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Mus AA, Gansau JA, Kumar V, Rusdi NA. Isolation and characterisation of sesquiterpene synthase from aromatic orchid Phalaenopsis bellina (Rchb.f.) Christenson. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:1000. [PMID: 39302551 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09943-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phalaenopsis bellina, an orchid native to Borneo, is renowned for its unique appearance. It releases distinct fragrances, which have been linked to the presence of terpenoids. However, the identification and study of sesquiterpene synthase in P. bellina remain limited. In this study, we examines the functional characterisation of terpene synthase (TPS) from P. bellina, known as PbTS, through recombinant protein expression and its manifestation in the flower. METHODS AND RESULTS Gene annotation of PbTS revealed that the inferred peptide sequence of PbTS comprises 1,680 bp nucleotides encoding 559 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 65.2 kDa and a pI value of 5.4. A similarity search against GenBank showed that PbTS shares similarities with the previously published partial sequence of P. bellina (ABW98504.1) and Phalaenopsis equestris (XP_020597359.1 and ABW98503.1). Intriguingly, the phylogenetic analysis places the PbTS gene within the TPS-a group. In silico analysis of PbTS demonstrated stable interactions with farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP), and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). To verify this activity, an in vitro enzyme assay was performed on the PbTS recombinant protein, which successfully converted FPP, GPP, and GGPP into acyclic sesquiterpene β-farnesene, yielding approximately 0.03 mg/L. Expressional analysis revealed that the PbTS transcript was highly expressed in P. bellina, but its level did not correlate with β-farnesene levels across various flowering time points and stages. CONCLUSION The insights gained from this study will enhance the understanding of terpenoid production in P. bellina and aid in the discovery of novel fragrance-related genes in other orchid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Asnawi Mus
- BioAgriTech Research Group (BioATR), Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Jualang Azlan Gansau
- BioAgriTech Research Group (BioATR), Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Nor Azizun Rusdi
- Tissue Culture Laboratory, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
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Stratton C, Christensen A, Jordan C, Salvatore BA, Mahdavian E. An interdisciplinary course on computer-aided drug discovery to broaden student participation in original scientific research. BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION : A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 52:276-290. [PMID: 38308532 PMCID: PMC11251704 DOI: 10.1002/bmb.21811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
We present a new highly interdisciplinary project-based course in computer aided drug discovery (CADD). This course was developed in response to a call for alternative pedagogical approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the cancellation of a face-to-face summer research program sponsored by the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network (LBRN). The course integrates guided research and educational experiences for chemistry, biology, and computer science students. We implement research-based methods with publicly available tools in bioinformatics and molecular modeling to identify and prioritize promising antiviral drug candidates for COVID-19. The purpose of this course is three-fold: I. Implement an active learning and inclusive pedagogy that fosters student engagement and research mindset; II. Develop student interdisciplinary research skills that are highly beneficial in a broader scientific context; III. Demonstrate that pedagogical shifts (initially incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic) can furnish longer-term instructional benefits. The course, which has now been successfully taught a total of five times, incorporates four modules, including lectures/discussions, live demos, inquiry-based assignments, and science communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Stratton
- Department of Biological Science, LSU Shreveport, One University Place, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
| | - Avery Christensen
- Department of Biological Science, LSU Shreveport, One University Place, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
| | - Chelsey Jordan
- Department of Biological Science, LSU Shreveport, One University Place, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
| | - Brian A Salvatore
- Department of Chemistry & Physics, LSU Shreveport, One University Place, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
| | - Elahe Mahdavian
- Department of Biological Science, LSU Shreveport, One University Place, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
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3
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Liu WB, Tang J, Li JL, Chen C, Wu L, Li JS, Long YH. A new chromone from Kandelia candel endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. ZJ-68. JOURNAL OF ASIAN NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH 2023; 25:1125-1131. [PMID: 37042704 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2023.2197226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
One chromone (1), together with four known alkaloids, were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. ZJ-68. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 showed strong anti-inflammatory activity in vitro by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 cells with an IC50 value of 4.094 ± 0.8 μM, which was better than positive drug indomethacin (IC50=35.8 ± 0.5 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Bin Liu
- School of Chemistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, GDMPA Key Laboratory for Process Control and Quality Evaluation of Chiral Pharmaceuticals, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Jing Tang
- School of Chemistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, GDMPA Key Laboratory for Process Control and Quality Evaluation of Chiral Pharmaceuticals, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Jia-Lin Li
