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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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da Rocha JM, Campos DMDO, Esmaile SC, Menezes GDL, Bezerra KS, da Silva RA, Junior EDDS, Tayyeb JZ, Akash S, Fulco UL, Alqahtani T, Oliveira JIN. Quantum biochemical analysis of the binding interactions between a potential inhibitory drug and the Ebola viral glycoprotein. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38258414 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2305314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Ebola virus disease (EVD) causes outbreaks and epidemics in West Africa that persist until today. The envelope glycoprotein of Ebola virus (GP) consists of two subunits, GP1 and GP2, and plays a key role in anchoring or fusing the virus to the host cell in its active form on the virion surface. Toremifene (TOR) is a ligand that mainly acts as an estrogen receptor antagonist; however, a recent study showed a strong and efficient interaction with GP. In this context, we aimed to evaluate the energetic affinity features involved in the interaction between GP and toremifene by computer simulation techniques using the Molecular Fractionation Method with Conjugate Caps (MFCC) scheme and quantum-mechanical (QM) calculations, as well as missense mutations to assess protein stability. We identified ASP522, GLU100, TYR517, THR519, LEU186, LEU515 as the most attractive residues in the EBOV glycoprotein structure that form the binding pocket. We divided toremifene into three regions and evaluated that region i was more important than region iii and region ii for the formation of the TOR-GP1/GP2 complex, which might control the molecular remodeling process of TOR. The mutations that caused more destabilization were ARG134, LEU515, TYR517 and ARG559, while those that caused stabilization were GLU523 and ASP522. TYR517 is a critical residue for the binding of TOR, and is highly conserved among EBOV species. Our results may help to elucidate the mechanism of drug action on the GP protein of the Ebola virus and subsequently develop new pharmacological approaches against EVD.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaerdyson M da Rocha
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Daniel M de O Campos
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Stephany C Esmaile
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Gabriela de L Menezes
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Katyanna S Bezerra
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Roosevelt A da Silva
- Core Collaboratives of BioSistemas, Special Unit of Exact Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí, GO, Brazil
| | - Edilson D da S Junior
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Jehad Zuhair Tayyeb
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shopnil Akash
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Birulia, Ashulia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Umberto L Fulco
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Taha Alqahtani
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jonas I N Oliveira
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 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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Pant S, Jena NR. Repurposing of antiparasitic drugs against the NS2B-NS3 protease of the Zika virus. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37747074 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2255648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
To date, no approved drugs are available to treat the Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Therefore, it is necessary to urgently identify potential drugs against the ZIKV infection. Here, the repurposing of 30 antiparasitic drugs against the NS2B-NS3 protease of the ZIKV has been carried out by using combined docking and molecular dynamics- (MD) simulations. Based on the docking results, 5 drugs, such as Amodiaquine, Primaquine, Paromomycin, Dichlorophene, and Ivermectin were screened for further analysis by MD simulations and free energy calculations. Among these drugs, Amodiaquine and Dichlorophen are found to produce the most stable complexes and possess relative binding free energies of about -44.3 ± 3.7 kcal/mol and -41.1 ± 5.3 kcal/mol respectively. Therefore, they would act as potent small-molecule inhibitors of the ZIKV protease.However, evaluations of biological and safety activities of these drugs against the ZIKV protease are required before their clinical use.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pant
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - N R Jena
- Discipline of Natural Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Jabalpur, India
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Santos LH, Rocha REO, Dias DL, Ribeiro BMRM, Serafim MSM, Abrahão JS, Ferreira RS. Evaluating Known Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Inhibitor Scaffolds via In Silico Screening and Biochemical Assays. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1319. [PMID: 37765127 PMCID: PMC10537087 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The NS2B-NS3 protease (NS2B-NS3pro) is regarded as an interesting molecular target for drug design, discovery, and development because of its essential role in the Zika virus (ZIKV) cycle. Although no NS2B-NS3pro inhibitors have reached clinical trials, the employment of drug-like scaffolds can facilitate the screening process for new compounds. In this study, we performed a combination of ligand-based and structure-based in silico methods targeting two known non-peptide small-molecule scaffolds with micromolar inhibitory activity against ZIKV NS2B-NS3pro by a virtual screening (VS) of promising compounds. Based on these two scaffolds, we selected 13 compounds from an initial library of 509 compounds from ZINC15's similarity search. These compounds exhibited structural modifications that are distinct from previously known compounds yet keep pertinent features for binding. Despite promising outcomes from molecular docking and initial enzymatic assays against NS2B-NS3pro, confirmatory assays with a counter-screening enzyme revealed an artifactual inhibition of the assessed compounds. However, we report two compounds, 9 and 11, that exhibited antiviral properties at a concentration of 50 μM in cellular-based assays. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the ongoing research on anti-ZIKV compounds to facilitate and improve the development of new inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucianna H. Santos
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Rafael E. O. Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Diego L. Dias
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil (M.S.M.S.)
