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de Lima Menezes G, Sales Bezerra K, Nobre Oliveira JI, Fontenele Araújo J, Soares Galvão D, Alves da Silva R, Vogel Saivish M, Laino Fulco U. Quantum mechanics insights into melatonin and analogs binding to melatonin MT 1 and MT 2 receptors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10922. [PMID: 38740789 PMCID: PMC11091226 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59786-x] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2 are G protein-coupled receptors that mediate the effects of melatonin, a hormone involved in circadian rhythms and other physiological functions. Understanding the molecular interactions between these receptors and their ligands is crucial for developing novel therapeutic agents. In this study, we used molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and quantum mechanics calculation to investigate the binding modes and affinities of three ligands: melatonin (MLT), ramelteon (RMT), and 2-phenylmelatonin (2-PMT) with both receptors. Based on the results, we identified key amino acids that contributed to the receptor-ligand interactions, such as Gln181/194, Phe179/192, and Asn162/175, which are conserved in both receptors. Additionally, we described new meaningful interactions with Gly108/Gly121, Val111/Val124, and Val191/Val204. Our results provide insights into receptor-ligand recognition's structural and energetic determinants and suggest potential strategies for designing more optimized molecules. This study enhances our understanding of receptor-ligand interactions and offers implications for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela de Lima Menezes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande no Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment, Programa de Pós Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59078-400, Brazil
| | - Katyanna Sales Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande no Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
- Applied Physics Department, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-859, Brazil
| | - Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande no Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
| | - John Fontenele Araújo
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande no Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
| | - Douglas Soares Galvão
- Applied Physics Department, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-859, Brazil
| | - Roosevelt Alves da Silva
- Unidade Especial de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Jataí, Jataí, GO, 75801-615, Brazil
| | - Marielena Vogel Saivish
- Laboratório de Pesquisas em Virologia, Departamento de Doenças Dermatológicas, Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina de São José Do Rio Preto, São José Do Rio, Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Campinas, SP, 13083-100, Brazil
| | - Umberto Laino Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande no Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil.
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment, Programa de Pós Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59078-400, Brazil.
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de Carvalho Matias EG, Bezerra KS, Costa AHL, Clemente Junior WS, Oliveira JIN, Ribeiro Junior LA, Galvão DS, Fulco UL. Quantum biochemical analysis of the TtgR regulator and effectors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8519. [PMID: 38609407 PMCID: PMC11015042 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58441-9] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The recent expansion of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens poses significant challenges in treating healthcare-associated infections. Although antibacterial resistance occurs by numerous mechanisms, active efflux of the drugs is a critical concern. A single species of efflux pump can produce a simultaneous resistance to several drugs. One of the best-studied efflux pumps is the TtgABC: a tripartite resistance-nodulation-division (RND) efflux pump implicated in the intrinsic antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E. The expression of the TtgABC gene is down-regulated by the HTH-type transcriptional repressor TtgR. In this context, by employing quantum chemistry methods based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) within the Molecular Fragmentation with Conjugate Caps (MFCC) approach, we investigate the coupling profiles of the transcriptional regulator TtgR in complex with quercetin (QUE), a natural polyphenolic flavonoid, tetracycline (TAC), and chloramphenicol (CLM), two broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. Our quantum biochemical computational results show the: [i] convergence radius, [ii] total binding energy, [iii] relevance (energetically) of the ligands regions, and [iv] most relevant amino acids residues of the TtgR-QUE/TAC/CLM complexes, pointing out distinctions and similarities among them. These findings improve the understanding of the binding mechanism of effectors and facilitate the development of new chemicals targeting TtgR, helping in the battle against the rise of resistance to antimicrobial drugs. These advances are crucial in the ongoing fight against rising antimicrobial drug resistance, providing hope for a future where healthcare-associated infections can be more beneficially treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- E G de Carvalho Matias
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
| | - K S Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
| | - A H Lima Costa
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
| | - W S Clemente Junior
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
| | - J I N Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
| | - L A Ribeiro Junior
- Institute of Physics, University of Brasília, Brasília, 70919-970, Brazil.
