Fragment-based discovery of a new family of non-peptidic small-molecule cyclophilin inhibitors with potent antiviral activities

Lambda-ABF: Simplified, Portable, Accurate, and Cost-Effective Alchemical Free-Energy Computation

We introduce the lambda-Adaptive Biasing Force (lambda-ABF) method for the computation of alchemical free-energy differences. We propose a software implementation and showcase it on biomolecular systems. The method arises from coupling multiple-walker adaptive biasing force with λ-dynamics. The sampling of the alchemical variable is continuous and converges toward a uniform distribution, making manual optimization of the λ schedule unnecessary. Contrary to most other approaches, alchemical free-energy estimates are obtained immediately without any postprocessing. Free diffusion of λ improves orthogonal relaxation compared to fixed-λ thermodynamic integration or free-energy perturbation. Furthermore, multiple walkers provide generic orthogonal space coverage with minimal user input and negligible computational overhead. We show that our high-performance implementations coupling the Colvars library with NAMD and Tinker-HP can address real-world cases including ligand-receptor binding with both fixed-charge and polarizable models, with a demonstrably richer sampling than fixed-λ methods. The implementation is fully open-source, publicly available, and readily usable by practitioners of current alchemical methods. Thanks to the portable Colvars library, lambda-ABF presents a unified user interface regardless of the back-end (NAMD, Tinker-HP, or any software to be interfaced in the future), sparing users the effort of learning multiple interfaces. Finally, the Colvars Dashboard extension of the visual molecular dynamics (VMD) software provides an interactive monitoring and diagnostic tool for lambda-ABF simulations.

Medicinal chemistry strategies toward broad-spectrum antiviral agents to prevent next pandemics

The pandemic and tremendous impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 alert us, despite great achievements in prevention and control of infectious diseases, we still lack universal and powerful antiviral strategies to rapidly respond to the potential threat of serious infectious disease. Various highly contagious and pathogenic viruses, as well as other unknown viruses may appear or reappear in human society at any time, causing a catastrophic epidemic. Developing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs with high security and efficiency is of great significance for timely meeting public health emergency and protecting the lives and health of the people. Hence, in this review, we summarized diverse broad-spectrum antiviral targets and corresponding agents from a medicinal chemistry prospective, compared the pharmacological advantages and disadvantages of different targets, listed representative agents, showed their structures, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics characteristics, and conducted a critical discussion on their development potential, in the hope of providing up-to-date guidance for the development of broad-spectrum antivirals and perspectives for applications of antiviral therapy.

An equine iPSC-based phenotypic screening platform identifies pro- and anti-viral molecules against West Nile virus

Outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV) occur periodically, affecting both human and equine populations. There are no vaccines for humans, and those commercialised for horses do not have sufficient coverage. Specific antiviral treatments do not exist. Many drug discovery studies have been conducted, but since rodent or primate cell lines are normally used, results cannot always be transposed to horses. There is thus a need to develop relevant equine cellular models. Here, we used induced pluripotent stem cells to develop a new in vitro model of WNV-infected equine brain cells suitable for microplate assay, and assessed the cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of forty-one chemical compounds. We found that one nucleoside analog, 2'C-methylcytidine, blocked WNV infection in equine brain cells, whereas other compounds were either toxic or ineffective, despite some displaying anti-viral activity in human cell lines. We also revealed an unexpected proviral effect of statins in WNV-infected equine brain cells. Our results thus identify a potential lead for future drug development and underscore the importance of using a tissue- and species-relevant cellular model for assessing the activity of antiviral compounds.

Inhibitors of Cyclophilin A: Current and Anticipated Pharmaceutical Agents for Inflammatory Diseases and Cancers

Cyclophilin A, a widely prevalent cellular protein, exhibits peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity. This protein is predominantly located in the cytosol; additionally, it can be secreted by the cells in response to inflammatory stimuli. Cyclophilin A has been identified to be a key player in many of the biological events and is therefore involved in several diseases, including vascular and inflammatory diseases, immune disorders, aging, and cancers. It represents an attractive target for therapeutic intervention with small molecule inhibitors such as cyclosporin A. Recently, a number of novel inhibitors of cyclophilin A have emerged. However, it remains elusive whether and how many cyclophilin A inhibitors function in the inflammatory diseases and cancers. In this review, we discuss current available data about cyclophilin A inhibitors, including cyclosporin A and its derivatives, quinoxaline derivatives, and peptide analogues, and outline the most recent advances in clinical trials of these agents. Inhibitors of cyclophilin A are poised to enhance our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms that underpin inflammatory diseases and cancers associated with cyclophilin A. This advancement will aid in the development of innovative pharmaceutical treatments in the future.

Broad-spectrum antiviral strategy: Host-targeting antivirals against emerging and re-emerging viruses

Viral infections are amongst the most prevalent diseases that pose a significant threat to human health. Targeting viral proteins or host factors represents two primary strategies for the development of antiviral drugs. In contrast to virus-targeting antivirals (VTAs), host-targeting antivirals (HTAs) offer advantages in terms of overcoming drug resistance and effectively combating a wide range of viruses, including newly emerging ones. Therefore, targeting host factors emerges as an extremely promising strategy with the potential to address critical challenges faced by VTAs. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on the discovery and development of HTAs, leading to the approval of maraviroc, a chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) antagonist used for the treatment of HIV-1 infected individuals, with several other potential treatments in various stages of development for different viral infections. This review systematically summarizes advancements made in medicinal chemistry regarding various host targets and classifies them into four distinct catagories based on their involvement in the viral life cycle: virus attachment and entry, biosynthesis, nuclear import and export, and viral release.

Structure and dynamics of 3'-aminoacetophenone and 4'-aminoacetophenone from rotational spectroscopy

The rotational spectra of 4'-aminoacetophenone, and those of two conformers (Z and E arrangement of the CO and NH2 groups) of 3'-aminoacetophenone and their 13C and 15N isotopologues were investigated both in the microwave (2-8 GHz) and millimetre (59.6-74.4 GHz) frequency regions using chirped pulse Fourier transform and free-jet absorption techniques, respectively. The spectra consist of μa and μb type lines that show a hyperfine structure due to both the nuclear quadrupole coupling of the 14N nucleus and the methyl internal rotation. Relative intensity measurements show that the Z form in 3'-aminoacetophenone is favoured with respect to E and the measured energy difference upper limit is about 5.5(1) kJ mol-1. Barriers to methyl internal rotation are V3 = 7.04(2) and 6.530(6) kJ mol-1 for 3'(Z)- and 4'-aminoacetophenone, respectively. Flexible model analyses of the amino inversion motion based on ab initio potential energy paths, suggest that the corresponding vibrational splitting increases up to 78% from aniline to 3'(E)-, 3'(Z), and 4-aminoacetophenone. However, due to supersonic expansion cooling, no splitting related to amine inversion is observed.

