ML188

ML188 (CAS No.: 1417700-13-0) is a first-in-class, selective non-covalent inhibitor of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) main protease, also known as 3C-like protease (3CLpro), a critical enzyme responsible for viral polyprotein processing and replication. As a small-molecule antiviral probe, ML188 disrupts viral replication by targeting the proteolytic activity of 3CLpro, thereby interfering with the viral life cycle. It exhibits inhibitory activity in the low micromolar range, with an IC50 of approximately 1.5 μM against the isolated enzyme, and demonstrates antiviral efficacy in cell-based assays, where it suppresses SARS-CoV replication in infected Vero E6 cells with an EC50 in the low micromolar range following 48-hour treatment. ML188 is widely utilized in biochemical and cellular studies to investigate coronavirus protease function, validate antiviral targets, and support structure-based drug design efforts aimed at developing next-generation protease inhibitors. Experimental concentrations and treatment conditions vary depending on specific assay formats and research objectives, making ML188 a valuable reference compound in antiviral screening and mechanistic studies.