| | - Beatriz M. R. M. Ribeiro
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Mateus Sá M. Serafim
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil (M.S.M.S.)
| | - Jônatas S. Abrahão
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil (M.S.M.S.)
| | - Rafaela S. Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
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6
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Akter S, Oliveira JIN, Barton C, Sarkar MH, Shahab M, Banu TA, Goswami B, Osman E, Uzzaman MS, Nafisa T, Molla MA, Yeasmin M, Farzana M, Habib A, Shaikh AA, Khan S. Spike protein mutations and structural insights of pangolin lineage B.1.1.25 with implications for viral pathogenicity and ACE2 binding affinity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13146. [PMID: 37573409 PMCID: PMC10423208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40005-y] [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: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID -19, is constantly evolving, requiring continuous genomic surveillance. In this study, we used whole-genome sequencing to investigate the genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh, with particular emphasis on identifying dominant variants and associated mutations. We used high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) to obtain DNA sequences from COVID-19 patient samples and compared these sequences to the Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 reference genome using the Global Initiative for Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). Our phylogenetic and mutational analyzes revealed that the majority (88%) of the samples belonged to the pangolin lineage B.1.1.25, whereas the remaining 11% were assigned to the parental lineage B.1.1. Two main mutations, D614G and P681R, were identified in the spike protein sequences of the samples. The D614G mutation, which is the most common, decreases S1 domain flexibility, whereas the P681R mutation may increase the severity of viral infections by increasing the binding affinity between the spike protein and the ACE2 receptor. We employed molecular modeling techniques, including protein modeling, molecular docking, and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) geometry optimization, to build and validate three-dimensional models of the S_D614G-ACE2 and S_P681R-ACE2 complexes from the predominant strains. The description of the binding mode and intermolecular contacts of the referenced systems suggests that the P681R mutation may be associated with increased viral pathogenicity in Bangladeshi patients due to enhanced electrostatic interactions between the mutant spike protein and the human ACE2 receptor, underscoring the importance of continuous genomic surveillance in the fight against COVID -19. Finally, the binding profile of the S_D614G-ACE2 and S_P681R-ACE2 complexes offer valuable insights to deeply understand the binding site characteristics that could help to develop antiviral therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and human ACE2 receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahina Akter
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
| | - Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59078-900, Brazil
| | - Carl Barton
- Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - Murshed Hasan Sarkar
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Muhammad Shahab
- State Key Laboratories of Chemical Resources Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Tanjina Akhtar Banu
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Barna Goswami
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Eshrar Osman
- SciTech Consulting and Solutions, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Tasnim Nafisa
- National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Maruf Ahmed Molla
- National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13207, USA
| | - Mahmuda Yeasmin
- National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Maisha Farzana
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Ahashan Habib
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Aftab Ali Shaikh
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Salim Khan
- Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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7