- School of Chemistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, GDMPA Key Laboratory for Process Control and Quality Evaluation of Chiral Pharmaceuticals, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Chen Chen
- School of Chemistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, GDMPA Key Laboratory for Process Control and Quality Evaluation of Chiral Pharmaceuticals, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Li Wu
- School of Chemistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, GDMPA Key Laboratory for Process Control and Quality Evaluation of Chiral Pharmaceuticals, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Jun-Sen Li
- School of Chemistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, GDMPA Key Laboratory for Process Control and Quality Evaluation of Chiral Pharmaceuticals, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Yu-Hua Long
- School of Chemistry, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, GDMPA Key Laboratory for Process Control and Quality Evaluation of Chiral Pharmaceuticals, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
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4
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Al-Mamun A, Ahammad I, Ahmed SS, Akter F, Hossain SI, Chowdhury ZM, Bhattacharjee A, Das KC, Keya CA, Salimullah M. Pharmacoinformatics and molecular dynamics simulation approach to identify anti-diarrheal potentials of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. against Vibrio cholerae. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:14730-14743. [PMID: 36927394 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2191736] [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: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae, the etiological agent of cholera, causes dehydration and severe diarrhea with the production of cholera toxin. Due to the acquired antibiotic resistance, V. cholerae has drawn attention to the establishment of novel medications to counteract the virulence and viability of the pathogen. Centella asiatica is a medicinal herb native to Bangladesh that has a wide range of medicinal and ethnobotanical applications including anti-bacterial properties. In the present investigation, a total of 25 bioactive phytochemicals of C. asiatica have been screened virtually through molecular docking, ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) analyses, and molecular dynamics simulation. Our results revealed four lead compounds as Viridiflorol (-8.7 Kcal/mol), Luteolin (-8.1 Kcal/mol), Quercetin (-8.0 Kcal/mol) and, Geranyl acetate (-7.1 Kcal/mol) against V. cholerae Toxin co-regulated pilus virulence regulatory protein (ToxT). All the lead compounds have been found to possess favorable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics, and molecular dynamics properties. Toxicity analysis revealed satisfactory results with no major side effects. Molecular dynamics simulation was performed for 100 ns that revealed noteworthy conformational stability and structural compactness for all the lead compounds, especially for Quercetin. Target class prediction unveiled enzymes in most of the cases and some experimental and investigational drugs were found as structurally similar analogs of the lead compounds. These findings could aid in the development of novel therapeutics targeting Cholera disease and we strongly recommend in vitro trials of our experimental findings.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Al-Mamun
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Ishtiaque Ahammad
- Bioinformatics Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sheikh Sunzid Ahmed
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Farzana Akter
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shah Imran Hossain
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Keshob Chandra Das
- Molecular Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Chaman Ara Keya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Salimullah
- Molecular Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Tang H, Wang L, Li S, Wei X, Lv M, Zhong F, Liu Y, Liu J, Fu B, Zhu Q, Wang D, Liu J, Ruan K, Gao J, Xu W. Inhibitors against Two PDZ Domains of MDA-9 Suppressed Migration of Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043431. [PMID: 36834839 PMCID: PMC9964117 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 9 (MDA-9) is a small adaptor protein with tandem PDZ domains that promotes tumor progression and metastasis in various human cancers. However, it is difficult to develop drug-like small molecules with high affinity due to the narrow groove of the PDZ domains of MDA-9. Herein, we identified four novel hits targeting the PDZ1 and PDZ2 domains of MDA-9, namely PI1A, PI1B, PI2A, and PI2B, using a protein-observed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fragment screening method. We also solved the crystal structure of the MDA-9 PDZ1 domain in complex with PI1B and characterized the binding poses of PDZ1-PI1A and PDZ2-PI2A, guided by transferred paramagnetic relaxation enhancement. The protein-ligand interaction modes were then cross-validated by the mutagenesis of the MDA-9 PDZ domains. Competitive fluorescence polarization experiments demonstrated that PI1A and PI2A blocked the binding of natural substrates to the PDZ1 and PDZ2 domains, respectively. Furthermore, these inhibitors exhibited low cellular toxicity, but suppressed the migration of MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells, which recapitulated the phenotype of MDA-9 knockdown. Our work has paved the way for the development of potent inhibitors using structure-guided fragment ligation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Tang
- Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Shuju Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Mengqi Lv
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Fumei Zhong
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Yaqian Liu
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Jiuyang Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Bangguo Fu
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Qizhi Zhu
- Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Ke Ruan
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Jia Gao
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- Correspondence: (J.G.); (W.X.)
| | - Weiping Xu
- Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- Correspondence: (J.G.); (W.X.)