| | - D S Galvão
- Applied Physics Department, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - U L Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59072-970, Brazil
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Lima Neto JX, Bezerra KS, Barbosa ED, Araujo RL, Galvão DS, Lyra ML, Oliveira JIN, Akash S, Jardan YAB, Nafidi HA, Bourhia M, Fulco UL. Investigation of protein-protein interactions and hotspot region on the NSP7-NSP8 binding site in NSP12 of SARS-CoV-2. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 10:1325588. [PMID: 38304231 PMCID: PMC10830813 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1325588] [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: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) complex, essential in viral transcription and replication, is a key target for antiviral therapeutics. The core unit of RdRp comprises the nonstructural protein NSP12, with NSP7 and two copies of NSP8 (NSP81 and NSP82) binding to NSP12 to enhance its affinity for viral RNA and polymerase activity. Notably, the interfaces between these subunits are highly conserved, simplifying the design of molecules that can disrupt their interaction. Methods: We conducted a detailed quantum biochemical analysis to characterize the interactions within the NSP12-NSP7, NSP12-NSP81, and NSP12-NSP82 dimers. Our objective was to ascertain the contribution of individual amino acids to these protein-protein interactions, pinpointing hotspot regions crucial for complex stability. Results: The analysis revealed that the NSP12-NSP81 complex possessed the highest total interaction energy (TIE), with 14 pairs of residues demonstrating significant energetic contributions. In contrast, the NSP12-NSP7 complex exhibited substantial interactions in 8 residue pairs, while the NSP12-NSP82 complex had only one pair showing notable interaction. The study highlighted the importance of hydrogen bonds and π-alkyl interactions in maintaining these complexes. Intriguingly, introducing the RNA sequence with Remdesivir into the complex resulted in negligible alterations in both interaction energy and geometric configuration. Conclusion: Our comprehensive analysis of the RdRp complex at the protein-protein interface provides invaluable insights into interaction dynamics and energetics. These findings can guide the design of small molecules or peptide/peptidomimetic ligands to disrupt these critical interactions, offering a strategic pathway for developing effective antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Xavier Lima Neto
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Katyanna Sales Bezerra
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Emmanuel Duarte Barbosa
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Roniel Lima Araujo
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Shopnil Akash
- Department of Pharmacy, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Yousef A. Bin Jardan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hiba-Allah Nafidi
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Mohammed Bourhia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ibn Zohr University, Laayoune, Morocco
| | - Umberto Laino Fulco
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
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Lima Costa AH, Bezerra KS, de Lima Neto JX, Oliveira JIN, Galvão DS, Fulco UL. Deciphering Interactions between Potential Inhibitors and the Plasmodium falciparum DHODH Enzyme: A Computational Perspective. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9461-9475. [PMID: 37897437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05738] [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: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a parasitic disease that, in its most severe form, can even lead to death. Insect-resistant vectors, insufficiently effective vaccines, and drugs that cannot stop parasitic infestations are making the fight against the disease increasingly difficult. It is known that the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is of paramount importance for the synthesis of pyrimidine from the Plasmodium precursor, that is, for its growth and reproduction. Therefore, its blockade can lead to disruption of the parasite's life cycle in the vertebrate host. In this scenario, PfDHODH inhibitors have been considered candidates for a new therapy to stop the parasitic energy source. Given what is known, in this work, we applied molecular fractionation with conjugated caps (MFCC) in the framework of the quantum formalism of density functional theory (DFT) to evaluate the energies of the interactions between the enzyme and the different triazolopyrimidines (DSM483, DMS557, and DSM1), including a complex carrying the mutation C276F. From these results, it was possible to identify the main features of each system, focusing on the wild-type and mutant PfDHODH and examining the major amino acid residues that are part of the four complexes. Our analysis provides new information that can be used to develop new drugs that could prove to be more effective alternatives to present antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aranthya Hevelly Lima Costa
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - Katyanna Sales Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
- Applied Physics Department, University of Campinas, 130838-59 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Xavier de Lima Neto
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - Douglas Soares Galvão
- Applied Physics Department, University of Campinas, 130838-59 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Umberto Laino Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
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5
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de Paula Junior VF, van Tilburg MF, Morais PA, Júnior FFM, Lima EG, Oliveira VTDS, Guedes MIF, Caetano EWS, Freire VN. Quantum Biochemistry and MM-PBSA Description of the ZIKV NS2B-NS3 Protease: Insights into the Binding Interactions beyond the Catalytic Triad Pocket. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710088. [PMID: 36077486 PMCID: PMC9456192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Zika virus protease NS2B-NS3 has a binding site formed with the participation of a H51-D75-S135 triad presenting two forms, active and inactive. Studies suggest that the inactive conformation is a good target for the design of inhibitors. In this paper, we evaluated the co-crystallized structures of the protease with the inhibitors benzoic acid (5YOD) and benzimidazole-1-ylmethanol (5H4I). We applied a protocol consisting of two steps: first, classical molecular mechanics energy minimization followed by classical molecular dynamics were performed, obtaining stabilized molecular geometries; second, the optimized/relaxed geometries were used in quantum biochemistry and molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) calculations to estimate the ligand interactions with each amino acid residue of the binding pocket. We show that the quantum-level results identified essential residues for the stabilization of the 5YOD and 5H4I complexes after classical energy minimization, matching previously published experimental data. The same success, however, was not observed for the MM-PBSA simulations. The application of quantum biochemistry methods seems to be more promising for the design of novel inhibitors acting on NS2B-NS3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valdir Ferreira de Paula Junior