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Santos LH, Caffarena ER, Ferreira RS. pH and non-covalent ligand binding modulate Zika virus NS2B/NS3 protease binding site residues: Discoveries from MD and constant pH MD simulations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:10359-10372. [PMID: 34180376 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1943528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a global health concern and has been linked to severe neurological pathologies. Although no medication is available yet, many efforts to develop antivirals and host cell binding inhibitors led to attractive drug-like scaffolds, mainly targeting the nonstructural NS2B/NS3 protease (NS2B/NS3pro). NS2B/NS3pro active site has several titratable residues susceptible to pH changes and ligand binding; hence, understanding these residues' protonation is essential to drug design efforts targeting the active site. Here we use in silico methods to probe non-covalent binding and its effect on pKa shifts of the active site residues on a ligand-free protease and with a non-peptidic competitive inhibitor (Ki=13.5 µM). By applying constant pH molecular dynamics, we found that the catalytic residues of the unbound NS2B/NS3pro achieved the protonation needed for the serine protease mechanism over the pH value of 8.5. Nevertheless, the protease in the holo state achieved this same scenario at lower pH values. Also, non-covalent binding affected the catalytic triad (H51, D75, and S135) by stabilizing their distances and interaction network. Thus, NS2B/NS3pro residues configuration for activity might be both pH-dependent and influenced by ligand binding. However, compound presence within the binding site destabilized the NS2B, interfering with the closed and active conformation necessary for substrate binding and catalysis. Our outcomes provide valuable insights into non-covalent inhibitor behavior and its effect on protease active site residues, impacting optimization and design of novel compounds. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucianna H Santos
- Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e Planejamento de Fármacos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ernesto R Caffarena
- Grupo de Biofísica Computacional e Modelagem Molecular, Programa de Computação Científica, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafaela S Ferreira
- Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e Planejamento de Fármacos, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Campos DMDO, Silva MKD, Barbosa ED, Leow CY, Fulco UL, Oliveira JIN. Exploiting reverse vaccinology approach for the design of a multiepitope subunit vaccine against the major SARS-CoV-2 variants. Comput Biol Chem 2022; 101:107754. [PMID: 36037724 PMCID: PMC9385604 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic, an infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), poses a threat to global health because of its high rate of spread and death. Currently, vaccination is the most effective method to prevent the spread of this disease. In the present study, we developed a novel multiepitope vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 containing Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (BA.1) variants. To this end, we performed a robust immunoinformatics approach based on multiple epitopes of the four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 (S, M, N, and E) from 475 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced from the regions with the highest number of registered cases, namely the United States, India, Brazil, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. To investigate the best immunogenic epitopes for linear B cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), and helper T lymphocytes (HTL), we evaluated antigenicity, allergenicity, conservation, immunogenicity, toxicity, human population coverage, IFN-inducing, post-translational modifications, and physicochemical properties. The tertiary structure of a vaccine prototype was predicted, refined, and validated. Through docking experiments, we evaluated its molecular coupling to the key immune receptor Toll-Like Receptor 3 (TLR3). To improve the quality of docking calculations, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations (QM/MM) were used, with the QM part of the simulations performed using the density functional theory formalism (DFT). Cloning and codon optimization were performed for the successful expression of the vaccine in E. coli. Finally, we investigated the immunogenic properties and immune response of our SARS-CoV-2 multiepitope vaccine. The results of the simulations show that administering our prototype three times significantly increases the antibody response and decreases the amount of antigens. The proposed vaccine candidate should therefore be tested in clinical trials for its efficacy in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Melo de Oliveira Campos
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
| | - Maria Karolaynne da Silva
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
| | - Emmanuel Duarte Barbosa
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
| | | | - Umberto Laino Fulco
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
| | - Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Bioscience Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, 59064-741, Natal/RN, Brazil.