The novel cyclophilin inhibitor C105SR reduces hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury via mitoprotection

Background & Aims

Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening is critical for mediating cell death during hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Blocking mPTP opening by inhibiting cyclophilin D (CypD) is a promising pharmacological approach for the treatment of IRI. Here, we show that diastereoisomers of a new class of small-molecule cyclophilin inhibitors (SMCypIs) have properties that make them attractive candidates for the development of therapeutic agents against liver IRI.

Methods

Derivatives of the parent SMCypI were synthesised and evaluated for their ability to inhibit CypD peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) activity and for their mitoprotective properties, evaluated by measuring mitochondrial swelling and calcium retention capacity in liver mitochondria. The ability of the selected compounds to inhibit mPTP opening was evaluated in cells subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation using a calcein/cobalt assay. Their ability to inhibit cell death was evaluated in cells subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, propidium iodide staining, and cell viability. The compound performing best in vitro was selected for in vivo efficacy evaluation in a mouse model of hepatic IRI.

Results

The two compounds that showed the strongest inhibition of CypD PPIase activity and mPTP opening, C105 and C110, were selected. Their SR diastereoisomers carried the activity of the racemic mixture and exhibited mitoprotective properties superior to those of the known macrocyclic cyclophilin inhibitors cyclosporin A and alisporivir. C105SR was more potent than C110SR in inhibiting mPTP opening and prevented cell death in a model of hypoxia/reoxygenation. Finally, C105SR substantially protected against hepatic IRI in vivo by reducing hepatocyte necrosis and apoptosis.

Conclusions

We identified a novel cyclophilin inhibitor with strong mitoprotective properties both in vitro and in vivo that represents a promising candidate for cellular protection in hepatic IRI.

Impact and Implications

Hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality during or after liver surgery. However, no effective therapies are available to prevent or treat this devastating syndrome. An attractive strategy to prevent hepatic IRI aims at reducing cell death by targeting mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, a phenomenon regulated by cyclophilin D. Here, we identified a new small-molecule cyclophilin inhibitor, and demonstrated the enhanced mitoprotective and hepatoprotective properties of one of its diastereoisomers both in vitro and in vivo, making it an attractive lead compound for subsequent clinical development.

Extract2Chip-Bypassing Protein Purification in Drug Discovery Using Surface Plasmon Resonance

Modern drug discovery relies on combinatorial screening campaigns to find drug molecules targeting specific disease-associated proteins. The success of such campaigns often relies on functional and structural information of the selected therapeutic target, only achievable once its purification is mastered. With the aim of bypassing the protein purification process to gain insights on the druggability, ligand binding, and/or characterization of protein-protein interactions, herein, we describe the Extract2Chip method. This approach builds on the immobilization of site-specific biotinylated proteins of interest, directly from cellular extracts, on avidin-coated sensor chips to allow for the characterization of molecular interactions via surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The developed method was initially validated using Cyclophilin D (CypD) and subsequently applied to other drug discovery projects in which the targets of interest were difficult to express, purify, and crystallize. Extract2Chip was successfully applied to the characterization of Yes-associated protein (YAP): Transcriptional enhancer factor TEF (TEAD1) protein-protein interaction inhibitors, in the validation of a ternary complex assembly composed of Dyskerin pseudouridine synthase 1 (DKC1) and RuvBL1/RuvBL2, and in the establishment of a fast-screening platform to select the most suitable NUAK family SNF1-like kinase 2 (NUAK2) surrogate for binding and structural studies. The described method paves the way for a potential revival of the many drug discovery campaigns that have failed to deliver due to the lack of suitable and sufficient protein supply.

Linkers in fragment-based drug design: an overview of the literature

INTRODUCTION

In fragment-based drug design, fragment linking is a popular strategy where two fragments binding to different sub-pockets of a target are linked together. This attractive method remains challenging especially due to the design of ideal linkers.

AREAS COVERED

The authors review the types of linkers and chemical reactions commonly used to the synthesis of linkers, including those utilized in protein-templated fragment self-assembly, where fragments are directly linked in the presence of the protein. Finally, they detail computational workflows and software including generative models that have been developed for fragment linking.

EXPERT OPINION

The authors believe that fragment linking offers key advantages for compound design, particularly for the design of bivalent inhibitors linking two distinct pockets of the same or different subunits. On the other hand, more studies are needed to increase the potential of protein-templated approaches in FBDD. Important computational tools such as structure-based de novo software are emerging to select suitable linkers. Fragment linking will undoubtedly benefit from developments in computational approaches and machine learning models.

A Tripartite Complex HIV-1 Tat-Cyclophilin A-Capsid Protein Enables Tat Encapsidation That Is Required for HIV-1 Infectivity

HIV-1 Tat is a key viral protein that stimulates several steps of viral gene expression. Tat is especially required for the transcription of viral genes. Nevertheless, it is still not clear if and how Tat is incorporated into HIV-1 virions. Cyclophilin A (CypA) is a prolyl isomerase that binds to HIV-1 capsid protein (CA) and is thereby encapsidated at the level of 200 to 250 copies of CypA/virion. Here, we found that a Tat-CypA-CA tripartite complex assembles in HIV-1-infected cells and allows Tat encapsidation into HIV virions (1 Tat/1 CypA). Biochemical and biophysical studies showed that high-affinity interactions drive the assembly of the Tat-CypA-CA complex that could be purified by size exclusion chromatography. We prepared different types of viruses devoid of transcriptionally active Tat. They showed a 5- to 10 fold decrease in HIV infectivity, and conversely, encapsidating Tat into ΔTat viruses greatly enhanced infectivity. The absence of encapsidated Tat decreased the efficiency of reverse transcription by ~50% and transcription by more than 90%. We thus identified a Tat-CypA-CA complex that enables Tat encapsidation and showed that encapsidated Tat is required to initiate robust viral transcription and thus viral production at the beginning of cell infection, before neosynthesized Tat becomes available. IMPORTANCE The viral transactivating protein Tat has been shown to stimulate several steps of HIV gene expression. It was found to facilitate reverse transcription. Moreover, Tat is strictly required for the transcription of viral genes. Although the presence of Tat within HIV virions would undoubtedly favor these steps and therefore enable the incoming virus to boost initial viral production, whether and how Tat is present within virions has been a matter a debate. We here described and characterized a tripartite complex between Tat, HIV capsid protein, and the cellular chaperone cyclophilin A that enables efficient and specific Tat encapsidation within HIV virions. We further showed that Tat encapsidation is required for the virus to efficiently initiate infection and viral production. This effect is mainly due to the transcriptional activity of Tat.

