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Prosper P, Rodríguez Puertas R, Guérin DMA, Branda MM. Computational method for designing vaccines applied to virus-like particles (VLPs) as epitope carriers. Vaccine 2024; 42:3916-3929. [PMID: 38782665 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.05.025] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Nonenveloped virus-like particles (VLPs) are self-assembled oligomeric structures composed of one or more proteins that originate from diverse viruses. Because these VLPs have similar antigenicity to the parental virus, they are successfully used as vaccines against cognate virus infection. Furthermore, after foreign antigenic sequences are inserted in their protein components (chimVLPs), some VLPs are also amenable to producing vaccines against pathogens other than the virus it originates from (these VLPs are named platform or epitope carrier). Designing chimVLP vaccines is challenging because the immunogenic response must be oriented against a given antigen without altering stimulant properties inherent to the VLP. An important step in this process is choosing the location of the sequence modifications because this must be performed without compromising the assembly and stability of the original VLP. Currently, many immunogenic data and computational tools can help guide the design of chimVLPs, thus reducing experimental costs and work. In this study, we analyze the structure of a novel VLP that originate from an insect virus and describe the putative regions of its three structural proteins amenable to insertion. For this purpose, we employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to assess chimVLP stability by comparing mutated and wild-type (WT) VLP protein trajectories. We applied this procedure to design a chimVLP that can serve as a prophylactic vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The methodology described in this work is generally applicable for VLP-based vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascalita Prosper
- Instituto de Física Aplicada - INFAP, Universidad Nacional de San Luis/CONICET, Argentina, Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, San Luis, Argentina
| | - Rafael Rodríguez Puertas
- Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Dept. Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, B° Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Vizcaya, Spain; Neurodegenerative Diseases, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain
| | - Diego M A Guérin
- Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU) and Instituto Biofisika (CSIC, UPV/EHU), B° Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Vizcaya, Spain
| | - María Marta Branda
- Instituto de Física Aplicada - INFAP, Universidad Nacional de San Luis/CONICET, Argentina, Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, San Luis, Argentina.
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2
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Zheng Y, Bu F, Xu C, Wu T, Zhou J, Shen W, Yin T. A coordinative modular assembly-constructed self-reinforced nano-therapeutic agent for effective antitumor-immune activation. J Control Release 2024; 371:588-602. [PMID: 38866245 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.06.020] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Immunosuppressive microenvironment and poor immunogenicity are two stumbling blocks in anti-tumor immune activation. Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) play crucial roles in immunosuppressive microenvironment, while immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a typical strategy to boost immunogenicity. Herein, we developed a coordinative modular assembly-based self-reinforced nanoparticle, (CaO2/TA)-(Fe3+/BSA) which integrated CaO2, Fe3+-tannic acid coordinated networks and albumin under the instruction of molecular dynamics simulation. (CaO2/TA)-(Fe3+/BSA) could significantly enhance Fenton reaction through Fe3+ self-reduction and H2O2 self-sufficiency, and simultaneously increased intracellular accumulation of Ca2+. The self-augmented Fenton reaction with sufficient reactive oxygen species effectively repolarized TAMs and elicited ICD with Ca2+ overload. Besides, (CaO2/TA)-(Fe3+/BSA) was confirmed to self-reinforce deep tumor drug delivery by "treatment-delivery" positive feedback based on gp60-mediated transcytosis and M2-like macrophages repolarization-mediated perfusion promotion. Resultantly, (CaO2/TA)-(Fe3+/BSA) effectively alleviated immunosuppression, provoked local and systemic immune response and potentiated anti-PD-1 antibody therapy. Our strategy highlights a facile and controllable approach to construct penetrated effective antitumor nano-immunotherapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhao Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Fanxue Bu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Chenfeng Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Tongyu Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Jianping Zhou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China.
| | - Weiyang Shen
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China.
| | - Tingjie Yin
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, China.
