QSAR modelling and molecular docking studies for anti-cancer compounds against melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2

A dataset of seventy-two (72) cytotoxic compounds of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) was studied by QSAR and docking approaches to gain deeper insights into ligands selectivity on SK-MEL-2 cell line. The QSAR model was built using fifty (50) molecules and the best-generated model based on multiple linear regression showed, respectively good quality of fits (R2 (0.864), Radjusted2 (0.845), Q²_cv (0.799) and Rpred2 (0.706)). The model's predictive ability was determined by a test set of twenty-two (22) compounds. Compounds 30 and 41 were selected as templates for in silico design because they had high pGI₅₀ activity and are in the model's applicability domain. The obtained information from the model was explored to design novel molecules by introducing various modifications. Moreover, the designed compounds with better-predicted activity (pGI₅₀) values were selected and docked on the active site of the protein (PDB-CODE: 3OG7) which is responsible for melanoma cancer to elucidate their binding mode. AN2 (−12.1kcalmol^-1) and AC4 (−12.4kcalmol^-1) showed a better binding score for the target when compared with (vemurafenib, −11.3kcalmol^-1) the known inhibitor of the target (V600E-BRAF). These findings may be very helpful in early anti-cancer drug development.

Adjustment of the solid fluorescence of a chalcone derivative through controlling steric hindrance

A chalcone derivative, ANPEO, exhibits weak emission in the solution state but high fluorescence efficiency in the solid state (66%).

Discovery of monocarbonyl curcumin hybrids as a novel class of human DNA ligase I inhibitors: in silico design, synthesis and biology

A pharmacophore model identified a novel class of hLigI inhibitors to treat cancer. 36 compounds were synthesized and the identified inhibitor, compound 23 shown antiligase activity at IC₅₀ 24.9 μM by abolishing the interaction between hLigI and DNA.