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Vuai SAH, Ogedjo MM, Isaac O, Sahini MG, Swai HS, Shadrack DM. Relaxed complex scheme and molecular dynamics simulation suggests small molecule inhibitor of human TMPRSS2 for combating COVID-19. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:13925-13935. [PMID: 34751094 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1997817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
As the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to pose a health and economic crisis worldwide, the quest for drugs and/or vaccines against the virus continues. The human transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) has attracted attention as a target for drug discovery, as inhibition of its catalytic reaction would result in the inactivation of the proteolytic cleavage of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. As a result, the inactivation prevents viral cell entry to the host's cell. In this work, we screened and identified two potent molecules that interact and inhibit the catalytic reaction by using computational approaches. Two docking screening experiments were performed utilizing the crystal structure and holo ensemble structure obtained from molecular dynamics in bound form. There is enhancement and sensitivity of docking results to the holo ensemble as compared to the crystal structure. Compound 1 demonstrated a similar inhibition value to nafamostat by interacting with catalytic triad residues His296 and Ser441, thereby disrupting the already established hydrogen bond interaction. The stability of the ligand-TMPRSS2 complexes was studied by molecular dynamics simulation, and the binding energy was re-scored by using molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) binding free energy. The obtained compounds may serve as an initial point toward the discovery of potent TMPRSS2 inhibitors upon further in vivo validation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said A H Vuai
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Marcelina M Ogedjo
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Onoka Isaac
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Mtabazi G Sahini
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Hulda S Swai
- School of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Daniel M Shadrack
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, St. John's University of Tanzania, Dodoma, Tanzania
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Shrestha A, Marahatha R, Basnet S, Regmi BP, Katuwal S, Dahal SR, Sharma KR, Adhikari A, Chandra Basnyat R, Parajuli N. Molecular Docking and Dynamics Simulation of Several Flavonoids Predict Cyanidin as an Effective Drug Candidate against SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein. Adv Pharmacol Pharm Sci 2022; 2022:3742318. [PMID: 36407836 PMCID: PMC9668477 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3742318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The in silico method has provided a versatile process of developing lead compounds from a large database in a short duration. Therefore, it is imperative to look for vaccinations and medications that can stop the havoc caused by SARS-CoV-2. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is required for the viral entry into the host cells, hence inhibiting the virus from fusing and infecting the host. This study determined the binding interactions of 36 flavonoids along with two FDA-approved drugs against the spike protein receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 through molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In addition, the molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) approach was used to calculate the binding-free energy (BFE). Flavonoids were selected based on their in vitro assays on SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Our pharmacokinetics study revealed that cyanidin showed good drug-likeness, fulfilled Lipinski's rule of five, and conferred favorable toxicity parameters. Furthermore, MD simulations showed that cyanidin interacts with spike protein and alters the conformation and binding-free energy suited. Finally, an in vitro assay indicated that about 50% reduction in the binding of hACE2 with S1-RBD in the presence of cyanidin-containing red grapes crude extract was achieved at approximately 1.25 mg/mL. Hence, cyanidin may be a promising adjuvant medication for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein based on in silico and in vitro research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmita Shrestha
- Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal
| | - Rishab Marahatha
- Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal
- Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Saroj Basnet
- Center for Drug Design and Molecular Simulation Division, Cancer Care and Research Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Bishnu P. Regmi
- Department of Chemistry, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
| | - Saurav Katuwal
- Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal
| | - Salik Ram Dahal
- Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Khaga Raj Sharma
- Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal
| | - Achyut Adhikari
- Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal
| | - Ram Chandra Basnyat
- Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal
| | - Niranjan Parajuli
- Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44618, Nepal
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Gao HY, Liu Y, Tan FF, Zhu LW, Jia KZ, Tang YJ. Advances and Challenges in Enzymatic C-glycosylation of Flavonoids in Plants. Curr Pharm Des 2022; 28:1466-1479. [PMID: 35466866 DOI: 10.2174/1381612828666220422085128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Flavonoid glycosides play required determinant roles in plants and have considerable potential for applications in medicine and biotechnology. Glycosyltransferases transfer a sugar moiety from uridine diphosphate-activated sugar molecules to an acceptor flavonoid via C-O and C-C linkages. Compared with O-glycosylflavonoids, C-glycosylflavonoids are more stable, are resistant to glycosidase or acid hydrolysis, exhibit better pharmacological properties, and have received more attention. Herein, we discuss the mining of C-glycosylflavones and the corresponding C-glycosyltransferases and evaluate the differences in structure and catalytic mechanisms between C-glycosyltransferase and O-glycosyltransferase. We conclude that promiscuity and specificity are key determinants for general flavonoid C-glycosyltransferase engineering and summarize the C-glycosyltransferase engineering strategy. A thorough understanding of the properties, catalytic mechanisms, and engineering of C-glycosyltransferases will be critical for any future biotechnological applications in areas such as the production of desired C-glycosylflavonoids for nutritional or medicinal use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Yao Gao
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Yan Liu
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Fei-Fan Tan
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Li-Wen Zhu
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Kai-Zhi Jia
- National "111" Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Ya-Jie Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