Small-Molecule Cyclophilin Inhibitors Potently Reduce Platelet Procoagulant Activity

Procoagulant platelets are associated with an increased risk for thrombosis. Procoagulant platelet formation is mediated via Cyclophilin D (CypD) mediated opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Inhibiting CypD activity could therefore be an interesting approach to limiting thrombosis. In this study, we investigated the potential of two novel, non-immunosuppressive, non-peptidic small-molecule cyclophilin inhibitors (SMCypIs) to limit thrombosis in vitro, in comparison with the cyclophilin inhibitor and immunosuppressant Cyclosporin A (CsA). Both cyclophilin inhibitors significantly decreased procoagulant platelet formation upon dual-agonist stimulation, shown by a decreased phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, as well as a reduction in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, the SMCypIs potently reduced procoagulant platelet-dependent clotting time, as well as fibrin formation under flow, comparable to CsA. No effect was observed on agonist-induced platelet activation measured by P-selectin expression, as well as CypA-mediated integrin α_IIbβ₃ activation. Importantly, whereas CsA increased Adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation, this was unaffected in the presence of the SMCypIs. We here demonstrate specific cyclophilin inhibition does not affect normal platelet function, while a clear reduction in procoagulant platelets is observed. Reducing platelet procoagulant activity by inhibiting cyclophilins with SMCypIs forms a promising strategy to limit thrombosis.

In silico repurposing of CNS drugs for multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurodegenerative disease affecting numerous people worldwide. While the relapsing subtypes of MS are to some extent treatable, the disease remains incurable leading to progressive disability. Limited efficacy of current small molecule drugs necessitates development of efficient and safe MS medications. Accordingly, drug repurposing is an invaluable strategy that recognizes new targets for known drugs especially in the field of poorly addressed therapeutic areas. Drug discovery largely depends on the identification of potential binding molecules to the intended biomolecular target(s). In this regard, current study was devoted to in silico repurposing of 263 small molecule CNS drugs to achieve superior binders to some MS-related targets. On the basis of molecular docking scores, thioxanthene and benzisothiazole-based antipsychotics could be identified as potential binders to sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (S1PL) and cyclophilin D (CypD). Tightest interaction modes were observed for zuclopenthixol-S1PL (ΔG_b -7.96 kcal/mol) and lurasidone-CypD (ΔG_b -8.84 kcal/mol) complexes. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations proved the appropriate and stable accommodation of top-ranked drugs inside enzyme binding sites during 100 ns. Hydroxyethyl piperazine of zuclopenthixol and benzisothiazole of lurasidone flipped inside the binding pocket to interact with adjacent polar and apolar residues. Solvent accessible surface area (SASA) fluctuations confirmed the results of binding trajectory analysis and showed that non-polar hydrophobic interactions played significant roles in acquired stabilities. Our results on lurasidone binding pattern were interestingly in accordance with previous reports on X-ray structures of other norbornane maleimide derivatives as CypD inhibitors. According to this, Asn144, Phe102 and Phe155 served as important residues in providing stable binding pose of lurasidone through both exo and endo conformations. Although experimental results are necessary to be achieved, the outcomes of this study proposed the potentiality of some thioxanthene and benzisothiazole-based antipsychotics for binding to S1PL and CypD, respectively, as MS-related targets.

Mitochondrial Medicine: A Promising Therapeutic Option Against Various Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abnormal mitochondrial morphology and metabolic dysfunction have been observed in many neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Mitochondrial dysfunction can be caused by aberrant mitochondrial DNA, mutant nuclear proteins that interact with mitochondria directly or indirectly, or for unknown reasons. Since mitochondria play a significant role in neurodegeneration, mitochondriatargeted therapies represent a prosperous direction for the development of novel drug compounds that can be used to treat NDDs. This review gives a brief description of how mitochondrial abnormalities lead to various NDDs such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We further explore the promising therapeutic effectiveness of mitochondria- directed antioxidants, MitoQ, MitoVitE, MitoPBN, and dimebon. We have also discussed the possibility of mitochondrial gene therapy as a therapeutic option for these NDDs.

Virtual screening of Indonesian herbal compounds as COVID-19 supportive therapy: machine learning and pharmacophore modeling approaches

Background

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow in Indonesia. This phenomenon motivates researchers to find alternative drugs that function for prevention or treatment. Due to the rich biodiversity of Indonesian medicinal plants, one alternative is to examine the potential of herbal medicines to support COVID therapy. This study aims to identify potential compound candidates in Indonesian herbal using a machine learning and pharmacophore modeling approaches.

Methods

We used three classification methods that had different decision-making processes: support vector machine (SVM), multilayer perceptron (MLP), and random forest (RF). For the pharmacophore modeling approach, we performed a structure-based analysis on the 3D structure of the main protease SARS-CoV-2 (3CLPro) and repurposed SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2 drugs identified from the literature as datasets in the ligand-based method. Lastly, we used molecular docking to analyze the interactions between the 3CLpro and 14 hit compounds from the Indonesian Herbal Database (HerbalDB), with lopinavir as a positive control.

Results

From the molecular docking analysis, we found six potential compounds that may act as the main proteases of the SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor: hesperidin, kaempferol-3,4'-di-O-methyl ether (Ermanin); myricetin-3-glucoside, peonidin 3-(4’-arabinosylglucoside); quercetin 3-(2G-rhamnosylrutinoside); and rhamnetin 3-mannosyl-(1-2)-alloside.

Conclusions

Our layered virtual screening with machine learning and pharmacophore modeling approaches provided a more objective and optimal virtual screening and avoided subjective decision making of the results. Herbal compounds from the screening, i.e. hesperidin, kaempferol-3,4'-di-O-methyl ether (Ermanin); myricetin-3-glucoside, peonidin 3-(4’-arabinosylglucoside); quercetin 3-(2G-rhamnosylrutinoside); and rhamnetin 3-mannosyl-(1-2)-alloside are potential antiviral candidates for SARS-CoV-2. Moringa oleifera and Psidium guajava that consist of those compounds, could be an alternative option as COVID-19 herbal preventions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03686-y.

