NMR identification of anti-influenza lead compound targeting at PAC subunit of H5N1 polymerase

PA(C) subunit from avian influenza (H5N1) viral RNA polymerase was used in this work as a target in the screening for anti-influenza agents from licorice-derived compounds. As a result, 18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acid was suggested to be PA(C) ligand by flexible docking, and was then confirmed by relaxation-edited NMR. The result of ApG primer extension assay indicated that this PA(C) ligand can inhibit the polymerase activity, and thus may potentially be valuable as anti-influenza lead compound. This work validated the possibility of screening polymerase inhibitors by using PAc as a target, and provided a starting point for the further discovery of new anti-influenza drugs. (C) 2011 Ya Lin Tang. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.