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3
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Kern NR, Lee J, Choi YK, Im W. CHARMM-GUI Multicomponent Assembler for modeling and simulation of complex multicomponent systems. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5459. [PMID: 38937468 PMCID: PMC11211406 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49700-4] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Atomic-scale molecular modeling and simulation are powerful tools for computational biology. However, constructing models with large, densely packed molecules, non-water solvents, or with combinations of multiple biomembranes, polymers, and nanomaterials remains challenging and requires significant time and expertise. Furthermore, existing tools do not support such assemblies under the periodic boundary conditions (PBC) necessary for molecular simulation. Here, we describe Multicomponent Assembler in CHARMM-GUI that automates complex molecular assembly and simulation input preparation under the PBC. In this work, we demonstrate its versatility by preparing 6 challenging systems with varying density of large components: (1) solvated proteins, (2) solvated proteins with a pre-equilibrated membrane, (3) solvated proteins with a sheet-like nanomaterial, (4) solvated proteins with a sheet-like polymer, (5) a mixed membrane-nanomaterial system, and (6) a sheet-like polymer with gaseous solvent. Multicomponent Assembler is expected to be a unique cyberinfrastructure to study complex interactions between small molecules, biomacromolecules, polymers, and nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R Kern
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Jumin Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Yeol Kyo Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Wonpil Im
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA.
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Suh D, Arattu Thodika AR, Kim S, Nam K, Im W. CHARMM-GUI QM/MM Interfacer for a Quantum Mechanical and Molecular Mechanical (QM/MM) Simulation Setup: 1. Semiempirical Methods. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:5337-5351. [PMID: 38856971 PMCID: PMC11209942 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Quantum mechanical (QM) treatments, when combined with molecular mechanical (MM) force fields, can effectively handle enzyme-catalyzed reactions without significantly increasing the computational cost. In this context, we present CHARMM-GUI QM/MM Interfacer, a web-based cyberinfrastructure designed to streamline the preparation of various QM/MM simulation inputs with ligand modification. The development of QM/MM Interfacer has been achieved through integration with existing CHARMM-GUI modules, such as PDB Reader and Manipulator, Solution Builder, and Membrane Builder. In addition, new functionalities have been developed to facilitate the one-stop preparation of QM/MM systems and enable interactive and intuitive ligand modifications and QM atom selections. QM/MM Interfacer offers support for a range of semiempirical QM methods, including AM1(+/d), PM3(+/PDDG), MNDO(+/d, +/PDDG), PM6, RM1, and SCC-DFTB, tailored for both AMBER and CHARMM. A nontrivial setup related to ligand modification, link-atom insertion, and charge distribution is automatized through intuitive user interfaces. To illustrate the robustness of QM/MM Interfacer, we conducted QM/MM simulations of three enzyme-substrate systems: dihydrofolate reductase, insulin receptor kinase, and oligosaccharyltransferase. In addition, we have created three tutorial videos about building these systems, which can be found at https://www.charmm-gui.org/demo/qmi. QM/MM Interfacer is expected to be a valuable and accessible web-based tool that simplifies and accelerates the setup process for hybrid QM/MM simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghyuk Suh
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Bioengineering, and Computer Science
and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Abdul Raafik Arattu Thodika
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University
of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019-9800, United States
| | - Seonghoon Kim
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Bioengineering, and Computer Science
and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Kwangho Nam
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University
of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019-9800, United States
| | - Wonpil Im
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Bioengineering, and Computer Science
and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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Zeng Q, Meng G, Zhao B, Lin H, Guan Y, Qin X, Yuan Y, Li Y, Wang Q. Peptide Drug Design Using Alchemical Free Energy Calculation: An Application and Validation on Agonists of Ghrelin Receptor. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:4863-4876. [PMID: 38836743 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