Discovery and molecular basis of subtype-selective cyclophilin inhibitors

Although cyclophilins are attractive targets for probing biology and therapeutic intervention, no subtype-selective cyclophilin inhibitors have been described. We discovered novel cyclophilin inhibitors from the in vitro selection of a DNA-templated library of 256,000 drug-like macrocycles for cyclophilin D (CypD) affinity. Iterated macrocycle engineering guided by ten X-ray co-crystal structures yielded potent and selective inhibitors (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 10 nM) that bind the active site of CypD and also make novel interactions with non-conserved residues in the S2 pocket, an adjacent exo-site. The resulting macrocycles inhibit CypD activity with 21- to >10,000-fold selectivity over other cyclophilins and inhibit mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening in isolated mitochondria. We further exploited S2 pocket interactions to develop the first cyclophilin E (CypE)-selective inhibitor, which forms a reversible covalent bond with a CypE S2 pocket lysine, and exhibits 30- to >4,000-fold selectivity over other cyclophilins. These findings reveal a strategy to generate isoform-selective small-molecule cyclophilin modulators, advancing their suitability as targets for biological investigation and therapeutic development.

Non-Immunosuppressive Cyclophilin Inhibitors

Cyclophilins, enzymes with peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase activity, are relevant to a large variety of biological processes. The most abundant member of this enzyme family, cyclophilin A, is the cellular receptor of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA). As a consequence of the pathophysiological role of cyclophilins, particularly in viral infections, there is a broad interest in cyclophilin inhibition devoid of immunosuppressive activity. This Review first gives an introduction into the physiological and pathophysiological roles of cyclophilins. The presentation of non-immunosuppressive cyclophilin inhibitors will commence with drugs based on chemical modifications of CsA. The naturally occurring macrocyclic sanglifehrins have become other lead structures for cyclophilin-inhibiting drugs. Finally, de novo designed compounds, whose structures are not derived from or inspired by natural products, will be presented. Relevant synthetic concepts will be discussed, but the focus will also be on biochemical studies, structure-activity relationships, and clinical studies.

Small-molecule inhibitors of cyclophilin D as potential therapeutics in mitochondria-related diseases

Cyclophilin D (CypD) is a key regulator of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. This pathophysiological phenomenon is associated with the development of several human diseases, including ischemia-reperfusion injury and neurodegeneration. Blocking mPTP opening through CypD inhibition could be a novel and promising therapeutic approach for these conditions. While numerous CypD inhibitors have been discovered to date, none have been introduced into clinical practice, mostly owing to their high toxicity, unfavorable pharmacokinetics, and low selectivity for CypD over other cyclophilins. This review summarizes current knowledge of CypD inhibitors, with a particular focus on small-molecule compounds with regard to their in vitro activity, their selectivity for CypD, and their binding mode within the enzyme's active site. Finally, approaches for improving the molecular design of CypD inhibitors are discussed.

Development of potent inhibitors by fragment-linking strategies

Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is a method of identifying small molecule hits that can be elaborated rationally through fragment growing, merging, and linking, to afford high affinity ligands for biological targets. Despite the promised theoretical potential of fragment linking, examples are still surprisingly sparse and remain overshadowed by the successes of fragment growing. The aim of this review is to outline a number of key examples of fragment linking strategies and discuss their strengths and limitations. Structure-based approaches including X-ray crystallography and in silico methods fragment optimisation are discussed, as well as fragment linking guided by NMR experiments. Target-guided approaches, exploiting the biological target to assemble its own inhibitors through dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) and kinetic target-guided synthesis (KTGS), are identified as alternative efficient methods for fragment linking.

Repurposing of cyclophilin A inhibitors as broad-spectrum antiviral agents

Cyclophilin A (CypA) is linked to diverse human diseases including viral infections. With the worldwide emergence of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), drug repurposing has been highlighted as a strategy with the potential to speed up antiviral development. Because CypA acts as a proviral component in hepatitis C virus, coronavirus and HIV, its inhibitors have been suggested as potential treatments for these infections. Here, we review the structure of cyclosporin A and sanglifehrin A analogs as well as synthetic micromolecules inhibiting CypA; and we discuss their broad-spectrum antiviral efficacy in the context of the virus lifecycle.

Cosolvent Simulations with Fragment-Bound Proteins Identify Hot Spots to Direct Lead Growth

In drug design, chemical groups are sequentially added to improve a weak-binding fragment into a tight-binding lead molecule. Often, the direction to make these additions is unclear, and there are numerous chemical modifications to choose. Lead development can be guided by crystal structures of the fragment-bound protein, but this alone is unable to capture structural changes like closing or opening of the binding site and any side-chain movements. Accounting for adaptation of the site requires a dynamic approach. Here, we use molecular dynamics calculations of small organic solvents with protein-fragment pairs to reveal the nearest "hot spots". These close hot spots show the direction to make appropriate additions and suggest types of chemical modifications that could improve binding affinity. Mixed-solvent molecular dynamics (MixMD) is a cosolvent simulation technique that is well established for finding binding "hot spots" in active sites and allosteric sites of proteins. We simulated 20 fragment-bound and apo forms of key pharmaceutical targets to map out hot spots for potential lead space. Furthermore, we analyzed whether the presence of a fragment facilitates the probes' binding in the lead space, a type of binding cooperativity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first use of cosolvent MD conducted with bound inhibitors in the simulation. Our work provides a general framework to extract molecular features of binding sites to choose chemical groups for growing lead molecules. Of the 20 systems, 17 systems were well mapped by MixMD. For the three not-mapped systems, two had lead growth out into solution away from the protein, and the third had very small modifications which indicated no nearby hot spots. Therefore, our lack of mapping in three systems was appropriate given the experimental data (true-negative cases). The simulations are run for very short time scales, making this method tractable for use in the pharmaceutical industry.

Fragment-to-lead tailored in silico design

Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) emerged as a disruptive technology and became established during the last two decades. Its rationality and low entry costs make it appealing, and the numerous examples of approved drugs discovered through FBDD validate the approach. However, FBDD still faces numerous challenges. Perhaps the most important one is the transformation of the initial fragment hits into viable leads. Fragment-to-lead (F2L) optimization is resource-intensive and is therefore limited in the possibilities that can be actively pursued. In silico strategies play an important role in F2L, as they can perform a deeper exploration of chemical space, prioritize molecules with high probabilities of being active and generate non-obvious ideas. Here we provide a critical overview of current in silico strategies in F2L optimization and highlight their remarkable impact. While very effective, most solutions are target- or fragment- specific. We propose that fully integrated in silico strategies, capable of automatically and systematically exploring the fast-growing available chemical space can have a significant impact on accelerating the release of fragment originated drugs.

