Peptide–Boronic Acid Inhibitors of Flaviviral Proteases: Medicinal Chemistry and Structural Biology

A thousand-fold affinity gain is achieved by introduction of a C-terminal boronic acid moiety into dipeptidic inhibitors of the Zika, West Nile, and dengue virus proteases. The resulting compounds have K_i values in the two-digit nanomolar range, are not cytotoxic, and inhibit virus replication. Structure–activity relationships and a high resolution X-ray cocrystal structure with West Nile virus protease provide a basis for the design of optimized covalent-reversible inhibitors aimed at emerging flaviviral pathogens.