Combined spectroscopies and molecular docking approach to characterizing the binding interaction of enalapril with bovine serum albumin: Characterizing the binding interaction of enalapril with BSA

Simultaneously Predicting the Pharmacokinetics of CES1-Metabolized Drugs and Their Metabolites Using Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model in Cirrhosis Subjects

Hepatic carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) metabolizes numerous prodrugs into active ingredients or direct-acting drugs into inactive metabolites. We aimed to develop a semi-physiologically based pharmacokinetic (semi-PBPK) model to simultaneously predict the pharmacokinetics of CES1 substrates and their active metabolites in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients. Six prodrugs (enalapril, benazepril, cilazapril, temocapril, perindopril and oseltamivir) and three direct-acting drugs (flumazenil, pethidine and remimazolam) were selected. Parameters such as organ blood flows, plasma-binding protein concentrations, functional liver volume, hepatic enzymatic activity, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and gastrointestinal transit rate were integrated into the simulation. The pharmacokinetic profiles of these drugs and their active metabolites were simulated for 1000 virtual individuals. The developed semi-PBPK model, after validation in healthy individuals, was extrapolated to LC patients. Most of the observations fell within the 5th and 95th percentiles of simulations from 1000 virtual patients. The estimated AUC and Cmax were within 0.5-2-fold of the observed values. The sensitivity analysis showed that the decreased plasma exposure of active metabolites due to the decreased CES1 was partly attenuated by the decreased GFR. Conclusion: The developed PBPK model successfully predicted the pharmacokinetics of CES1 substrates and their metabolites in healthy individuals and LC patients, facilitating tailored dosing of CES1 substrates in LC patients.

Hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons possess inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase: An in vitro study using multispectroscopic techniques and molecular docking

Alpha-glucosidase (GAA) activity can be affected by exogenous substances. Hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) are typical metabolites of PAHs that can enter the body through various routes. The effects of 1-hydroxynaphthalene (1-OHNap) and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr) on GAA activity and the potential mechanisms were investigated viamultispectroscopic methods and molecular docking. First-order derivative synchronous spectrofluorimetry was successfully applied to analyze the fluorescence quenching of GAA in the GAA-1-OHNap and GAA-1-OHPyr systems. 1-OHNap and 1-OHPyr had strong inhibitory effects on GAA activity. GAA could bind with 1-OHNap and 1-OHPyr in 1:1 mode with binding constants of 3.97 × 10⁴ and 9.42 × 10⁴ L/mol at 298 K. Hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds played pivotal roles in the interactions. 1-OHNap was located closer to the active site of GAA than 1-OHPyr. This work suggests that the disturbance of glycometabolism by exogenous pollutants in the human body is worthy of attention and further investigation.

Binding elucidation of azo dyes with human serum albumin via spectroscopic approaches and molecular docking techniques

The large number of synthesized azo dyes is widely applied in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, textile, and leather industries. In this study, the binding mechanism of two synthesized dyes with human serum albumin (HSA); as the most abundant protein in plasma; was elucidated by fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and molecular modeling methods. The fluorescence quenching measurements showed that each dye can quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA via a dynamic quenching mechanism with an increase in concentration. From the thermodynamic data observations, revealed that the binding process is a spontaneous molecular force for each dye with HSA due to hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. FT-IR spectra showed that the secondary structure of the protein changes due to interaction of each dye with HSA. Furthermore, docking simulation demonstrated that the probable binding location of both dyes is subdomain IIA of HSA (Sudlow site I) and that complex formed is stabilized by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Molecular mechanism of two functional protein structure changes under 2,3-butanedione-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis effects in the hepatocytes

Food security has become closely watched with the occurrence of a series of food safety incidents in recent years. The widespread adoption of 2,3-butanedione (BUT), as a food additive, is an unpreventable significant risk factor to food security. Based on this, mouse hepatocyte AML-12 cells and two functional proteins (bovine serum albumin and lysozyme) were utilized as targeted receptors to study the adverse effects of BUT at the cellular and molecular levels. Results suggested that BUT could disrupt the redox balance of AML-12 cells, reducing glutathione (GSH) activity fell to 87.18 %, which cannot offset the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, the increasement of lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed. The mitochondrial membrane function was also abnormal due to the excessive accumulation of ROS and eventually leads to cell apoptosis and death. At the molecular level, the exposure of BUT could alter the skeleton and secondary structure of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LYZ), and it could statically quench the intrinsic fluorescence of proteins. The combined experiments confirmed proved the potentially toxic effects of BUT accumulation on the detoxification organ, providing theoretical support for the liver diseases caused by BUT exposure, and a reference for the risk assessment of occupational exposure of BUT.

Glutathione and Glutathione-Like Sequences of Opioid and Aminergic Receptors Bind Ascorbic Acid, Adrenergic and Opioid Drugs Mediating Antioxidant Function: Relevance for Anesthesia and Abuse