With recent large-scale applications and validations, the relative binding free energy (RBFE) calculated using alchemical free energy methods has been proven to be an accurate measure to probe the binding of small-molecule drug candidates. On the other hand, given the flexibility of peptides, it is of great interest to find out whether sufficient sampling could be achieved within the typical time scale of such calculation, and a similar level of accuracy could be reached for peptide drugs. However, the systematic evaluation of such calculations on protein-peptide systems has been less reported. Most reported studies of peptides were restricted to a limited number of data points or lacking experimental support. To demonstrate the applicability of the alchemical free energy method for protein-peptide systems in a typical real-world drug discovery project, we report an application of the thermodynamic integration (TI) method to the RBFE calculation of ghrelin receptor and its peptide agonists. Along with the calculation, the synthesis and in vitro EC50 activity of relamorelin and 17 new peptide derivatives were also reported. A cost-effective criterion to determine the data collection time was proposed for peptides in the TI simulation. The average of three TI repeats yielded a mean absolute error of 0.98 kcal/mol and Pearson's correlation coefficient (R) of 0.77 against the experimental free energy derived from the in vitro EC50 activity, showing good repeatability of the proposed method and a slightly better agreement than the results obtained from the arbitrary time frames up to 20 ns. Although it is limited by having one target and a deduced binding pose, we hope that this study can add some insights into alchemical free energy calculation of protein-peptide systems, providing theoretical assistance to the development of peptide drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Guangpeng Meng
- Chengdu Sintanovo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Bingyu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Haodian Lin
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yuqing Guan
- Chengdu Sintanovo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Xiaobin Qin
- Chengdu Sintanovo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Yu Yuan
- Chengdu Sintanovo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Yuanbo Li
- Chengdu Sintanovo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610000, China
| | - Qiantao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Pathak Y, Camps I, Yadav M, Mishra A, Upadhyay J, Tripathi V. Lumacaftor as a potential repurposed drug in targeting breast cancer stem cells: insights from in silico study. J Mol Model 2024; 30:227. [PMID: 38913211 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-024-05990-5] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are a small subset of cells within breast tumors with characteristics similar to normal stem cells. Despite advancements in chemotherapy and targeted therapy for breast cancer, the prognosis for breast cancer patients has remained poor due to drug resistance, reoccurrence, and metastasis. Growing evidence suggests that deregulation of the self-renewal pathways, like the Wnt signaling pathway mediated by β-catenin, plays a crucial role in the survival of breast cancer stem cells. Targeting the Wnt signaling pathway in breast cancer stem cells offers a promising avenue for developing effective therapeutic strategies targeting these cells, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced tumor recurrence. METHODS For this purpose, we have screened a 1615 FDA-approved drug library against our target protein, β-catenin, which is involved in the Wnt signaling pathway using molecular docking analysis, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) calculations. RESULTS Molecular docking studies showed that the Lumacaftor- β-catenin complex had the lowest docking score of - 8.7 kcal/mol towards β-catenin protein than the reference inhibitor. Molecular dynamic simulations and MM/PBSA calculations were also performed for the Lumacaftor-β-catenin complex to establish the stability of the interactions involved. Considering its promising attributes and encouraging results, Lumacaftor holds significant potential as a novel therapeutic option to target BCSCs. This study opens avenues for further investigation and may pave the way for developing therapeutic potential in breast cancer treatment. Further confirmation is warranted through in vitro and clinical studies to validate the findings of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamini Pathak
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India
| | - Ihosvany Camps
- Laboratório de Modelagem Computacional - LaModel, Instituto de Ciências Exatas - ICEx. Universidade Federal de Alfenas - UNIFAL-MG, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- High Performance & Quantum Computing Labs, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Manju Yadav
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, DRDO, Delhi, India
| | - Amaresh Mishra
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India
| | - Jyoti Upadhyay
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India
| | - Vishwas Tripathi
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India.
