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Mosa FES, Alqahtani MA, El-Ghiaty MA, Barakat K, El-Kadi AOS. Identifying novel aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) modulators from clinically approved drugs: In silico screening and In vitro validation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 754:109958. [PMID: 38499054 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2024.109958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) functions as a vital ligand-activated transcription factor, governing both physiological and pathophysiological processes. Notably, it responds to xenobiotics, leading to a diverse array of outcomes. In the context of drug repurposing, we present here a combined approach of utilizing structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations. This approach aims to identify potential AhR modulators from Drugbank repository of clinically approved drugs. By focusing on the AhR PAS-B binding pocket, our screening protocol included binding affinities calculations, complex stability, and interactions within the binding site as a filtering method. Comprehensive evaluations of all DrugBank small molecule database revealed ten promising hits. This included flibanserin, butoconazole, luliconazole, naftifine, triclabendazole, rosiglitazone, empagliflozin, benperidol, nebivolol, and zucapsaicin. Each exhibiting diverse binding behaviors and remarkably very low binding free energy. Experimental studies further illuminated their modulation of AhR signaling, and showing that they are consistently reducing AhR activity, except for luliconazole, which intriguingly enhances the AhR activity. This work demonstrates the possibility of using computational modelling as a quick screening tool to predict new AhR modulators from extensive drug libraries. Importantly, these findings hold immense therapeutic potential for addressing AhR-associated disorders. Consequently, it offers compelling prospects for innovative interventions through drug repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farag E S Mosa
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mohammed A Alqahtani
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mahmoud A El-Ghiaty
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Khaled Barakat
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Ayman O S El-Kadi
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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Mosa FES, AlRawashdeh S, El-Kadi AOS, Barakat K. Investigating the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Agonist/Antagonist Conformational Switch Using Well-Tempered Metadynamics Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:2021-2034. [PMID: 38457778 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that mediates biological signals to control various complicated cellular functions. It plays a crucial role in environmental sensing and xenobiotic metabolism. Dysregulation of AhR is associated with health concerns, including cancer and immune system disorders. Upon binding to AhR ligands, AhR, along with heat shock protein 90 and other partner proteins undergoes a transformation in the nucleus, heterodimerizes with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), and mediates numerous biological functions by inducing the transcription of various AhR-responsive genes. In this manuscript, the 3-dimensional structure of the entire human AhR is obtained using an artificial intelligence tool, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed to study different structural conformations. These conformations provide insights into the protein's function and movement in response to ligand binding. Understanding the dynamic behavior of AhR will contribute to the development of targeted therapies for associated health conditions. Therefore, we employ well-tempered metadynamics (WTE-metaD) simulations to explore the conformational landscape of AhR and obtain a better understanding of its functional behavior. Our computational results are in excellent agreement with previous experimental findings, revealing the closed and open states of helix α1 in the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH domain) in the cytoplasm at the atomic level. We also predict the inactive form of AhR and identify Arginine 42 as a key residue that regulates switching between closed and open conformations in existing AhR modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farag E S Mosa
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Sara AlRawashdeh
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Ayman O S El-Kadi
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Khaled Barakat
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
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Occhiuzzi MA, Ioele G, De Luca M, Rizzuti B, Scordamaglia D, Lappano R, Maggiolini M, Garofalo A, Grande F. Dissecting CYP1A2 Activation by Arylalkanoic Acid Prodrugs toward the Development of Anti-Inflammatory Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:435. [PMID: 38203608 PMCID: PMC10779369 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Arylalkane-derived prodrugs of arylacetic acids are a small group of substances that have long been known for their anti-inflammatory action. Despite their ease of synthesis and good potential for the development of new potent and safe anti-inflammatory agents, this group of substances has not received much attention from researchers so far. Therefore, representative arylalkane derivatives were investigated through molecular docking techniques to verify the possible hepatic activation mode toward active metabolites by CYP1A2. In this regard, arylalkanoic acid prodrugs were docked with a crystallographic structure of human CYP1A2, in which the enzyme is co-crystallized with the selective competitive inhibitor α-naphthoflavone BHF. Of note, all the examined compounds proved capable of interacting with the enzyme active site in a manner similar to Nabumetone, thus confirming that a productive metabolic transformation is feasible. On the basis of these findings, it is possible to argue that subtle differences in the way CYP1A2 accommodates the ligands depend on the fine details of their molecular structures. Overall, these data suggest that compounds simply formed by an aromatic moiety bearing an appropriate alkane-derived chain could lead to innovative anti-inflammatory agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonietta Occhiuzzi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; (M.A.O.); (G.I.); (M.D.L.); (D.S.); (R.L.); (M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Giuseppina Ioele
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; (M.A.O.); (G.I.); (M.D.L.); (D.S.); (R.L.); (M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Michele De Luca
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; (M.A.O.); (G.I.); (M.D.L.); (D.S.); (R.L.); (M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Bruno Rizzuti
- CNR-NANOTEC, SS Rende (CS), Department of Physics, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
- Institute of Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI), Joint Unit GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Domenica Scordamaglia
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; (M.A.O.); (G.I.); (M.D.L.); (D.S.); (R.L.); (M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Rosamaria Lappano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; (M.A.O.); (G.I.); (M.D.L.); (D.S.); (R.L.); (M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Marcello Maggiolini
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; (M.A.O.); (G.I.); (M.D.L.); (D.S.); (R.L.); (M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Antonio Garofalo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; (M.A.O.); (G.I.); (M.D.L.); (D.S.); (R.L.); (M.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Fedora Grande
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; (M.A.O.); (G.I.); (M.D.L.); (D.S.); (R.L.); (M.M.); (A.G.)
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