Modulation and Pharmacology of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition: A Journey from F-ATP Synthase to ANT

The permeability transition (PT) is an increased permeation of the inner mitochondrial membrane due to the opening of the PT pore (PTP), a Ca²⁺-activated high conductance channel involved in Ca²⁺ homeostasis and cell death. Alterations of the PTP have been associated with many pathological conditions and its targeting represents an incessant challenge in the field. Although the modulation of the PTP has been extensively explored, the lack of a clear picture of its molecular nature increases the degree of complexity for any target-based approach. Recent advances suggest the existence of at least two mitochondrial permeability pathways mediated by the F-ATP synthase and the ANT, although the exact molecular mechanism leading to channel formation remains elusive for both. A full comprehension of this to-pore conversion will help to assist in drug design and to develop pharmacological treatments for a fine-tuned PT regulation. Here, we will focus on regulatory mechanisms that impinge on the PTP and discuss the relevant literature of PTP targeting compounds with particular attention to F-ATP synthase and ANT.

Cyclophilins and Their Roles in Hepatitis C Virus and Flavivirus Infections: Perspectives for Novel Antiviral Approaches

Cyclophilins are cellular peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that play an important role in viral infections, with demonstrated roles in the replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other viruses in the Flaviviridae family, such as dengue virus (DENV) and yellow fever virus (YFV). Here, we discuss the roles of cyclophilins in HCV infection and provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms underlying the requirement for cyclophilins during HCV replication. Notably, cyclophilin inhibitor therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing HCV replication in chronically infected patients. While the roles of cyclophilins are relatively well-understood for HCV infection, cyclophilins are more recently emerging as host factors for flavivirus infection as well, providing potential new therapeutic avenues for these viral infections which currently lack antiviral therapies. However, further studies are required to elucidate the roles of cyclophilins in flavivirus replication. Here, we review the current knowledge of the role of cyclophilins in HCV infection to provide a conceptual framework to understand how cyclophilins may contribute to other viral infections, such as DENV and YFV. Improved understanding of the roles of cyclophilins in viral infection may open perspectives for the development of cyclophilin inhibitors as effective antiviral therapeutics for HCV and related viruses.

Investigating the binding affinity, molecular dynamics, and ADMET properties of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives as an inhibitor of fungi, bacteria, and virus protein

Background

2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans (DHB) have proposed as advantages structures, and used as chemical entresol to design small compound libraries. The present study illustrates to explore 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans(DHB) in comparison to selected some derivatives drugs by using molecular docking and molecular dynamics, as well as ADMET studies. The online database “Molinspiration online server” was used to detect the physicochemical pharmacokinetics and drug likeness score of DHB drugs. For estimation of molecular docking, six pathogens, such as Aspergillus niger (PDB id: 1kum), Candida albicans (3dra), Escherichia coli (6og7), Salmonella typhi (4k6l), Influenza (1ru7), and Hepatitis C (4tyd), were chosen due to close biological studies.

Results

From Molinspiration online server has showed that DHB did not violate the “Lipinski five rule” as drugs, leading compound for molecular docking exhibited the potential interaction to the active residue. The binding affinity of DHB2 (−7.00 kcal/mol) against 3dra was higher than DHB8 (−6.40 kcal/mol) and DHB (5.70 kcal/mol) for compounds. The results of molecular docking show that the compounds mentioned in this study are not equally effective against pathogens, such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria. However, DHB2, DHB3, and DHB 8 compounds can work against almost given pathogens which results are derived from auto dock vina in terms of binding affinity around 6.00 kcal/mol, and Fire Dock has values from about 38.0 to 42.0 kcal/mol. To explore the dynamic nature of the interaction, 50 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed on the selected protein-DHB complexes. Thus, DHB 8 has greater potential to interact for further for fungi.

Conclusion

Finding from this study can play an effective role as a drug in any biological system. This study as well recommends to researchers to synthesize these DHBs for evaluation of its biological activity.

Graphical abstract

Investigating the potential antiviral activity drugs against SARS-CoV-2 by molecular docking simulation

Recently, scary viral pneumonia is known as (COVID-19) has swept the whole world. The new virus strain designated as SARS-CoV-2 belonging to the coronavirus family. Although the current medical research directed towards the development of a novel therapeutic agent, no anti-viral drug approved until now. On the medical scale, the development of an approved drug is a time-consuming process, so research is directed towards screening of ligands and drugs multimodal structure-based-design and then docked to the main viral protease to investigate the active binding sites. The bioinformatic approaches used to evaluate the competence of a comprehensive range of ligands and drugs before their clinical implementation. In this study, a computational approach through molecular docking simulation is conducted for screening the antiviral activity of drugs, natural sources, and inhibitory compounds against the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The main virus protease was collected from a Protein Data Bank (PDB# 6YB7) and docked with a sequence of 19 approved antiviral drugs, 10 natural inhibitory ligands against COVID-19 downloaded from PubChem, in addition to 10 natural sources optimized for Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) to identify the antiviral activity of these candidates against COVID-19. The docking results were promised and indicated that the reported ligands can firmly bind to the SARS-CoV-2 main protease and leads to inhibition of its infectious impact.

Targeting Protein Folding: A Novel Approach for the Treatment of Pathogenic Bacteria

Infectious diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, exacerbated by increasing antibiotic resistance in many bacterial species. The development of drugs with new modes of action is essential. A leading strategy is antivirulence, with the aim to target bacterial proteins that are important in disease causation and progression but do not affect growth, resulting in reduced selective pressure for resistance. Immunophilins, a superfamily of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) enzymes have been shown to be important for virulence in a broad-spectrum of pathogenic bacteria. This Perspective will provide an overview of the recent advances made in understanding the role of each immunophilin family, cyclophilins, FK506 binding proteins (FKBPs), and parvulins in bacteria. Inhibitor design and medicinal chemistry strategies for development of novel drugs against bacterial FKBPs will be discussed. Furthermore, drugs against human cyclophilins and parvulins will be reviewed in their current indication as antiviral and anticancer therapies.

Current strategies against COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) recently was declared a pandemic by world health organization (WHO) Due to sudden outbreaks, currently, no completely effective vaccine or drug is clinically approved. Several therapeutic strategies can be envisaged to prevent further mortality and morbidity. Based on the past contribution of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and immune-based therapies as a treatment option in crucial pathogen outbreaks, we aimed to summarize potential therapeutic strategies that could be helpful to stop further spread of SARS-CoV-2 by effecting its structural components or modulation of immune responses. Several TCM with or without modification could be effective against the structural protein, enzymes, and nucleic acid should be tested from available libraries or to identify their immune-stimulatory activities to enhance several antiviral biological agents for effective elimination of SARS-CoV-2 from the host. TCM is not only effective in the direct inhibition of virus attachment and internalization in a cell but can also prevent their replication and can also help to boost up host immune response. Immune-modulatory effects of TCMs may lead to new medications and can guide us for the scientific validity of drug development. Besides, we also summarized the effective therapies in clinical for controlling inflammation. This review will be not only helpful for the current situation of COVID-19, but can also play a major role in such epidemics in the future.