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7
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Liu HL, Zhong HY, Zhang YX, Xue HR, Zhang ZS, Fu KQ, Cao XD, Xiong XC, Guo D. Structural basis of tolvaptan binding to the vasopressin V 2 receptor. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024:10.1038/s41401-024-01325-5. [PMID: 38902502 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01325-5] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R) is a validated therapeutic target for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), with tolvaptan being the first FDA-approved antagonist. Herein, we used Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the spontaneous binding of tolvaptan to both active and inactive V2R conformations at the atomic-level. Overall, the binding process consists of two stages. Tolvaptan binds initially to extracellular loops 2 and 3 (ECL2/3) before overcoming an energy barrier to enter the pocket. Our simulations result highlighted key residues (e.g., R181, Y205, F287, F178) involved in this process, which were experimentally confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. This work provides structural insights into tolvaptan-V2R interactions, potentially aiding the design of novel antagonists for V2R and other G protein-coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Li Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Hai-Yang Zhong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Yi-Xiao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Hua-Rui Xue
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Zheng-Shuo Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Ke-Quan Fu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Xu-Dong Cao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China
| | - Xiao-Chun Xiong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
| | - Dong Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China.
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Barbosa Belarmino A, Sampaio de Sousa D, Henrique Alexandre Roberto C, Moreira de Oliveira V, Nunes da Rocha M, Rogenio da Silva Mendes F, Machado Marinho M, Marques da Fonseca A, Silva Marinho G. Ligand-based analysis of the antifungal potential of phytosterols and triterpenes isolated from Cryptostegia grandiflora against Candida auris FKBP12. Steroids 2024; 209:109453. [PMID: 38901661 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2024.109453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Candida auris, a pathogenic fungus, has posed significant challenges to conventional medical treatments due to its increasing resistance to antifungal agents. Consequently, due to their promising pharmacological properties, there is a compelling interest in exploring novel bioactive compounds, such as phytosterols and triterpenes. This study aimed to conduct virtual screening utilizing computational methods, including ADMET, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics, to assess the activity and feasibility of phytosterols extracted from Cryptostegia grandiflora as potential therapeutic agents. Computational predictions suggest that compounds bearing structural similarities to Fsp3-rich molecules hold promise for inhibiting enzymes and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) modulators, with particular emphasis on ursolic acid, which, in its conjugated form, exhibits high oral bioavailability and metabolic stability, rendering it a compelling drug candidate. Molecular docking calculations identified ursolic acid and stigmasterol as promising ligands. While stigmasterol displayed superior affinity during molecular dynamics simulations, it exhibited instability, contrasting with ursolic acid's slightly lower affinity yet sustained stability throughout the dynamic assessments. This suggests that ursolic acid is a robust candidate for inhibiting the FKBP12 isomerase in C. auris. Moreover, further investigations could focus on experimentally validating the molecular docking predictions and evaluating the efficacy of ursolic acid as an FKBP12 isomerase inhibitor in models of C. auris infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Márcia Machado Marinho
- Science and Technology Centre, Course of Chemistry, State University Vale of Acaraú, CE, Brazil
