A Novel Chemical Compound for Inhibition of SARS Coronavirus Helicase

We have discovered a novel chemical compound, (E)-3-(furan-2-yl)-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl) acrylamide, that suppresses the enzymatic activities of SARS coronavirus helicase. To determine the inhibitory effect, ATP hydrolysis and double-stranded DNA unwinding assays were performed in the presence of various concentrations of the compound. Through these assays, we obtained IC50 values of 2.09 +/- 0.30 mu M (ATP hydrolysis) and 13.2 +/- 0.9 mu M (DNA unwinding), respectively. Moreover, we found that the compound did not have any significant cytotoxicity when 40 mu M of it was used. Our results showed that the compound might be useful to be developed as an inhibitor against SARS coronavirus.