RNase T1 Refolding Assay for Determining Mitochondrial Cyclophilin D Activity: A Novel In Vitro Method Applicable in Drug Research and Discovery

Human cyclophilin D is a mitochondrial peptidyl-prolyl isomerase that plays a role in regulating the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. It is considered a viable and promising molecular target for the treatment of diseases for which disease development is associated with pore opening, e.g., Alzheimer's disease or ischemia/reperfusion injury. Currently available and widely used in vitro methods based on Kofron's assay for determining cyclophilin D activity suffer from serious drawbacks and limitations. In this study, a completely novel approach for an in vitro assay of cyclophilin D activity using RNase T1 refolding is introduced. The method is simple and is more in line with the presumed physiological role of cyclophilin D in protein folding than Kofron's assay, which relies on a peptide substrate. The method is applicable for identifying novel inhibitors of cyclophilin D as potential drugs for the treatment of the diseases mentioned above. Moreover, the description of CypD activity in the in vitro RNase T1 refolding assay reveals new possibilities for investigating the role of cyclophilin D in protein folding in cells and may lead to a better understanding of its pathological and physiological roles.

Medicinal chemistry strategies toward host targeting antiviral agents

Direct‐acting antiviral agents (DAAs) represent a class of drugs targeting viral proteins and have been demonstrated to be very successful in combating viral infections in clinic. However, DAAs suffer from several inherent limitations, including narrow‐spectrum antiviral profiles and liability to drug resistance, and hence there are still unmet needs in the treatment of viral infections. In comparison, host targeting antivirals (HTAs) target host factors for antiviral treatment. Since host proteins are probably broadly required for various viral infections, HTAs are not only perceived, but also demonstrated to exhibit broad‐spectrum antiviral activities. In addition, host proteins are not under the genetic control of viral genome, and hence HTAs possess much higher genetic barrier to drug resistance as compared with DAAs. In recent years, much progress has been made to the development of HTAs with the approval of chemokine receptor type 5 antagonist maraviroc for human immunodeficiency virus treatment and more in the pipeline for other viral infections. In this review, we summarize various host proteins as antiviral targets from a medicinal chemistry prospective. Challenges and issues associated with HTAs are also discussed.

Dynamic design: manipulation of millisecond timescale motions on the energy landscape of cyclophilin A

Proteins need to interconvert between many conformations in order to function, many of which are formed transiently, and sparsely populated. Particularly when the lifetimes of these states approach the millisecond timescale, identifying the relevant structures and the mechanism by which they interconvert remains a tremendous challenge. Here we introduce a novel combination of accelerated MD (aMD) simulations and Markov state modelling (MSM) to explore these 'excited' conformational states. Applying this to the highly dynamic protein CypA, a protein involved in immune response and associated with HIV infection, we identify five principally populated conformational states and the atomistic mechanism by which they interconvert. A rational design strategy predicted that the mutant D66A should stabilise the minor conformations and substantially alter the dynamics, whereas the similar mutant H70A should leave the landscape broadly unchanged. These predictions are confirmed using CPMG and R1ρ solution state NMR measurements. By efficiently exploring functionally relevant, but sparsely populated conformations with millisecond lifetimes in silico, our aMD/MSM method has tremendous promise for the design of dynamic protein free energy landscapes for both protein engineering and drug discovery.

Molecular design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of bisamide derivatives as cyclophilin A inhibitors for HCV treatment

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of end-stage liver diseases. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), including inhibitors of nonstructural proteins (NS3/4A protease, NS5A, and NS5B polymerase), represent key components of anti-HCV treatment. However, some DAAs are associated with increased drug resistance and undesired side effects. Previous reports have shown that bisamides could be a novel class of cyclophilin A (CypA) inhibitors for treating HCV as a member of combinational therapies. To fully elucidate structure-activity relationships of bisamide derivatives and find a better hit compound with diverse binding modes, 16 biamides were designed with the help of docking program. They were then synthesized using one-pot four-component Ugi reaction. 7e with selectivity index of more than 18.9 (50% effective concentration of 5.3 μM, but no cytotoxicity at 100 μM) and unique binding mode that could be dived into gatekeeper pocket was selected as a new hit compound. Surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that 7e is able to bind to CypA with a K_D of 3.66 μM. Taken together, these results suggest that 7e as a CypA inhibitor could be used as an alternative anti-HCV agent in combinational therapy in the future.

Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Cyclophilins Block Opening of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore and Protect Mice From Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury is a complication of liver surgery that involves mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. Cyclophilin D (PPIF or CypD) is a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase that regulates mPTP opening in the inner mitochondrial membrane. We investigated whether and how recently created small-molecule inhibitors of CypD prevent opening of the mPTP in hepatocytes and the resulting effects in cell models and livers of mice undergoing ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODS

We measured the activity of 9 small-molecule inhibitors of cyclophilins in an assay of CypD activity. The effects of the small-molecule CypD inhibitors or vehicle on mPTP opening were assessed by measuring mitochondrial swelling and calcium retention in isolated liver mitochondria from C57BL/6J (wild-type) and Ppif-/- (CypD knockout) mice and in primary mouse and human hepatocytes by fluorescence microscopy. We induced ischemia/reperfusion injury in livers of mice given a small-molecule CypD inhibitor or vehicle before and during reperfusion and collected samples of blood and liver for histologic analysis.

RESULTS

The compounds inhibited peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity (half maximal inhibitory concentration values, 0.2-16.2 μmol/L) and, as a result, calcium-induced mitochondrial swelling, by preventing mPTP opening (half maximal inhibitory concentration values, 1.4-132 μmol/L) in a concentration-dependent manner. The most potent inhibitor (C31) bound CypD with high affinity and inhibited swelling in mitochondria from livers of wild-type and Ppif-/- mice (indicating an additional, CypD-independent effect on mPTP opening) and in primary human and mouse hepatocytes. Administration of C31 in mice with ischemia/reperfusion injury before and during reperfusion restored hepatic calcium retention capacity and oxidative phosphorylation parameters and reduced liver damage compared with vehicle.