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Ojo OA, Gyebi GA, Ezenabor EH, Iyobhebhe M, Emmanuel DA, Adelowo OA, Olujinmi FE, Ogunwale TE, Babatunde DE, Ogunlakin AD, Ojo AB, Adeyemi OS. Exploring beetroot ( Beta vulgaris L.) for diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease dual therapy: in vitro and computational studies. RSC Adv 2024; 14:19362-19380. [PMID: 38887650 PMCID: PMC11181461 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra03638g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This study explored the flavonoid-rich extract of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dual therapy by using in vitro and molecular simulation studies. Flavonoid-rich extracts of B. vulgaris fruit were evaluated for their antidiabetic and anti-alzheimic activities. Molecular docking and dynamic simulation were performed to identify potential bioactive flavonoids with dual therapeutic effects on T2D and AD. Flavonoid-rich extracts of B. vulgaris fruit (IC50 = 73.062 ± 0.480 μg mL-1) had moderate activity against α-amylase compared to the standard acarbose (IC50 = 27.104 ± 0.270 μg mL-1). Compared with acarbose, flavonoid-rich extracts of B. vulgaris fruit had appreciable activity against α-glucosidase (IC50 = 17.389 ± 0.436 μg mL-1) (IC50 = 37.564 ± 0.620 μg mL-1). For AChE inhibition, flavonoid-rich extracts of B. vulgaris fruit exhibited (p < 0.0001) inhibitory activity (IC50 = 723.260 ± 5.466 μg mL-1), albeit weaker than that of the standard control, galantamine (IC50 = 27.950 ± 0.122 μg mL-1). Similarly, flavonoid-rich extracts of B. vulgaris fruit showed considerable (p < 0.0001) inhibitory effects on BChE (IC50 = 649.112 ± 0.683 μg mL-1). In contrast, galantamine (IC50 = 23.126 ± 0.683 μg mL-1) is more potent than the extracts of B. vulgaris fruit. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity increased in FeSO4-induced brain damage. In contrast, flavonoid-rich extracts of B. vulgaris fruit protected against Fe2+-mediated brain damage by suppressing MAO activity in a concentration-dependent manner. HPLC-DAD profiling of the extracts identified quercetrin, apigenin, rutin, myricetin, iso-quercetrin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and gallic acid. Molecular docking studies revealed quercetrin, apigenin, rutin, iso-queretrin, and myricetin were the top docked bioactive flavonoids against the five top target proteins (α-amylase, α-glucosidase AchE, BchE, and MAO). Molecular dynamic simulations revealed that the complexes formed remained stable over the course of the simulation. Collectively, the findings support the prospect of flavonoid-rich extracts of B. vulgaris root functioning as a dual therapy for T2D and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwafemi Adeleke Ojo
- Biochemistry Programme, Bowen University Iwo 232102 Nigeria +2347037824647
- Good Health and Wellbeing Research Clusters (SDG 03) Bowen University Iwo 232102 Nigeria
| | - Gideon Ampoma Gyebi
- Natural Products and Structural (Bio-Chem)-Informatics Research Laboratory (NpsBC-RI), Department of Biochemistry, Bingham University Karu Nigeria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Akingbolabo Daniel Ogunlakin
- Biochemistry Programme, Bowen University Iwo 232102 Nigeria +2347037824647
- Good Health and Wellbeing Research Clusters (SDG 03) Bowen University Iwo 232102 Nigeria
| | | | - Oluyomi Stephen Adeyemi
- Biochemistry Programme, Bowen University Iwo 232102 Nigeria +2347037824647
- Good Health and Wellbeing Research Clusters (SDG 03) Bowen University Iwo 232102 Nigeria
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Chapagain P, Haratipour Z, Malabanan MM, Choi WJ, Blind RD. Bilirubin is a new ligand for nuclear receptor Liver Receptor Homolog-1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.05.592606. [PMID: 38853895 PMCID: PMC11160564 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.05.592606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The nuclear receptor Liver Receptor Homolog-1 (LRH-1, NR5A2 ) binds to phospholipids that regulate important LRH-1 functions in the liver. A recent compound screen unexpectedly identified bilirubin, the product of liver heme metabolism, as a possible ligand for LRH-1. Here, we show unconjugated bilirubin directly binds LRH-1 with apparent K d =9.3uM, altering LRH-1 interaction with all transcriptional coregulator peptides tested. Bilirubin decreased LRH-1 protease sensitivity, consistent with MD simulations predicting bilirubin stably binds LRH-1 within the canonical ligand binding site. Bilirubin activated a luciferase reporter specific for LRH-1, dependent on co-expression with the bilirubin membrane transporter SLCO1B1 , but bilirubin failed to activate ligand-binding genetic mutants of LRH-1. Gene profiling in HepG2 cells shows bilirubin selectively regulated transcripts from endogenous LRH-1 ChIP-seq target genes, which was significantly attenuated by either genetic knockdown of LRH-1, or by a specific chemical competitor of LRH-1. Gene set enrichment suggests bilirubin and LRH-1 share roles in cholesterol metabolism and lipid efflux, thus we propose a new role for LRH-1 in directly sensing intracellular levels of bilirubin.