- Biotechnology & Molecular Biology Laboratory, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60714-903, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-859-8541-8255
| | | | - Pablo Abreu Morais
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará, Campus Horizonte, Horizonte 62884-105, Brazil
| | - Francisco Franciné Maia Júnior
- Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Matemática e Estatística, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró 59625-900, Brazil
| | - Elza Gadelha Lima
- Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Ceará (LACEN), Fortaleza 60120-002, Brazil
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6
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Lima Neto JX, Vieira DS, de Andrade J, Fulco UL. Exploring the Spike-hACE 2 Residue-Residue Interaction in Human Coronaviruses SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and HCoV-NL63. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:2857-2868. [PMID: 35617018 PMCID: PMC9159508 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) have been responsible for three major outbreaks since the beginning of the 21st century, and the emergence of the recent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in considerable efforts to design new therapies against coronaviruses. Thus, it is crucial to understand the structural features of their major proteins related to the virus-host interaction. Several studies have shown that from the seven known CoV human pathogens, three of them use the human Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (hACE-2) to mediate their host's cell entry: SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and HCoV-NL63. Therefore, we employed quantum biochemistry techniques within the density function theory (DFT) framework and the molecular fragmentation with conjugate caps (MFCC) approach to analyze the interactions between the hACE-2 and the spike protein-RBD of the three CoVs in order to map the hot-spot residues that form the recognition surface for these complexes and define the similarities and differences in the interaction scenario. The total interaction energy evaluated showed a good agreement with the experimental binding affinity order: SARS-2 > SARS > NL63. A detailed investigation revealed the energetically most relevant regions of hACE-2 and the spike protein for each complex, as well as the key residue-residue interactions. Our results provide valuable information to deeply understand the structural behavior and binding site characteristics that could help to develop antiviral therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions between CoVs S protein and hACE-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- José X. Lima Neto
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970
Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - Davi S. Vieira
- Instituto de Química, Universidade
Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN,
Brazil
| | - Jones de Andrade
- Department of Physical Chemistry,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970 Porto
Alegre-RS, Brazil
| | - Umberto Laino Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970
Natal-RN, Brazil
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7
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Santos JLS, Bezerra KS, Barbosa ED, Pereira ACL, Meurer YSR, Oliveira JIN, Gavioli EC, Fulco UL. In silico analysis of energy interactions between nociceptin/orfanin FQ receptor and two antagonists with potential antidepressive action. NEW J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2nj00916a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study addresses the binding energies of NOPR-ligand complexes and presents the main amino acid residues involved in the interaction between these complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. L. S. Santos
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - K. S. Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - E. D. Barbosa
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - A. C. L. Pereira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - Y. S. R. Meurer
- Departamento de Psicologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900, João Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - J. I. N. Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - E. C. Gavioli
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - U. L. Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil
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8
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Barbosa ED, Lima Neto JX, Bezerra KS, Oliveira JIN, Machado LD, Fulco UL. Quantum Biochemical Investigation of Lys49-PLA 2 from Bothrops moojeni. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:12972-12980. [PMID: 34793159 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Envenomation via snakebites occurs largely in areas where it is harder to access the hospital. Its mortality rate and sequelae acquired by the survivors symbolize a big challenge for antivenom therapy. In particular, the homologous phospholipase A2 (Lys49-PLA2) proteins can induce myonecrosis and are not effectively neutralized by current treatments. Thus, by taking advantage of crystallographic structures of Bothrops moojeni Lys49-PLA2 complexed with VRD (varespladib) and AIN (aspirin), a quantum biochemistry study based on the molecular fractionation with conjugate cap scheme within the density functional theory formalism is performed to unveil these complexes' detailed interaction energies. The calculations revealed that important interactions between ligands and the Lys49-PLA2 pocket could occur up to a pocket radius of r = 6.5 (5.0 Å) for VRD (AIN), with the total interaction energy of the VRD ligand being higher than that of the AIN ligand, which is well-correlated with the experimental binding affinity. Furthermore, we have identified the role played by the amino acids LYS0069, LYS0049, LEU0005, ILE0009, CYS0029, GLY0030, HIS0048, PRO0018, ALA0019, CYS0045, TYR0052, TYR0022, PRO0125*, and PHE0126* (LYS0069, LYS0049, GLY0032, LEU0002, and LEU0005) in the VRD↔Lys49-PLA2 (AIN↔Lys49-PLA2) complex. Our simulations are a valuable tool to support the big challenge for neutralizing the damages in victims of snakebites.
