Session: Undergraduate Research Posters: Inorganic Chemistry:

In previous research the Peter Craig Research Group prepared and characterized cobalt(III) complexes of the dipicolyldithiocarbamate [2,2’-dpdtc] ligand. We have previously shown that the ligand has a high affinity for zinc(II) ions via the two 2-picolyl substituents when coordinated to transition metal ions via the sulfur atoms. In this research, we investigated whether the same occurs in vitro.
Viruses in the coronaviridae family use the zinc(II) binding domain of nsp13 protease for virion replication. Since zinc(II) is a key factor of cell replication and chelating thus ejecting the zinc(II) ions present is a pathway to inhibiting virion replication, slowing the spread of the virus and making it easier for the immune system to extinguish the disease. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, belongs to the coronaviridae family meaning that chelating and ejecting zinc(II) ions will inhibit replication of this virus. We studied PLpro as it has a zinc(II) binding domain similar to nsp13.
We found that Co(2,2’-dpdtc)₃ inhibited PLpro but it was not fully soluble to give a clear result. In order to improve solubility, additional complexes were prepared where neutral ethylenediamine (en) ligands were incrementally substituted for the [2,2’-dpdtc]^- ligands of Co(2,2’-dpdtc)₃. The resulting derivatives created a trade-off: greater positive net charge (and thus improved solubility) compared to reduced number of zinc(II) binding moieties. Various combinations of these two ligands were tested to determine the ideal combination that maximized inhibition and solubility in aqueous solutions.

Peter Craig

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