Discovery of potent nucleotide-mimicking competitive inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase

Among the enzymes involved in the life cycle of HCV, the non-structural protein NS3, with its double function of protease and NTPase/helicase, is essential for the virus replication. Exploiting our previous knowledge in the development of nucleotide-mimicking NS3 helicase (NS3h) inhibitors endowed with key structural and electronic features necessary for an optimal ligand–enzyme interaction, we developed the tetrahydroacridinyl derivative 3a as the most potent NS3h competitive inhibitor reported to date (HCV NS3h Ki = 20 nM).

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