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In Silico Study: Combination of α-Mangostin and Chitosan Conjugated with Trastuzumab against Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14132747. [PMID: 35808792 PMCID: PMC9268814 DOI: 10.3390/polym14132747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a type of cancer with the highest prevalence worldwide. Almost 10–30% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed as positive for HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2). The currently available treatment methods still exhibit many shortcomings such as a high incidence of side effects and treatment failure due to resistance. This in silico study aims to simulate α-mangostin and chitosan combination conjugated to trastuzumab formulation against HER2 as an effort to improve breast cancer patient therapy. This molecular docking simulation was done through using PatchDock Server. The materials used including the two-dimensional structure of α-mangostin, chitosan, and sodium tripolyphosphate from the PubChem database; trastuzumab FASTA sequence from the DrugBank database; and HER2 structure obtained from a crystal complex with PDB ID: 1N8Z. The results indicated that the particle of α-mangostin and chitosan combinations interacted mostly with the crystallizable fragment (Fc region) of trastuzumab in the conjugation process. The conjugation of trastuzumab to the particle of a combination of α-mangostin and chitosan resulted in the greatest increase in the binding score of the smallest-sized particles (50 Å) with an increase in the score of 3828 and also gave the most similar mode of interaction with trastuzumab. However, the conjugation of trastuzumab eliminated the similarity of the mode of interaction and increased the value of atomic contact energy. Thus, a cominbation of α-mangostin and chitosan conjugated to a trastuzumab formulation was predicted can increase the effectiveness of breast cancer therapy at a relatively small particle size but with the consequence of decreasing atomic contact energy.
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Geng F, Zhang G, Wang Y, Lü J. Membrane phosphatidylserine allosterically regulates the cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity via an electrostatic-switch mechanism. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:2203-2210. [PMID: 35226022 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01791h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a peripheral membrane protein that plays an essential role in many inflammatory responses. However, the activation mechanisms of PLA2 on the membrane surface have not been fully understood. Herein, we have combined experimental techniques and theoretical approaches to investigate the activation and association of the PLA2 protein on an artificial phospholipid membrane. Using a phosphatidylserine (PS) nanodomain containing membrane to mimic the inflammatory conditions, we found that the activity of cytosolic PLA2s (cPLA2s) increases with higher ratios of PS in the membrane. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that significant changes in the protein structure are related to negatively charged membranes. In particular, the alteration of negatively charged residues in the C2 domain brings about an opened binding pocket and the catalytic site access to the substrate phospholipid. Meanwhile, the negative residues in the loop 650-665 facilitate the optimal interfacial orientation of the protein with a closed binding pocket on the membrane surface. These results lead us to suggest an electrostatic-switch allosteric mechanism for cPLA2 activation on the cell membrane surface under the inflammatory state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Geng
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China.
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Guangxu Zhang
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250000, China
- CAS key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yadi Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China.
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Junhong Lü
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China.