Opioids and their antagonists alter vitamin C metabolism. Morphine binds to glutathione (l-γ-glutamyl-l-cysteinyl-glycine), an intracellular ascorbic acid recycling molecule with a wide range of additional activities. The morphine metabolite morphinone reacts with glutathione to form a covalent adduct that is then excreted in urine. Morphine also binds to adrenergic and histaminergic receptors in their extracellular loop regions, enhancing aminergic agonist activity. The first and second extracellular loops of adrenergic and histaminergic receptors are, like glutathione, characterized by the presence of cysteines and/or methionines, and recycle ascorbic acid with similar efficiency. Conversely, adrenergic drugs bind to extracellular loops of opioid receptors, enhancing their activity. These observations suggest functional interactions among opioids and amines, their receptors, and glutathione. We therefore explored the relative binding affinities of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, opioid and adrenergic compounds, as well as various control compounds, to glutathione and glutathione-like peptides derived from the extracellular loop regions of the human beta 2-adrenergic, dopamine D1, histamine H1, and mu opioid receptors, as well as controls. Some cysteine-containing peptides derived from these receptors do bind ascorbic acid and/or dehydroascorbic acid and the same peptides generally bind opioid compounds. Glutathione binds not only morphine but also naloxone, methadone, and methionine enkephalin. Some adrenergic drugs also bind to glutathione and glutathione-like receptor regions. These sets of interactions provide a novel basis for understanding some ways that adrenergic, opioid and antioxidant systems interact during anesthesia and drug abuse and may have utility for understanding drug interactions.

Advances in mathematical models of the active targeting of tumor cells by functional nanoparticles

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The process of nanoparticles (NPs) entering blood circulation to actively target tumor cells involves four stages-the transport of NPs in blood vessels, transvascular transport of NPs, transport of NPs in the tumor interstitial matrix and entry of NPs into tumor cells. These four stages are a complex process involving mechanical, physical, biochemical, and biophysical factors, the tumor microenvironment (TME) and properties of NPs play important roles in this process. Because this process involves a large number of factors and is very complex, it is difficult to study with conventional methods.

METHODS

Using mathematical models for simulation is suitable for addressing this complex situation and can describe the complexity well.

RESULTS

This work focuses on the theoretical simulation of NPs that target tumor cells to illustrate the effects of the abnormal microenvironment of tumors and properties of NPs on the transport process. Mathematical models constructed by different methods are enumerated. Through studying these mathematical models, different methods to overcome nanoparticle (NP) transport obstacles are illustrated.

CONCLUSIONS

It is necessary to construct a theoretical model of active targeting nanodrug delivery under the coupling of micro-flow field and specific binding force field, and to simulate and analyze the delivery process at mesoscopic scale using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, so as to reveal the law and characteristics of drug delivery and cell uptake in the micro-environment of tumors in vivo. The methods and techniques discussed can serve as the basis for systematic studies of active targeting of functional nanoparticles to tumor cells.

Multi-spectroscopic approaches and molecular simulation research of the intermolecular interaction between the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) benazepril and bovine serum albumin (BSA)

Benazepril, a common ACE inhibitor, widely used in the treatment of arterial hypertension and congestive heart failure. In this study, We evaluated the characteristics of the interaction between benazepril and BSA under the simulated physiological condition (pH7.4) through various spectroscopic and molecular docking methods. Fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy results showed benazepril quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA through a combined dynamic and static quenching mechanism. The number of binding sites (n) and the binding constant (K_b) of benazepril-BSA complex were circa 1 and 6.81×10³M^-1 at 298K, respectively, indicating that the binding affinity between benazepril and BSA was moderate. The displacement experiments confirmed that benazepril binding to the site I of BSA, which was quite in accordance with molecular docking. The values of the Gibbs free energy (ΔG⁰), enthalpic change (ΔH⁰) and entropic change (ΔS⁰) were negative, verifying that van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding interaction played a predominant roles in the process of spontaneous bonding. Furthermore, a slight change of the conformation in BSA upon benazepril interaction was proved through SF, 3-DF and FTIR spectroscopy results.

Separation and Characterization of Antioxidative and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptide from Jellyfish Gonad Hydrolysate

The gonad of jellyfish (RhopilemaesculentumKishinouye), containing high protein content with a rich amino acid composition, is suitable for the preparation of bioactive peptides. Jellyfish gonad was hydrolysed with neutral protease to obtain jellyfish gonad protein hydrolysate (JGPH), which was then purified sequentially by ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, and RP-HPLC. The peptides were characterized with HPLC-MS/MS. One peptide with amino acid sequence Ser-Tyr (SY) was identified and synthesized, which showed good ACE inhibitory and antioxidant activity. The IC50 of this peptide on DPPH, ·OH, super oxygen anion scavenging activities, and ACE inhibitory activity are 84.623 μM, 1177.632 μM, 456.663 μM, and 1164.179 μM, respectively. The anchor in the binding site of SY and ACE C-domain (ACE-C) was obtained by molecular simulations. The results showed that the dipeptide purified from jellyfish gonad protein hydrolysates can be used as functional food material and is helpful in the study of antioxidant and inhibition of ACE.

Interaction of Flavonoids from Woodwardia unigemmata with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA): Application of Spectroscopic Techniques and Molecular Modeling Methods

Phytochemical investigation on the methanol extract of Woodwardia unigemmata resulted in the isolation of seven flavonoids, including one new flavonol acylglycoside (1). The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison of literature data. The multidrug resistance (MDR) reversing activity was evaluated for the isolated compounds using doxorubicin-resistant K562/A02 cells model. Compound 6 showed comparable MDR reversing effect to verapamil. Furthermore, the interaction between compounds and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by spectroscopic methods, including steady-state fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies, and molecular docking approach. The experimental results indicated that the seven flavonoids bind to BSA by static quenching mechanisms. The negative ΔH and ΔS values indicated that van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds contributed in the binding of compounds 2–6 to BSA. In the case of compounds 1 and 7 systems, the hydrophobic interactions play a major role. The binding of compounds to BSA causes slight changes in the secondary structure of BSA. There are two binding sites of compound 6 on BSA and site I is the main site according to the molecular docking studies and the site marker competitive binding assay.