High-Throughput Virtual Screening and Validation of a SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Noncovalent Inhibitor
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We demonstrate the new concept of using unit cell volume coefficient of variation to approximate the enthalpic penalty of high-entropy alloy (HEA) candidates, and use it along with configurational entropy to map promising HEA halide perovskites.
The nonstructural protein 3 (NSP3) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) contains a conserved macrodomain enzyme (Mac1) that is critical for pathogenesis and lethality. While small-molecule inhibitors of Mac1 have great therapeutic potential, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no well-validated inhibitors for this protein nor, indeed, the macrodomain enzyme family, making this target a pharmacological orphan. Here, we report the structure-based discovery and development of several different chemical scaffolds exhibiting low- to sub-micromolar affinity for Mac1 through iterations of computer-aided design, structural characterization by ultra-high-resolution protein crystallography, and binding evaluation. Potent scaffolds were designed with in silico fragment linkage and by ultra-large library docking of over 450 million molecules. Both techniques leverage the computational exploration of tangible chemical space and are applicable to other pharmacological orphans. Overall, 160 ligands in 119 different scaffolds were discovered, and 153 Mac1-ligand complex crystal structures were determined, typically to 1 Å resolution or better. Our analyses discovered selective and cell-permeable molecules, unexpected ligand-mediated conformational changes within the active site, and key inhibitor motifs that will template future drug development against Mac1.
Developing metal halide perovskite (MHP) photovoltaic (PV) devices into reliable large-area solar modules could accelerate global solar energy deployment. Many MHP devices are susceptible to degradation under light and elevated temperature (LT). Published research on LT testing is limited at the module level, and LT testing has not yet been developed for qualification testing of commercial PV products. This report assesses whether results of LT testing at moderately elevated temperatures correlate with those of field-tested modules from the same batch. Six batches of samples from four manufacturers are assessed. It is shown that modules with a robust package that can maintain over 80% of their peak efficiency during LT testing at 55 °C for 100 h are more likely to retain over 80% of their peak efficiency during outdoor operation for 10 weeks. This finding is a step towards developing a validated test protocol that could be incorporated into a qualification standard for the commercialization of MHP PV technologies.
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The ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to persist in its host may enable an evolutionary advantage for drug resistant variants to emerge. A potential strategy to prevent persistence and gain drug efficacy is to directly target the activity of enzymes that are crucial for persistence. We present a method for expedited discovery and structure-based design of lead compounds by targeting the hypoxia-associated enzyme L-alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH). Biochemical and structural analyses of AlaDH confirmed binding of nucleoside derivatives and showed a site adjacent to the nucleoside binding pocket that can confer specificity to putative inhibitors. Using a combination of dye-ligand affinity chromatography, enzyme kinetics and protein crystallographic studies, we show the development and validation of drug prototypes. Crystal structures of AlaDH-inhibitor complexes with variations at the N6 position of the adenyl-moiety of the inhibitor provide insight into the molecular basis for the specificity of these compounds. We describe a drug-designing pipeline that aims to block Mtb to proliferate upon re-oxygenation by specifically blocking NAD accessibility to AlaDH. The collective approach to drug discovery was further evaluated through in silico analyses providing additional insight into an efficient drug development strategy that can be further assessed with the incorporation of in vivo studies.
The Wendt et al. study aims to incorporate multiple and disparate carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) decision-making criteria into a systematic, quantitative analytical approach to help identify areas with potentially high suitability to serve as offshore CO2 storage or EOR regions. Spatially-distributed data from publicly-available sources within the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) study area (limited to federal waters; state waters were not evaluated) was compiled using the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Cumulative Spatial Impact Layers™ (CSIL) tool to easily aggregate data based on evenly-distributed grids across the study region set at a resolution of approximately 25 square miles (65 square kilometers). The data included in this Microsoft Excel™ workbook provide the aggregated scores for each grid point across the study domain as well the weighting for each criterion under the four scenarios evaluated.
This paper reports on the modeling, optimization and implementation of p-TOPCon (tunnel oxide passivated contacts) on the rear side of a PERC to enhance its efficiency. Local Al-BSF of a traditional PERC was replaced by p+ polySi/oxide passivated contact composed of ~15Å thick chemically grown tunnel oxide, capped with 120-250nm thick p+ poly-Si layer grown by LPCVD. Process optimization resulted in full area unmetallized saturated current density (Jo) of ~ 5fA/cm2 for planar surface, nearly independent of poly-Si thickness in the range. Metallized J0 showed an increase with decreased poly-Si thickness and was found to be 9.6 and ~25fA/cm2 for 250nm and 120 nm polySi, respectively, with 4.6% direct metal-Si contact fraction, suitable for bifacial cells. A 21.4% efficient baseline PERC cell with local BSF was fabricated and analyzed to extract the rear side saturation current density (J0b’) of 66fA/cm2. Model calculations showed that by replacing this local BSF with 250nm TopCon developed in the study showed some Voc enhancement of 7mV, consistent with the observed Voc increase of 10mV. Model calculations also reveal that a more advanced LBSF PERC with better bulk lifetime and emitter saturation current density can extends its potential gain up to 0.4% in cell efficiency from the integration of p-TOPCon.
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For 40 TW of PV required to transition our planet to 100% renewables, the silver (Ag) should disappear from PV production. Advantages of copper (Cu) over silver (Ag) include: 1) bulk Cu has a similar conductivity to Ag (1.7 one millionth O-cm for Cu, 1.6 one millionth O-cm for Ag, and 2) Cu is -100 times cheaper than Ag, making it an excellent potential replacement. Problems associated with copper contacts include: 1) easy oxidation, and 2) diffusion into the Si cell and recombination activity. To summarize: 1) Rs map shows some regions with very high Rs, indicating no contact in those areas; 2) the histogram shows the peak Rs -5 ohm.cm2, which explains the high FF loss due to Rs; and 3) DLIT indicates non-uniformity in J01 and J02.
For 40 TW of PV required to transition our planet to 100% renewables, the silver (Ag) should disappear from PV production. Advantages of copper (Cu) over silver (Ag) include 1) bulk Cu has a similar conductivity to Ag (1.7 mu O-cm for Cu, 1.6 mu O-cm for Ag) and 2) Cu is approximately 100 times cheaper than Ag, making it an excellent potential replacement. Problems associated with copper (Cu) contacts include 1) easy oxidation and 2) diffusion into the Si cell and recombination activity.
A bifacial silicon heterojunction solar cell demands approximately 210 mg usage of silver paste (9 busbars, 24.5%, bifacial, M6 size wafer). Copper is an excellent alternative to silver: 100x cheaper, similar elecvtrical resistivities, and 1000x more abundant. Successful demonstration of large area selective emitter PERC solar cells using Cu fire-through paste with FF approximately 75% and approximately 19%. Paste chemistry results in oxide-based Cu diffusion barrier, leading to good reliability of the devices: 1000h DHT giving a 3.5% efficiency drop. The additional series resistance still needs to be lowered. Printed and fired cell performance is governed mostly by pFF, especially J02 ; same for DHT degradation. Further improvement in printing and firing optimization for lower series resistance and higher FF.