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250000, China
- CAS key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
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Liu X, Liang J, Yu Y, Han X, Yu L, Chen F, Xu Z, Chen Q, Jin M, Dong C, Zhou HB, Lan K, Wu S. Discovery of Aryl Benzoyl Hydrazide Derivatives as Novel Potent Broad-Spectrum Inhibitors of Influenza A Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRp). J Med Chem 2022; 65:3814-3832. [PMID: 35212527 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Influenza A viruses possess a high antigenic shift, and the approved anti-influenza drugs are extremely limited, which makes the development of novel anti-influenza drugs for the clinical treatment and prevention of influenza outbreaks imperative. Herein, we report a series of novel aryl benzoyl hydrazide analogs as potent anti-influenza agents. Particularly, analogs 10b, 10c, 10g, 11p, and 11q exhibited potent inhibitory activity against the avian H5N1 flu strain with EC50 values ranging from 0.009 to 0.034 μM. Moreover, compound 11q exhibited nanomolar antiviral effects against both the H1N1 virus and Flu B virus and possessed good oral bioavailability and inhibitory activity against influenza A virus in a mouse model. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that these compounds exert anti-influenza virus effects mainly by interacting with the PB1 subunit of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). These results revealed that 11q has the potential to become a potent clinical candidate to combat seasonal influenza and influenza pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jinsen Liang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yongshi Yu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xin Han
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Feifei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhichao Xu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Qi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Mengyu Jin
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Chune Dong
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hai-Bing Zhou
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.,Key Laboratory of Organofluorine Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ke Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Shuwen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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Dharavath R, Sarasija M, Prathima K, Ram Reddy M, Panga S, Thumma V, Ashok D. Microwave-assisted synthesis of (6-((1-(4-aminophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy)substituted benzofuran-2-yl)(phenyl)methanones, evaluation of in vitro anticancer, antimicrobial activities and molecular docking on COVID-19. RESULTS IN CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rechem.2022.100628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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10
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Rath S, Jagadeb M, Bhuyan R. Molecular docking of bioactive compounds derived from Moringa oleifera with p53 protein in the apoptosis pathway of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Genomics Inform 2021; 19:e46. [PMID: 35012289 PMCID: PMC8752987 DOI: 10.5808/gi.21062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Moringa oleifera is nowadays raising as the most preferred medicinal plant, as every part of the moringa plant has potential bioactive compounds which can be used as herbal medicines. Some bioactive compounds of M. oleifera possess potential anti-cancer properties which interact with the apoptosis protein p53 in cancer cell lines of oral squamous cell carcinoma. This research work focuses on the interaction among the selected bioactive compounds derived from M. oleifera with targeted apoptosis protein p53 from the apoptosis pathway to check whether the bioactive compound will induce apoptosis after the mutation in p53. To check the toxicity and drug-likeness of the selected bioactive compound derived from M. oleifera based on Lipinski's Rule of Five. Detailed analysis of the 3D structure of apoptosis protein p53. To analyze protein's active site by CASTp 3.0 server. Molecular docking and binding affinity were analyzed between protein p53 with selected bioactive compounds in order to find the most potential inhibitor against the target. This study shows the docking between the potential bioactive compounds with targeted apoptosis protein p53. Quercetin was the most potential bioactive compound whereas kaempferol shows poor affinity towards the targeted p53 protein in the apoptosis pathway. Thus, the objective of this research can provide an insight prediction towards M. oleifera derived bioactive compounds and target apoptosis protein p53 in the structural analysis for compound isolation and in-vivo experiments on the cancer cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Rath
- Department of Medical Research Health Sciences, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Bhubaneswar 751003, India
| | - Manaswini Jagadeb
- Department of Bioinformatics, Centre for Post Graduate Studies, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar 751003, India
| | - Ruchi Bhuyan
- Department of Medical Research Health Sciences, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Bhubaneswar 751003, India
- Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology and Department of Medical Research Health Sciences, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Bhubaneswar 751003, India
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Zhang X, Han L, Li P, Zhang S, Zhang M, Li X, Chu J, Wang L, Tu P, Zhang Y, Liu K. Region-Specific Biomarkers and Their Mechanisms in the Treatment of Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Study of Panax quinquefolius from Wendeng, China. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26226829. [PMID: 34833921 PMCID: PMC8623508 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Panax quinquefolius, a popular medicinal herb, has been cultivated in China for many years. In this work, the region-specific profiles of metabolites in P. quinquefolius from Wendeng was investigated using liquid-chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-(LC-Q-TOF)-based metabolomics analysis. The three most abundant biomarkers, identified as ginsenoside Rb3, notoginsenoside R1, and ginsenoside Rc, were the representative chemical components employed in the network pharmacology analysis. In addition, molecular docking and western blotting analyses revealed that the three compounds were effective binding ligands with Hsp90α, resulting in the inactivation of SRC and PI3K kinase, which eventually led to the inactivation of the Akt and ERK pathways and lung cancer suppression. The outcomes obtained herein demonstrated the intriguing chemical characteristics and potential functional activities of P. quinquefolius from Wendeng.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanming Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China; (X.Z.); (P.L.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.L.); (J.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Liwen Han
- Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 256200, China;
| | - Peihai Li
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China; (X.Z.); (P.L.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.L.); (J.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China; (X.Z.); (P.L.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.L.); (J.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Mengqi Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China; (X.Z.); (P.L.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.L.); (J.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Xiaobin Li
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China; (X.Z.); (P.L.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.L.); (J.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Jie Chu
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China; (X.Z.); (P.L.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.L.); (J.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Lizhen Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China; (X.Z.); (P.L.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.L.); (J.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Pengfei Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China;
| | - Yun Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China; (X.Z.); (P.L.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.L.); (J.C.); (L.W.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (K.L.)
| | - Kechun Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening of Shandong Province, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China; (X.Z.); (P.L.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.L.); (J.C.); (L.W.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (K.L.)