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Qaisrani MN, Belousov R, Rehman JU, Goliaei EM, Girotto I, Franklin-Mergarejo R, Güell O, Hassanali A, Roldán É. Phospholipids dock SARS-CoV-2 spike protein via hydrophobic interactions: a minimal in-silico study of lecithin nasal spray therapy. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2021; 44:132. [PMID: 34718875 PMCID: PMC8556817 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-021-00137-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the physical and chemical properties of viral infections at molecular scales is a major challenge for the scientific community more so with the outbreak of global pandemics. There is currently a lot of effort being placed in identifying molecules that could act as putative drugs or blockers of viral molecules. In this work, we computationally explore the importance in antiviral activity of a less studied class of molecules, namely surfactants. We employ all-atoms molecular dynamics simulations to study the interaction between the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the phospholipid lecithin (POPC), in water. Our microsecond simulations show a preferential binding of lecithin to the receptor-binding motif of SARS-CoV-2 with binding free energies significantly larger than [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, hydrophobic interactions involving lecithin non-polar tails dominate these binding events, which are also accompanied by dewetting of the receptor binding motif. Through an analysis of fluctuations in the radius of gyration of the receptor-binding domain, its contact maps with lecithin molecules, and distributions of water molecules near the binding region, we elucidate molecular interactions that may play an important role in interactions involving surfactant-type molecules and viruses. We discuss our minimal computational model in the context of lecithin-based liposomal nasal sprays as putative mitigating therapies for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Nawaz Qaisrani
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, 55099 Mainz, Germany
| | - Roman Belousov
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
- Present Address: EMBL - European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jawad Ur Rehman
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Universitá degli Studi di Trieste, Via Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Elham Moharramzadeh Goliaei
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ivan Girotto
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ricardo Franklin-Mergarejo
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Oriol Güell
- Comercial Douma S.L., Carrer de València 5, 08015 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ali Hassanali
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Édgar Roldán
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy
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Vuai SAH, Onoka I, Sahini MG, Swai HS, Shadrack DM. Abrogating the nsp10–nsp16 switching mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2 by phytochemicals from Withania somnifera: a molecular dynamics study. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2021.1974432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Said A. H. Vuai
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Isaac Onoka
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Mtabazi G. Sahini
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Hulda S. Swai
- School of Life Sciences and Bioengeering, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Daniel M. Shadrack
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, St. John's University of Tanzania, Dodoma, Tanzania
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Shadrack DM, Vuai SAH, Sahini MG, Onoka I. In silico study of the inhibition of SARS-COV-2 viral cell entry by neem tree extracts. RSC Adv 2021; 11:26524-26533. [PMID: 35480004 PMCID: PMC9037307 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra04197e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19, caused by SARS-COV-2, is responsible for higher mortality and morbidity rates across the globe. Until now, there is no specific treatment of the disease and hospitalized patients are treated according to the symptoms they develop. Efforts to identify drugs and/or vaccines are ongoing processes. Natural products have shown great promise in the treatment of many viral related diseases. In this work, using in silico methods, bioactive compounds from the neem tree were investigated for their ability to block viral cell entry as spike RBD-ACE2 inhibitors. Azadirachtin H, quentin and margocin were identified as potential compounds that demonstrated viral cell entry inhibition properties. The structural re-orientation of azadirachtin H was observed as the mechanism for viral cell entry inhibition. These compounds possessed good pharmacodynamic properties. The proposed molecules can serve as a starting point towards developing effective anti-SARS-COV-2 drugs targeting the inhibition of viral cell entry upon further in vitro and in vivo validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Shadrack
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, St John's University of Tanzania Dodoma P. O. Box 47 +255 713 696 089
| | - Said A H Vuai
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma Dodoma P. O. Box 338 Tanzania
| | - Mtabazi G Sahini
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma Dodoma P. O. Box 338 Tanzania
| | - Isaac Onoka
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma Dodoma P. O. Box 338 Tanzania
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Luteolin: a blocker of SARS-CoV-2 cell entry based on relaxed complex scheme, molecular dynamics simulation, and metadynamics. J Mol Model 2021; 27:221. [PMID: 34236507 PMCID: PMC8264176 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-021-04833-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Natural products have served human life as medications for centuries. During the outbreak of COVID-19, a number of naturally derived compounds and extracts have been tested or used as potential remedies against COVID-19. Tetradenia riparia extract is one of the plant extracts that have been deployed and claimed to manage and control COVID-19 by some communities in Tanzania and other African countries. The active compounds isolated from T. riparia are known to possess various biological properties including antimalarial and antiviral. However, the underlying mechanism of the active compounds against SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown. Results in the present work have been interpreted from the view point of computational methods including molecular dynamics, free energy methods, and metadynamics to establish the related mechanism of action. Among the constituents of T. riparia studied, luteolin inhibited viral cell entry and was thermodynamically stable. The title compound exhibit residence time and unbinding kinetics of 68.86 ms and 0.014 /ms, respectively. The findings suggest that luteolin could be potent blocker of SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. The study shades lights towards identification of bioactive constituents from T. riparia against COVID-19, and thus bioassay can be carried out to further validate such observations.
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