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9
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Zoladek J, Burlaud-Gaillard J, Chazal M, Desgraupes S, Jeannin P, Gessain A, Pardigon N, Hubert M, Roingeard P, Jouvenet N, Afonso PV. Human Claudin-Derived Peptides Block the Membrane Fusion Process of Zika Virus and Are Broad Flavivirus Inhibitors. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0298922. [PMID: 36040168 PMCID: PMC9603178 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02989-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that emerged in the Pacific islands in 2007 and spread to the Americas in 2015. The infection remains asymptomatic in most cases but can be associated with severe neurological disorders. Despite massive efforts, no specific drug or vaccine against ZIKV infection is available to date. Claudins are tight-junction proteins that favor the entry of several flaviviruses, including ZIKV. In this study, we identified two peptides derived from the N-terminal sequences of claudin-7 and claudin-1, named CL7.1 and CL1.1, respectively, that inhibited ZIKV infection in a panel of human cell lines. Using cell-to-cell fusion assays, we demonstrated that these peptides blocked the ZIKV E-mediated membrane fusion. A comparison of the antiviral efficacy of CL1.1 and CL7.1 pointed to the importance of the peptide amphipathicity. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that CL1.1 altered the ultrastructure of the viral particles likely by binding the virus lipid envelope. However, amphipathicity could not fully explain the antiviral activity of CL1.1. In silico docking simulations suggested that CL1.1 may also interact with the E protein, near its stem region. Overall, our data suggested that claudin-derived peptides inhibition may be linked to simultaneous interaction with the E protein and the viral lipid envelope. Finally, we found that CL1.1 also blocked infection by yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis viruses but not by HIV-1 or SARS-CoV-2. Our results provide a basis for the future development of therapeutics against a wide range of endemic and emerging flaviviruses. IMPORTANCE Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquito bites that have spread to the Pacific Islands and the Americas over the past decade. The infection remains asymptomatic in most cases but can cause severe neurological disorders. ZIKV is a major public health threat in areas of endemicity, and there is currently no specific antiviral drug or vaccine available. We identified two antiviral peptides deriving from the N-terminal sequences of claudin-7 and claudin-1 with the latter being the most effective. These peptides block the envelope-mediated membrane fusion. Our data suggested that the inhibition was likely achieved by simultaneously interacting with the viral lipid envelope and the E protein. The peptides also inhibited other flaviviruses. These results could provide the basis for the development of therapies that might target a wide array of flaviviruses from current epidemics and possibly future emergences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim Zoladek
- Unité Épidémiologie et Physiopathologie des Virus Oncogènes, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Julien Burlaud-Gaillard
- Inserm U1259 MAVIVH, Université de Tours and CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
- Plate-Forme IBiSA de Microscopie Electronique, Université de Tours and CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Maxime Chazal
- Unité Signalisation Antivirale, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Desgraupes
- Unité Épidémiologie et Physiopathologie des Virus Oncogènes, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Patricia Jeannin
- Unité Épidémiologie et Physiopathologie des Virus Oncogènes, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Gessain
- Unité Épidémiologie et Physiopathologie des Virus Oncogènes, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Pardigon
- Groupe Arbovirus, Unité Environnement et Risques Infectieux, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Hubert
- Unité Virus et Immunité, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Roingeard
- Inserm U1259 MAVIVH, Université de Tours and CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
- Plate-Forme IBiSA de Microscopie Electronique, Université de Tours and CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Nolwenn Jouvenet
- Unité Signalisation Antivirale, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France
| | - Philippe V. Afonso
- Unité Épidémiologie et Physiopathologie des Virus Oncogènes, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569, Paris, France
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10
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Yang C, Xie W, Zhang H, Xie W, Tian T, Qin Z. Recent two-year advances in anti-dengue small-molecule inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 243:114753. [PMID: 36167010 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Dengue is an acute tropical infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes, which has posed a major challenge to global public health. Unfortunately, there is a lack of clinically proven dengue-specific drugs for its prevention and treatment. As the pathogenesis of dengue has not been fully elucidated, the development of specific drugs is seriously hindered. This article briefly describes the pathogenesis of dengue fever, the molecular characteristics, and epidemiology of dengue virus, and focuses on the potential small-molecule inhibitors of dengue virus, including on-target and multi-targeted inhibitors, which have been reported in the past two years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine/Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macao University of Science and Technology, Macao, 999078, China
| | - Wansheng Xie
- Hainan Center for Drug and Medical Device Evaluation and Service, Hainan Provincial Drug Administration, Haikou, Hainan, 570206, China
| | - Heqian Zhang
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519087, China
| | - Wenjian Xie
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR, PR China
| | - Tiantian Tian
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519087, China.
| | - Zhiwei Qin
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519087, China.