CONCLUSIONS

Recently created small-molecule inhibitors of CypD reduced calcium-induced swelling in mitochondria from mouse and human liver tissues. Administration of these compounds to mice during ischemia/reperfusion restored hepatic calcium retention capacity and oxidative phosphorylation parameters and reduced liver damage. These compounds might be developed to protect patients from ischemia/reperfusion injury after liver surgery or for other hepatic or nonhepatic disorders related to abnormal mPTP opening.

Discovery of novel Cyclophilin D inhibitors starting from three dimensional fragments with millimolar potencies

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6 Cyclophilin D crystal structures with SPR binding confirmed fragment hits having millimolar potencies were discovered.

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One fragment was merged with a potent reference Cyclophilin D inhibitor resulting in single-digit nanomolar potency.

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A second fragment provided the basis for replacing the urea linker in the reference inhibitor scaffold by an oxalyl group.

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Two fragment hits bound in the S1′ and S2 pockets were linked via an amide group resulting in submicromolar potencies.

Fragment-based screening by SPR enabled the discovery of chemical diverse fragment hits with millimolar binding affinities to the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase Cyclophilin D (CypD). The CypD protein crystal structures of 6 fragment hits provided the basis for subsequent medicinal chemistry optimization by fragment merging and linking yielding three different chemical series with either urea, oxalyl or amide linkers connecting millimolar fragments in the S1′ and S2 pockets. We successfully improved the in vitro CypD potencies in the biochemical FP and PPIase assays and in the biophysical SPR binding assay from millimolar towards the low micromolar and submicromolar range by >1000-fold for some fragment derivatives. The initial SAR together with the protein crystal structures of our novel CypD inhibitors provide a suitable basis for further hit-to-lead optimization.

Cyclophilin A allows the allosteric regulation of a structural motif in the disordered domain 2 of NS5A and thereby fine-tunes HCV RNA replication

Implicated in numerous human diseases, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are dynamic ensembles of interconverting conformers that often contain many proline residues. Whether and how proline conformation regulates the functional aspects of IDPs remains an open question, however. Here, we studied the disordered domain 2 of nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A-D2) of hepatitis C virus (HCV). NS5A-D2 comprises a short structural motif (PW-turn) embedded in a proline-rich sequence, whose interaction with the human prolyl isomerase cyclophilin A (CypA) is essential for viral RNA replication. Using NMR, we show here that the PW-turn motif exists in a conformational equilibrium between folded and disordered states. We found that the fraction of conformers in the NS5A-D2 ensemble that adopt the structured motif is allosterically modulated both by the cis/trans isomerization of the surrounding prolines that are CypA substrates and by substitutions conferring resistance to cyclophilin inhibitor. Moreover, we noted that this fraction is directly correlated with HCV RNA replication efficiency. We conclude that CypA can fine-tune the dynamic ensemble of the disordered NS5A-D2, thereby regulating viral RNA replication efficiency.

A novel proteotoxic combination therapy for EGFR+ and HER2+ cancers

While HER2 and EGFR are overexpressed in breast cancers and multiple other types of tumors, the use of EGFR and/or HER2 inhibitors have failed to cure many cancer patients, largely because cancers acquire resistance to HER2/EGFR-specific drugs. Cancers that overexpress the HER-family proteins EGFR, HER2, and HER3 are uniquely sensitive to agents that disrupt HER2 and EGFR protein folding. We previously showed that disruption of disulfide bond formation by Disulfide Disrupting Agents (DDAs) kills HER2/EGFR overexpressing cells through multiple mechanisms. Herein, we show that interference with proline isomerization in HER2/EGFR overexpressing cells also induces cancer cell death. The peptidyl-prolyl isomerase inhibitor Cyclosporine A (CsA) selectively kills EGFR+ or HER2+ breast cancer cells in vitro by activating caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways. Further, CsA synergizes with the DDA tcyDTDO to kill HER2/EGFR overexpressing cells in vitro and the two agents cooperate to kill HER2+ tumors in vivo. There is a critical need for novel strategies to target HER2+ and EGFR+ cancers that are resistant to currently available mechanism-based agents. Drugs that target HER2/EGFR protein folding, including DDAs and CsA, have the potential to kill cancers that overexpress EGFR or HER2 through the induction of proteostatic synthetic lethality.

A computationally designed binding mode flip leads to a novel class of potent tri-vector cyclophilin inhibitors

Cyclophilins (Cyps) are a major family of drug targets that are challenging to prosecute with small molecules because the shallow nature and high degree of conservation of the active site across human isoforms offers limited opportunities for potent and selective inhibition. Herein a computational approach based on molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations was combined with biophysical assays and X-ray crystallography to explore a flip in the binding mode of a reported urea-based Cyp inhibitor. This approach enabled access to a distal pocket that is poorly conserved among key Cyp isoforms, and led to the discovery of a new family of sub-micromolar cell-active inhibitors that offer unprecedented opportunities for the development of next-generation drug therapies based on Cyp inhibition. The computational approach is applicable to a broad range of organic functional groups and could prove widely enabling in molecular design.

Efflux pumps and antimicrobial resistance: Paradoxical components in systems genomics

Efflux pumps play a major role in the increasing antimicrobial resistance rendering a large number of drugs of no use. Large numbers of pathogens are becoming multidrug resistant due to inadequate dosage and use of the existing antimicrobials. This leads to the need for identifying new efflux pump inhibitors. Design of novel targeted therapies using inherent complexity involved in the biological network modeling has gained increasing importance in recent times. The predictive approaches should be used to determine antimicrobial activities with high pathogen specificity and microbicidal potency. Antimicrobial peptides, which are part of our innate immune system, have the ability to respond to infections and have gained much attention in making resistant strain sensitive to existing drugs. In this review paper, we outline evidences linking host-directed therapy with the efflux pump activity to infectious disease.

Structural and Functional Insights into Human Nuclear Cyclophilins

The peptidyl prolyl isomerases (PPI) of the cyclophilin type are distributed throughout human cells, including eight found solely in the nucleus. Nuclear cyclophilins are involved in complexes that regulate chromatin modification, transcription, and pre-mRNA splicing. This review collects what is known about the eight human nuclear cyclophilins: peptidyl prolyl isomerase H (PPIH), peptidyl prolyl isomerase E (PPIE), peptidyl prolyl isomerase-like 1 (PPIL1), peptidyl prolyl isomerase-like 2 (PPIL2), peptidyl prolyl isomerase-like 3 (PPIL3), peptidyl prolyl isomerase G (PPIG), spliceosome-associated protein CWC27 homolog (CWC27), and peptidyl prolyl isomerase domain and WD repeat-containing protein 1 (PPWD1). Each “spliceophilin” is evaluated in relation to the spliceosomal complex in which it has been studied, and current work studying the biological roles of these cyclophilins in the nucleus are discussed. The eight human splicing complexes available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) are analyzed from the viewpoint of the human spliceophilins. Future directions in structural and cellular biology, and the importance of developing spliceophilin-specific inhibitors, are considered.