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12
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Ge H, Zhang B, Li T, Yu Y, Men F, Zhao S, Liu J, Zhang T. Potential targets and the action mechanism of food-derived dipeptides on colitis: network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis. Food Funct 2021; 12:5989-6000. [DOI: 10.1039/d1fo00469g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The present study provides an efficient method for screening food-derived dipeptides to attenuate colitis based on the network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifang Ge
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food
- Jilin University
- Changchun
- People's Republic of China
- College of Food Science and Engineering
| | - Biying Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food
- Jilin University
- Changchun
- People's Republic of China
- College of Food Science and Engineering
| | - Ting Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food
- Jilin University
- Changchun
- People's Republic of China
- College of Food Science and Engineering
| | - Yue Yu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food
- Jilin University
- Changchun
- People's Republic of China
- College of Food Science and Engineering
| | - Fangbing Men
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food
- Jilin University
- Changchun
- People's Republic of China
- College of Food Science and Engineering
| | - Songning Zhao
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food
- Jilin University
- Changchun
- People's Republic of China
- College of Food Science and Engineering
| | - Jingbo Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food
- Jilin University
- Changchun
- People's Republic of China
- College of Food Science and Engineering
| | - Ting Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Functional Food
- Jilin University
- Changchun
- People's Republic of China
- College of Food Science and Engineering
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13
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Pant R, Joshi A, Joshi T, Maiti P, Nand M, Joshi T, Pande V, Chandra S. Identification of potent Antigen 85C inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis via in-house lichen library and binding free energy studies Part-II. J Mol Graph Model 2020; 103:107822. [PMID: 33333421 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2020.107822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis remains the cause of mortality throughout the world. Currently, the available anti-tubercular drugs are not effective because of the existence of Multi-Drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and Extensively-Drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). It has, therefore, become necessary to develop novel drugs that inhibit the activity of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Due to the existence of MDR and XDR-TB, Mtb Ag85C has risen out as a propitious molecular drug target as it has importance in the synthesis of main components of the Mtb cell envelope which are essential for the virulence and survival of Mtb. In a previous paper, we studied a potential drug target by virtual high throughput screening of compounds and in continuation of the study on Mtb Ag85C, we further studied the role of lichen compounds in the inhibition of Ag85C. In the current research work, virtual screening of a lichen compounds library was performed against Ag85C. Further, ADMET analysis was employed to filter out the screened lichen compounds. Bioactivity score and toxicity prediction finalized four lichen compounds i.e. Portentol, Aspicilin, Parietinic acid and Polyporic acid as potential inhibitors of Ag85C. The stability and dynamic behavior of four compounds were analyzed by using Molecular dynamics simulation which indicated that they may be potential inhibitors of Ag85C. Therefore, based on the above results, Portentol, Aspicilin, Parietinic acid and Polyporic acid may be potential drug candidates against Mtb. We suggest that the use of these compounds can minimize the treatment time-period and the various side effects associated with the currently available anti-tubercular drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragini Pant
- Department of Biotechnology, Kumaun University, Bhimtal Campus, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Amit Joshi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, G. B. Pant Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Tanuja Joshi
- Department of Botany, Kumaun University, S.S.J Campus, Almora, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Priyanka Maiti
- Department of Botany, Kumaun University, S.S.J Campus, Almora, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Mahesha Nand
- Department of Biotechnology, Kumaun University, Bhimtal Campus, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Tushar Joshi
- Department of Biotechnology, Kumaun University, Bhimtal Campus, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Veena Pande
- Department of Biotechnology, Kumaun University, Bhimtal Campus, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Subhash Chandra
- Department of Botany, Kumaun University, S.S.J Campus, Almora, Uttarakhand, India.