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11
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Pant S, Jena NR. C-Terminal Extended Hexapeptides as Potent Inhibitors of the NS2B-NS3 Protease of the ZIKA Virus. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:921060. [PMID: 35872792 PMCID: PMC9306491 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.921060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV) protease is an attractive drug target for the design of novel inhibitors to control the ZIKV infection. As the protease substrate-binding site contains acidic residues, inhibitors with basic residues can be beneficial for the inhibition of protease activities. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and molecular mechanics with generalized Born and surface area solvation (MM/GBSA) techniques are employed herein to design potent peptide inhibitors and to understand the nature of the basic residues that can potentially stabilize the acidic residues of the protease substrate-binding site. It is found that the inclusion of K, R, and K at P1, P2, and P3 positions, respectively, and Y at the P4 position (YKRK) would generate a highly stable tetrapeptide-protease complex with a ΔGbind of ~ −80 kcal/mol. We have also shown that the C-terminal extension of this and the second most stable tetrapeptide (YRRR) with small polar residues, such as S and T would generate even more stable hexapeptide-protease complexes. The modes of interactions of these inhibitors are discussed in detail, which are in agreement with earlier experimental studies. Thus, this study is expected to aid in the design of novel antiviral drugs against the ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyash Pant
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Nihar R. Jena
- Discipline of Natural Sciences, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Jabalpur, India
- *Correspondence: Nihar R. Jena
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12
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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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13
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Structure and Dynamics of Zika Virus Protease and Its Insights into Inhibitor Design. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9081044. [PMID: 34440248 PMCID: PMC8394600 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV)—a member of the Flaviviridae family—is an important human pathogen. Its genome encodes a polyprotein that can be further processed into structural and non-structural proteins. ZIKV protease is an important target for antiviral development due to its role in cleaving the polyprotein to release functional viral proteins. The viral protease is a two-component protein complex formed by NS2B and NS3. Structural studies using different approaches demonstrate that conformational changes exist in the protease. The structures and dynamics of this protease in the absence and presence of inhibitors were explored to provide insights into the inhibitor design. The dynamic nature of residues binding to the enzyme cleavage site might be important for the function of the protease. Due to the charges at the protease cleavage site, it is challenging to develop small-molecule compounds acting as substrate competitors. Developing small-molecule compounds to inhibit protease activity through an allosteric mechanism is a feasible strategy because conformational changes are observed in the protease. Herein, structures and dynamics of ZIKV protease are summarized. The conformational changes of ZIKV protease and other proteases in the same family are discussed. The progress in developing allosteric inhibitors is also described. Understanding the structures and dynamics of the proteases are important for designing potent inhibitors.
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14
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Tavares ABMLA, Albuquerque EL. Quantum binding energies of checkpoint CTLA-4 in complex with the immuno-oncological drug ipilimumab. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:15620-15627. [PMID: 34264254 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp01977e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of the checkpoint protein CTLA-4 by the US-FDA's approved monoclonal antibody ipilimumab has delivered breakthrough therapies against a wide range of cancers, being an important issue for clinical research. To date, many structural properties of this drug have been unveiled. However, the binding energy features of the receptor CTLA-4 in complex with its drug inhibitor, based on crystallographic data, need a deeper understanding. Within this context, by employing quantum chemistry we investigate in silico the binding energy features of the checkpoint protein CTLA-4 in complex with its drug inhibitor, highlighting the most relevant residue-residue interactions, looking for new insights into the mechanisms of pathway blockade to further engineer its affinity and selectivity. Our computational results not only give a better understanding of the binding mechanisms, but also point to an efficient alternative towards the development of antibody-based drugs, leading to new treatments for cancer therapy based upon immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Beatriz M L A Tavares
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal-RN, Brazil. and Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50.670-901, Recife-PE, 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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15
