May 18th 2023

Published in Microorganisms: Z-Tyr-Ala-CHN2, a Cathepsin L Inhibitor with Broad-Spectrum Cell-Specific Activity against Coronaviruses

Published in Microorganisms: Z-Tyr-Ala-CHN2, a Cathepsin L Inhibitor with Broad-Spectrum Cell-Specific Activity against Coronaviruses

The CARE partner Janssen Pharmaceutica in collaboration with University Utrecht, KU Leuven and Goethe University Frankfurt has published a paper about the discovery of a small molecule, Z-Tyr-Ala-CHN2, which was identified in a cell-based antiviral screen. The molecule exerts sub-micromolar antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and human coronavirus 229E at the early phase of the infection cycle, which is in line with the observation that the molecule inhibits cathepsin L. The activity profile of Z-Tyr-Ala-CHN2 makes it an interesting tool compound for studying the biology of coronavirus entry and replication.

To learn more, click here: Identification of Z-Tyr-Ala-CHN2, a Cathepsin L Inhibitor with Broad-Spectrum Cell-Specific Activity against Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2