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Affiliation(s)
- E D Barbosa
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - J X Lima Neto
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - K S Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - J I N Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - L D Machado
- Departamento de Física Teórica e Experimental, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - U L Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59072-970, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
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Vianna JF, Bezerra KS, Lima Costa AH, Barbosa ED, Lima Neto JX, Oliveira JIN, Freire VN, Fulco UL. New ethionamide boosters and EthR2: structural and energetic analysis. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:23233-23241. [PMID: 34623361 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp02853g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Ethionamide (ETH) is a high-profile drug for the treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and, in order to produce its inhibitory effects, it needs to be bioactivated by monooxygenase EthA. This process is under the control of the transcriptional repressors EthR and EthR2, so that their inhibition results in the boosting of ethionamide activation. Herein, through crystallographic data and computer simulations, we calculated the interaction binding energies of four inhibitors with improved in vitro potency, namely BDM76060 (PDB ID: 6HS1), BDM72201 (PDB ID: 6HRX), BDM76150 (PDB ID: 6HS2) and BDM72719 (PDB ID: 6HRY), in complexes with the transcriptional repressor EthR2, using density functional theory (DFT) within the molecular fractionation with conjugated caps (MFCC) approach. It was observed that these ligands share the same binding site within a 10.0 Å radius of the EthR2 protein; however, their structural particularities have a significant impact on the global energies of systems. The BDM72201 and BDM72719 components are weakly attached to the binding site, while BDM76060 and BDM76150 components produce stronger bonds, corroborating with experimental studies demonstrating that BDM76060 and BDM76150 are more successful in producing inhibitory effects. BDM76060 and BDM76150 have many functional groups that increase the contact surface with the protein and attract a more significant number of amino acid residues, being able to produce polarities that generate stronger interactions. In the current scenario of a growing number of cases of bacterial resistance, the obtained data can be used to guide clinical trials of these inhibitors and other inhibitors that act on the alternative EthR2 pathway, focusing on improving the activity of ethionamide, its effectiveness, a reduction in the treatment time and exposure to cytotoxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Vianna
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - K S Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - A H Lima Costa
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - E D Barbosa
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - J X Lima Neto
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - J I N Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - V N Freire
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60455-760, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - U L Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil.
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10
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Tavares ABMLA, Lima Neto JX, Fulco UL, Albuquerque EL. Blockade of the checkpoint PD-1 by its ligand PD-L1 and the immuno-oncological drugs pembrolizumab and nivolumab. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:21207-21217. [PMID: 34533552 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp03064g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We investigate the interaction between the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), as well as the immuno-oncological drugs pembrolizumab (PEM), and nivolumab (NIV), through quantum chemistry methods based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and the molecular fractionation with conjugate caps (MFCC) scheme, in order to map their hot-spot regions. Our results showed that the total interaction energy order of the three complexes is in good agreement with the experimental binding affinity order: PD-1/PEM > PD-1/NIV > PD-1/PD-L1. Besides, a detailed investigation revealed the energetically most relevant residue-residue pairs-interaction for each complex. Our computational results give a better understanding of the interaction mechanism between the protein PD-1 and its ligands (natural and inhibitors), unleashing the immune surveillance to destroy the cancer cells by decreasing their immune evasion. They are also an efficient alternative towards the development of new small-molecules and antibody-based drugs, pointing out to new treatments for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Beatriz M L A Tavares
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil. .,Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50.670-901, Recife-PE, Brazil
| | - J X Lima Neto
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil.
| | - U L Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil.
| | - E L Albuquerque
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil.