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Amaral JL, Oliveira JTA, Lopes FES, Freitas CDT, Freire VN, Abreu LV, Souza PFN. Quantum biochemistry, molecular docking, and dynamics simulation revealed synthetic peptides induced conformational changes affecting the topology of the catalytic site of SARS-CoV-2 main protease. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:8925-8937. [PMID: 33949286 PMCID: PMC8108194 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1920464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The recent outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 continues to threat and take many lives all over the world. The lack of an efficient pharmacological treatments are serious problems to be faced by scientists and medical staffs worldwide. In this work, an in silico approach based on the combination of molecular docking, dynamics simulations, and quantum biochemistry revealed that the synthetic peptides RcAlb-PepI, PepGAT, and PepKAA, strongly interact with the main protease (Mpro) a pivotal protein for SARS-CoV-2 replication. Although not binding to the proteolytic site of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, RcAlb-PepI, PepGAT, and PepKAA interact with other protein domain and allosterically altered the protease topology. Indeed, such peptide-SARS-CoV-2 Mpro complexes provoked dramatic alterations in the three-dimensional structure of Mpro leading to area and volume shrinkage of the proteolytic site, which could affect the protease activity and thus the virus replication. Based on these findings, it is suggested that RcAlb-PepI, PepGAT, and PepKAA could interfere with SARS-CoV-2 Mpro role in vivo. Also, unlike other antiviral drugs, these peptides have no toxicity to human cells. This pioneering in silico investigation opens up opportunity for further in vivo research on these peptides, towards discovering new drugs and entirely new perspectives to treat COVID-19.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson L. Amaral
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Jose T. A. Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Francisco E. S. Lopes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
- Center for Permanent Education in Health Care, CEATS/School of Public Health of Ceará-ESP-CE, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Cleverson D. T. Freitas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Valder N. Freire
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Leonardo V. Abreu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Pedro F. N. Souza
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
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16
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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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17
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Pereira ACL, Bezerra KS, Santos JLS, I N Oliveira J, Freire VN, Fulco UL. In silico approach of modified melanoma peptides and their immunotherapeutic potential. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:2836-2845. [PMID: 33470998 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp05322h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer with increasing incidence worldwide and high lethality. Conventional forms of treatment are not effective in advanced cancer stages. Hence, immunotherapeutic approaches have been tested to modulate immune response against tumor cells. Some vaccine models using tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) such as glycoprotein 100 (gp100) have been studied, but their expected effectiveness has not been shown until now. Antigen immunogenicity is a crucial point to improve the immune response, and therefore mutations are inserted in peptide sequences. It is possible to understand the interactions which occur between peptides and immune system molecules through computer simulation, and this is essential in order to guide efficient vaccine models. In this work, we have calculated the interaction binding energies of crystallographic data based on modified gp100 peptides and HLA-A*0201 using density functional theory (DFT) and the molecular fractionation with conjugated caps (MFCC) approach. Our results show the most relevant residue-residue interactions, the impact of three mutations in their binding sites, and the main HLA-A*0201 amino acids for peptide-HLA binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C L Pereira
- 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.
| | - J L S Santos
- 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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18
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Souza PFN, Amaral JL, Bezerra LP, Lopes FES, Freire VN, Oliveira JTA, Freitas CDT. ACE2-derived peptides interact with the RBD domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, disrupting the interaction with the human ACE2 receptor. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:5493-5506. [PMID: 33427102 PMCID: PMC7876913 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1871415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Vaccines could be the solution to the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. However, some studies have shown that the immunological memory only lasts three months. Thus, it is imperative to develop pharmacological treatments to cope with COVID-19. Here, the in silico approach by molecular docking, dynamic simulations and quantum biochemistry revealed that ACE2-derived peptides strongly interact with the SARS-CoV-2 RBD domain of spike glycoprotein (S-RBD). ACE2-Dev-PepI, ACE2-Dev-PepII, ACE2-Dev-PepIII and ACE2-Dev-PepIV complexed with S-RBD provoked alterations in the 3D structure of S-RBD, leading to disruption of the correct interaction with the ACE2 receptor, a pivotal step for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This wrong interaction between S-RBD and ACE2 could inhibit the entry of SARS-CoV-2 in cells, and thus virus replication and the establishment of COVID-19 disease. Therefore, we suggest that ACE2-derived peptides can interfere with recognition of ACE2 in human cells by SARS-CoV-2 in vivo. Bioinformatic prediction showed that these peptides have no toxicity or allergenic potential. By using ACE2-derived peptides against SARS-CoV-2, this study points to opportunities for further in vivo research on these peptides, seeking to discover new drugs and entirely new perspectives to treat COVID-19.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro F N Souza
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Jackson L Amaral
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.,Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Leandro P Bezerra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Francisco E S Lopes
- Center for Permanent Education in Health Care, CEATS/School of Public Health of Ceará-ESP-CE, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Valder N Freire
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Jose T A Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Cleverson D T Freitas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
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19
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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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