searching for drugs inhibiting the Mpro, work remains to be done on designing structure-based improved drugs. This review discusses the structural basis of potential inhibitors targeting SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, identifies gaps, and provides future directions. Further, compounds with potential Mpro based antiviral activity are highlighted.