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11
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Barbosa ED, Neto JXL, Teixeira DG, Bezerra KS, do Amaral VS, Oliveira JIN, Lima JPMS, Machado LD, Fulco UL. Exploring human porphobilinogen synthase metalloprotein by quantum biochemistry and evolutionary methods. Metallomics 2021; 13:6206860. [PMID: 33791795 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfab017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown the porphobilinogen synthase (PBGS) zinc-binding mechanism and its conservation among the living cells. However, the precise molecular interaction of zinc with the active center of the enzyme is unknown. In particular, quantum chemistry techniques within the density functional theory (DFT) framework have been the key methodology to describe metalloproteins, when one is looking for a compromise between accuracy and computational feasibility. Considering this, we used DFT-based models within the molecular fractionation with conjugate caps scheme to evaluate the binding energy features of zinc interacting with the human PBGS. Besides, phylogenetic and clustering analyses were successfully employed in extracting useful information from protein sequences to identify groups of conserved residues that build the ions-binding site. Our results also report a conservative assessment of the relevant amino acids, as well as the benchmark analysis of the calculation models used. The most relevant intermolecular interactions in Zn2+-PBGS are due to the amino acids CYS0122, CYS0124, CYS0132, ASP0169, SER0168, ARG0221, HIS0131, ASP0120, GLY0133, VAL0121, ARG0209, and ARG0174. Among these residues, we highlighted ASP0120, GLY0133, HIS0131, SER0168, and ARG0209 by co-occurring in all clusters generated by unsupervised clustering analysis. On the other hand, the triple cysteines at 2.5 Å from zinc (CYS0122, CYS0124, and CYS0132) have the highest energy attraction and are absent in the taxa Viridiplantae, Sar, Rhodophyta, and some Bacteria. Additionally, the performance of the DFT-based models shows that the processing time-dependence is more associated with the choice of the basis set than the exchange-correlation functional.
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Affiliation(s)
- E D Barbosa
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - J X Lima Neto
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - D G Teixeira
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - K S Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - V S do Amaral
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - J I N Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - J P M Santos Lima
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - L D Machado
- Departamento de Física Teórica e Experimental, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - U L Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970 Natal-RN, Brazil
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12
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Esmaile SC, Bezerra KS, de Oliveira Campos DM, da Silva MK, Neto JXL, Manzoni V, Fulco UL, Oliveira JIN. Quantum binding energy features of the drug olmesartan bound to angiotensin type-1 receptors in the therapeutics of stroke. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1nj03975j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the binding energies of 105 residues within a 10 Å pocket radius, predicted the energetic relevance of olmesartan regions, and the influence of individual protein segments on OLM -AT1 binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephany Campanelli Esmaile
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Katyanna Sales Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Karolaynne da Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - José Xavier Lima Neto
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Manzoni
- Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, 57072-970, Maceio, AL, Brazil
| | - Umberto Laino Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil
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13
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Evenseth LSM, Gabrielsen M, Sylte I. The GABA B Receptor-Structure, Ligand Binding and Drug Development. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25133093. [PMID: 32646032 PMCID: PMC7411975 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25133093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type B receptor (GABAB-R) belongs to class C of the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Together with the GABAA receptor, the receptor mediates the neurotransmission of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). In recent decades, the receptor has been extensively studied with the intention being to understand pathophysiological roles, structural mechanisms and develop drugs. The dysfunction of the receptor is linked to a broad variety of disorders, including anxiety, depression, alcohol addiction, memory and cancer. Despite extensive efforts, few compounds are known to target the receptor, and only the agonist baclofen is approved for clinical use. The receptor is a mandatory heterodimer of the GABAB1 and GABAB2 subunits, and each subunit is composed of an extracellular Venus Flytrap domain (VFT) and a transmembrane domain of seven α-helices (7TM domain). In this review, we briefly present the existing knowledge about the receptor structure, activation and compounds targeting the receptor, emphasizing the role of the receptor in previous and future drug design and discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linn Samira Mari Evenseth
- Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mari Gabrielsen
- Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ingebrigt Sylte
- Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway
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14
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Soares TA, Wahab HA. Outlook on the Development and Application of Molecular Simulations in Latin America. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:435-438. [PMID: 32009389 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Santos de Oliveira FL, Vieira Carletti J, Azevedo FFN, Freitas de Sousa FJ, Caetano EWS, Freire VN, Zanatta G. mTOR–mLST8 interaction: hot spot identification through quantum biochemistry calculations. NEW J CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0nj04099a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Quantum calculation of mTOR–mLST8 interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Geancarlo Zanatta
- Department of Physics at Federal University of Ceará
- 60455-760 Fortaleza
- Brazil
- Postgraduate Research Program in Biochemistry at Federal University of Ceará
- Fortaleza
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16
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Campos DMO, Bezerra KS, Esmaile SC, Fulco UL, Albuquerque EL, Oliveira JIN. Intermolecular interactions of cn-716 and acyl-KR-aldehyde dipeptide inhibitors against Zika virus. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:15683-15695. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cp02254c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Structural representation and graphic panel showing the most relevant residues that contribute to the ZIKV NS2B–NS3–ligand complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. O. Campos
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
- Natal
- Brazil
| | - Katyanna S. Bezerra
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
- Natal
- Brazil
| | - Stephany C. Esmaile
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
- Natal
- Brazil
| | - Umberto L. Fulco
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
- Natal
- Brazil
| | | | - Jonas I. N. Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
- Natal
- Brazil
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