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Sarkar E, Kotiya A, Khan A, Bhuyan R, Raza ST, Misra A, Mahdi AA. The combination of Curcumin and Doxorubicin on targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway: an in vitro and molecular docking study for inhibiting the survival of MDA-MB-231. In Silico Pharmacol 2024; 12:58. [PMID: 38912326 PMCID: PMC11192715 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-024-00231-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The process of tumorigenesis is highly associated with the disruption of cell-cycle regulators and derangement of various signaling pathways, which end up with the inhibition of apoptosis and hyper-activation of survival pathways. The PI3K medicated AKT/mTOR pathway is the widely explained mechanism for cancer cell survival which causes the overexpression of MDM2 and downregulates the p53-BAX mediated apoptotic pathway. Curcumin (CUR), the phyto-compound, derived from Curcuma longa is currently being focused on for its anticancer activities against breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231, not only because of its minimal cytotoxicity against healthy cells (HEK293) but also because it synergistically sensitizes the activity of Doxorubicin (DOXO) in lower doses, which can be a promising source for complementary drug development. This study aims to investigate the combinatorial effect of CUR and DOXO on PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway proteins by sequential molecular docking analysis and MD simulation studies. The lower binding affinity of the sequentially docked protein-ligand complex proves the increasing binding affinity of CUR and DOXO in the combinatorial dose. The mRNA expressions of different genes of this pathway are observed and quantified using rt-qPCR, where the decreasing fold change (2-∆∆Ct) indicates the suppression of the AKT/mTOR pathway after co-treatment of CUR and DOXO against MDA-MB-231 cells. These in silico and in vitro findings can be a new horizon for further in vitro and clinical trials of breast cancer treatment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00231-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esha Sarkar
- Department of Biochemistry, Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003 India
| | - Akanksha Kotiya
- Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Banasthali Vidyapith, Radha Kishnpura, Rajasthan 304022 India
| | - Afreen Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003 India
| | - Rajabrata Bhuyan
- Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Banasthali Vidyapith, Radha Kishnpura, Rajasthan 304022 India
| | - Syed Tasleem Raza
- Department of Biochemistry, Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003 India
| | - Aparna Misra
- Department of Biochemistry, Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003 India
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Li X, Hao Y, Yang N, Mao R, Teng D, Wang J. Plectasin: from evolution to truncation, expression, and better druggability. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1304825. [PMID: 38188573 PMCID: PMC10771296 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1304825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-computational classical evolution analysis of plectasin and its functional relatives can especially contribute tool value during access to meet requirements for their better druggability in clinical use. Staphylococcus aureus is a zoonotic pathogen that can infect the skin, blood, and other tissues of humans and animals. The impact of pathogens on humans is exacerbated by the crisis of drug resistance caused by the misuse of antibiotics. In this study, we analyzed the evolution of anti-Staphylococcus target functional sequences, designed a series of plectasin derivatives by truncation, and recombinantly expressed them in Pichia pastoris X-33, from which the best recombinant Ple-AB was selected for the druggability study. The amount of total protein reached 2.9 g/L following 120 h of high-density expression in a 5-L fermenter. Ple-AB was found to have good bactericidal activity against gram-positive bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging between 2 and 16 μg/mL. It showed good stability and maintained its bactericidal activity during high temperatures, strong acid and alkali environments. Notably, Ple-AB exhibited better druggability, including excellent trypsin resistance, and still possessed approximately 50% of its initial activity following exposure to simulated intestinal fluids for 1 h. In vitro safety testing of Ple-AB revealed low hemolytic activity against mouse erythrocytes and cytotoxicity against murine-derived macrophages. This study successfully realized the high expression of a new antimicrobial peptide (AMP), Ple-AB, in P. pastoris and the establishment of its oral administration as an additive form with high trypsin resistance; the study also revealed its antibacterial properties, indicating that truncation design is a valuable tool for improving druggability and that the candidate Ple-AB may be a novel promising antimicrobial agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Li
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Ya Hao
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Na Yang
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoyu Mao
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Da Teng
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
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