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14
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Premkumar J, Sampath P, Sanjay R, Chandrakala A, Rajagopal D. Synthetic Guaiacol Derivatives as Promising Myeloperoxidase Inhibitors Targeting Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:1187-1199. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jayaraj Premkumar
- Department of ChemistrySchool of Advanced ScienceVellore Institute of Technology-Vellore Tamilnadu 632014 India
| | - Parthasarathy Sampath
- Burnett School of Biomedical SciencesCollege of MedicineUniversity of Central Florida Orlando FL 32832 USA
| | - Rajagopalan Sanjay
- Division of Cardiovascular MedicineHarrington Heart and Vascular Institute Cleveland 44106 Ohio USA
- Cardiovascular Research InstituteSchool of MedicineCase Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio 44106 USA
| | - Aluganti Chandrakala
- Burnett School of Biomedical SciencesCollege of MedicineUniversity of Central Florida Orlando FL 32832 USA
| | - Desikan Rajagopal
- Department of ChemistrySchool of Advanced ScienceVellore Institute of Technology-Vellore Tamilnadu 632014 India
- Burnett School of Biomedical SciencesCollege of MedicineUniversity of Central Florida Orlando FL 32832 USA
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15
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Patil S, Ghosh D, Radhakrishna M, Basu S. Mitochondrial Impairment by Cyanine-Based Small Molecules Induces Apoptosis in Cancer Cells. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:23-28. [PMID: 31938458 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrion, the powerhouse of the cells, has emerged as one of the unorthodox targets in anticancer therapy due to its involvement in several cellular functions. However, the development of small molecules for selective mitochondrial damage in cancer cells remained limited and less explored. To address this, in our work, we have synthesized a natural product inspired cyanine-based 3-methoxy pyrrole small molecule library by a concise strategy. This strategy involves Vilsmeier and Pd(0) catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions as key steps. The screening of the library members in HeLa cervical cancer cells revealed two new molecules that localized into subcellular mitochondria and damaged them. These small molecules perturbed antiapoptotic (Bcl-2/Bcl-xl) and pro-apoptotic (Bax) proteins to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Molecular docking studies showed that both molecules bind more tightly with the BH3 domain of Bcl-2 proteins compared to obatoclax (a pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor). These novel small molecules arrested the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, cleaved caspase-3/9, and finally prompted late apoptosis. This small molecule-mediated mitochondrial damage induced remarkably high cervical cancer cell death. These unique small molecules can be further explored as chemical biology tools and next-generation organelle-targeted anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohan Patil
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)-Pune, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune, Maharashtra 411008, India
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16
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Jayaraj P, Shavi GV, Srinivasan AK, Raghavendra R, Sivaramakrishna A, Desikan R. A pre-formulation strategy for the liposome encapsulation of new thioctic acid conjugates for enhanced chemical stability and use as an efficient drug carrier for MPO-mediated atherosclerotic CVD treatment. NEW J CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/c9nj05258e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Lipoyl-apocynin and lipoyl-sesamol are bio-active conjugates of thioctic acid, synthesized using a benign chemical approachviathe combination of thioctic acid and the powerful bio-phytonutrients, apocynin and sesamol, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Premkumar Jayaraj
- Department of Chemistry
- School of Advanced Sciences
- Vellore Institute of Technology
- Vellore
- India
| | - Gopal Venkatesh Shavi
- South Easter Applied Material Research Centre
- Waterford Institute of Technology
- Ireland
| | | | - Ramesh Raghavendra
- South Easter Applied Material Research Centre
- Waterford Institute of Technology
- Ireland
| | - Akella Sivaramakrishna
- Department of Chemistry
- School of Advanced Sciences
- Vellore Institute of Technology
- Vellore
- India
| | - Rajagopal Desikan
- Department of Chemistry
- School of Advanced Sciences
- Vellore Institute of Technology
- Vellore
- India
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17
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Jayaraj P, Narasimhulu CA, Maiseyeu A, Durairaj R, Rao S, Rajagopalan S, Parthasarathy S, Desikan R. Methoxyphenol derivatives as reversible inhibitors of myeloperoxidase as potential antiatherosclerotic agents. Future Med Chem 2020; 12:95-110. [PMID: 31769316 PMCID: PMC7333589 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2019-0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate new chemical entities, based on ferulic acid scaffolds, as reversible myeloperoxidase inhibitors (MPOI). Methodology & results:In silico docking studies are performed with MPO protein as a target for several ferulic acid analogs followed by multiple in vitro assays to validate this approach. Two lead compounds 2a and 3 are identified with optimum docking and IC50 values: -7.95 kcal/mol, 0.9 μM and -8.35 kcal/mol, 8.5 μM, respectively. These MPOIs are able to inhibit oxidation of high-density lipoprotein and further promoted functionality of high-density lipoprotein. Conclusion: Lead analogs are potent MPOIs that exert specific effects on MPO-mediated oxidation as well as inflammatory pathways. It also acts as promoters of cholesterol efflux that sheds light on pharmacological approach in atherosclerosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Premkumar Jayaraj
- Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Science, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India
| | - Chandrakala A Narasimhulu
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Andrei Maiseyeu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Rekha Durairaj
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Shashidhar Rao
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08554, USA
| | - Sanjay Rajagopalan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Sampath Parthasarathy
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Rajagopal Desikan
- Carmel Biosciences, 3562 Habersham at Northlake, Building J, Suite A, Tucker, GA 30084, USA
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
- Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Science, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India
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18
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Kim JH, Jo YD, Jin CH. Isolation of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor of capsaicin analogs from Capsicum chinense Jacq. cv. Habanero. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 135:1202-1207. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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19
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Abreu PA, Carvalho KDL, Rabelo VWH, Castro HC. Computational strategy for visualizing structures and teaching biochemistry. BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION : A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 47:76-84. [PMID: 30578716 DOI: 10.1002/bmb.21199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Computational techniques have great potential to improve the teaching-learning. In this work, we used a computational strategy to visualize three-dimensional (3D) structures of proteins and DNA and help the student to comprehend biochemistry concepts such as protein structure and function, substrate, and inhibitors as well as DNA structural features. The practical classes included tutorials to be done in the computer using structures from Protein Data Bank and a free 3D structure visualization software, Swiss PDB Viewer. The activity was done with 76 students from biology and pharmacy undergraduate courses. Questionnaires were administered to evaluate the knowledge regarding specific biochemistry contents before and after the activity and the opinion of the students. An overall increased percentage of correct answers post-classes (75.91%) were observed in comparison to pre-classes (35.53%). All the students indicated that it could contribute to the learning of DNA and protein structure contents; approximately 90% stated that it enables structures visualization or makes the learning and understanding easier. Therefore, the strategy has shown to be effective, allowing the contextualization of biochemistry themes and may complement theoretical classes. © 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(1):76-84, 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Alvarez Abreu
- Laboratório de Modelagem molecular e Pesquisa em Ciências Farmacêuticas (LAMCIFAR), NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karina de Lima Carvalho
- Laboratório de Antibióticos, Bioquímica, Ensino e Modelagem Molecular (LabiEMol), Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitor Won-Held Rabelo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helena Carla Castro
- Laboratório de Antibióticos, Bioquímica, Ensino e Modelagem Molecular (LabiEMol), Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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20
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Jeffery KA, Pelaez N, Anderson TR. How Four Scientists Integrate Thermodynamic and Kinetic Theory, Context, Analogies, and Methods in Protein-Folding and Dynamics Research: Implications for Biochemistry Instruction. CBE LIFE SCIENCES EDUCATION 2018; 17:17/1/ar13. [PMID: 29440073 PMCID: PMC6007774 DOI: 10.1187/cbe.17-02-0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
To keep biochemistry instruction current and relevant, it is crucial to expose students to cutting-edge scientific research and how experts reason about processes governed by thermodynamics and kinetics such as protein folding and dynamics. This study focuses on how experts explain their research into this topic with the intention of informing instruction. Previous research has modeled how expert biologists incorporate research methods, social or biological context, and analogies when they talk about their research on mechanisms. We used this model as a guiding framework to collect and analyze interview data from four experts. The similarities and differences that emerged from analysis indicate that all experts integrated theoretical knowledge with their research context, methods, and analogies when they explained how phenomena operate, in particular by mapping phenomena to mathematical models; they explored different processes depending on their explanatory aims, but readily transitioned between different perspectives and explanatory models; and they explained thermodynamic and kinetic concepts of relevance to protein folding in different ways that aligned with their particular research methods. We discuss how these findings have important implications for teaching and future educational research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nancy Pelaez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Trevor R Anderson
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
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