Discovery of a Potent and Orally Bioavailable Cyclophilin Inhibitor Derived from the Sanglifehrin Macrocycle

Cyclophilins are a family of peptidyl-prolyl isomerases that are implicated in a wide range of diseases including hepatitis C. Our aim was to discover through total synthesis an orally bioavailable, non-immunosuppressive cyclophilin (Cyp) inhibitor with potent anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity that could serve as part of an all oral antiviral combination therapy. An initial lead 2 derived from the sanglifehrin A macrocycle was optimized using structure based design to produce a potent and orally bioavailable inhibitor 3. The macrocycle ring size was reduced by one atom, and an internal hydrogen bond drove improved permeability and drug-like properties. 3 demonstrates potent Cyp inhibition ( K_d = 5 nM), potent anti-HCV 2a activity (EC₅₀ = 98 nM), and high oral bioavailability in rat (100%) and dog (55%). The synthetic accessibility and properties of 3 support its potential as an anti-HCV agent and for interrogating the role of Cyp inhibition in a variety of diseases.

Mitochondrial permeability transition pore: a potential drug target for neurodegeneration

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) has been considered a key contributor to cell death, inducing the process in several major neurodegenerative diseases. To date, the molecular nature of the mPTP remains confounding but its significance is universally acknowledged. Several targets have been screened and inhibition of mPTP has emerged as an attractive field for researchers. Nowadays, in silico-directed studies help to explore new small molecules targeting the mPTP to improve their drug-like properties and bioactivity. Here, we briefly summarize the role of mPTP in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD), and discusses current and future potential therapeutic targets.

Mitochondria and aging: A role for the mitochondrial transition pore?

The cellular mechanisms responsible for aging are poorly understood. Aging is considered as a degenerative process induced by the accumulation of cellular lesions leading progressively to organ dysfunction and death. The free radical theory of aging has long been considered the most relevant to explain the mechanisms of aging. As the mitochondrion is an important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), this organelle is regarded as a key intracellular player in this process and a large amount of data supports the role of mitochondrial ROS production during aging. Thus, mitochondrial ROS, oxidative damage, aging, and aging-dependent diseases are strongly connected. However, other features of mitochondrial physiology and dysfunction have been recently implicated in the development of the aging process. Here, we examine the potential role of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in normal aging and in aging-associated diseases.

Predicting how drug molecules bind to their protein targets

There have been substantial advances in the application of molecular modelling and simulation to drug discovery in recent years, as massive increases in computer power are coupled with continued development in the underlying methods and understanding of how to apply them. Here, we survey recent advances in one particular area-predicting how a known ligand binds to a particular protein. We focus on the four contributing classes of calculation: predicting where a binding site is on a protein; characterizing where chemical functional groups will bind to that site; molecular docking to generate a binding mode for a ligand and dynamics simulations to refine that pose and allow for protein conformation change. Examples of successful application are provided for each class.

Characterization of the Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Activity of New Nonpeptidic Small-Molecule Cyclophilin Inhibitors with the Potential for Broad Anti-Flaviviridae Activity

Although members of the Flaviviridae display high incidence, morbidity, and mortality rates, the development of specific antiviral drugs for each virus is unlikely. Cyclophilins, a family of host peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerases (PPIases), play a pivotal role in the life cycles of many viruses and therefore represent an attractive target for broad-spectrum antiviral development. We report here the pangenotypic anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity of a small-molecule cyclophilin inhibitor (SMCypI). Mechanistic and modeling studies revealed that the SMCypI bound to cyclophilin A in competition with cyclosporine (CsA), inhibited its PPIase activity, and disrupted the CypA-nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) interaction. Resistance selection showed that the lead SMCypI hardly selected amino acid substitutions conferring low-level or no resistance in vitro. Interestingly, the SMCypI selected D320E and Y321H substitutions, located in domain II of the NS5A protein. These substitutions were previously associated with low-level resistance to cyclophilin inhibitors such as alisporivir. Finally, the SMCypI inhibited the replication of other members of the Flaviviridae family with higher 50% effective concentrations (EC₅₀s) than for HCV. Thus, because of its chemical plasticity and simplicity of synthesis, our new family of SMCypIs represents a promising new class of drugs with the potential for broad-spectrum anti-Flaviviridae activity as well as an invaluable tool to explore the role of cyclophilins in viral life cycles.

Studies of the binding properties of the food preservative thiabendazole to DNA by computer simulations and NMR relaxation

Thiabendazole (TBZ) is a commonly used food preservative and has a wide range of anthelmintic properties. In this study, computer simulations and experiments were conducted to investigate the interaction mechanism of TBZ and herring sperm DNA (hsDNA) at the molecular level. Molecular docking showed that TBZ interacted with DNA in groove mode and bound in A-T and C-G base pair regions. Molecular dynamics (MD) was used to evaluate the stability of the TBZ-DNA complex and found that the three phases in MD and the hydrogen bonds helped maintain the combination. NMR relaxation indicated that TBZ had a certain affinity to hsDNA with a binding constant of 462.43 L mol-1, and the thiazole ring was the main group bound with DNA. Results obtained from fluorescence experiments showed that the binding of TBZ and hsDNA was predominantly driven by enthalpy through a static quenching mechanism. Circular dichroism and viscosity measurements proved the groove binding mode. The FTIR results clarified the conformational changes of DNA, that the DNA helix became shorter and compact, and the DNA structure transformed from B-form to A-form.

Extracellular and Intracellular Cyclophilin A, Native and Post-Translationally Modified, Show Diverse and Specific Pathological Roles in Diseases

CypA (cyclophilin A) is a ubiquitous and highly conserved protein with peptidyl prolyl isomerase activity. Because of its highly abundant level in the cytoplasm, most studies have focused on the roles of CypA as an intracellular protein. However, emerging evidence suggests an important role for extracellular CypA in the pathogenesis of several diseases through receptor (CD147 or other)-mediated autocrine and paracrine signaling pathways. In this review, we will discuss the shared and unique pathological roles of extracellular and intracellular CypA in human cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the evolving role of post-translational modifications of CypA in the pathogenesis of disease is discussed. Finally, recent studies with drugs specific for extracellular CypA show its importance in disease pathogenesis in several animal models and make extracellular CypA a new therapeutic target.