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Das B, Tk Baidya A, Chakrabarti S, Chouhan D, Thakur B, Darreh-Shori T, Chen G, Tiwari V, Kumar R. Synthesis and biological evaluation of Halogen-Substituted novel α-Ketoamides as potential protein aggregation modulators in Alzheimer's disease. Bioorg Chem 2024; 147:107373. [PMID: 38653149 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107373] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The escalating prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has prompted extensive research into potential therapeutic interventions, with a specific focus on molecular targets such as amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau protein aggregation. In this study, a series of α-ketoamide derivatives was synthesized from β,γ-unsaturated α-keto thioesters, achieving high purity and good yield. Thioflavin T based Aβ aggregation assay identified four promising compounds (BD19, BD23, BD24, and BD27) that demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on Aβ aggregation. BD23, selected for its better solubility (0.045 ± 0.0012 mg/ml), was further subjected to in vitro Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay to determine the Blood-Brain-Barrier permeability and emerged as BBB permeable with permeability rate (Pe) of 10.66 ± 8.11 × 10-6 cm/s. In addition to its Aβ inhibitory properties, BD23 exhibited significant inhibition of heparin-induced tau aggregation and demonstrated non-toxicity in SHSY5Y cell lines. Subsequent in vivo assays were conducted, administering compound BD23 to an Aβ induced mouse model of AD at various doses (1, 2, & 5 mg/kg). The results revealed a noteworthy enhancement in cognitive functions, particularly when BD23 was administered at a dosage of 5 mg/kg, comparable to the effects observed with the standard dose of Donepezil (DNP). In silico investigations, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and Density Functional Theory calculations provided insights into BD23's interactions with the targets and electronic properties. These analyses contribute to the understanding of the therapeutic potential of the lead compounds BD23 which further pave the way for further exploration of its therapeutic potential in the context of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhanuranjan Das
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Anurag Tk Baidya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Sourabh Chakrabarti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Deepak Chouhan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Banita Thakur
- Division of Clinical Geriatric, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, NEO, 7th Floor, 141 52 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Taher Darreh-Shori
- Division of Clinical Geriatric, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, NEO, 7th Floor, 141 52 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14 183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Vinod Tiwari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Rajnish Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India.
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12
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Palamiuc L, Johnson JL, Haratipour Z, Loughran RM, Choi WJ, Arora GK, Tieu V, Ly K, Llorente A, Crabtree S, Wong JCY, Ravi A, Wiederhold T, Murad R, Blind RD, Emerling BM. Hippo and PI5P4K signaling intersect to control the transcriptional activation of YAP. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eado6266. [PMID: 38805583 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.ado6266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Phosphoinositides are essential signaling molecules. The PI5P4K family of phosphoinositide kinases and their substrates and products, PI5P and PI4,5P2, respectively, are emerging as intracellular metabolic and stress sensors. We performed an unbiased screen to investigate the signals that these kinases relay and the specific upstream regulators controlling this signaling node. We found that the core Hippo pathway kinases MST1/2 phosphorylated PI5P4Ks and inhibited their signaling in vitro and in cells. We further showed that PI5P4K activity regulated several Hippo- and YAP-related phenotypes, specifically decreasing the interaction between the key Hippo proteins MOB1 and LATS and stimulating the YAP-mediated genetic program governing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Mechanistically, we showed that PI5P interacted with MOB1 and enhanced its interaction with LATS, thereby providing a signaling connection between the Hippo pathway and PI5P4Ks. These findings reveal how these two important evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways are integrated to regulate metazoan development and human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jared L Johnson
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Zeinab Haratipour
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN 37044, USA
| | | | - Woong Jae Choi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | | | - Vivian Tieu
- Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kyanh Ly
- Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | | | - Jenny C Y Wong
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Archna Ravi
- Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - Rabi Murad
- Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Raymond D Blind
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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13
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Wen CY, Luo YL, Madsen JJ. Optimizing Coarse-Grained Models for Large-Scale Membrane Protein Simulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.13.594009. [PMID: 38798639 PMCID: PMC11118278 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.13.594009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Coarse-grained (CG) models have been developed for studying membrane proteins at physiologically relevant scales. Such methods, including popular CG lipid models, exhibit stability and efficiency at moderate scales, but they can become impractical or even unusable beyond a critical size due to various technical issues. Here, we report that these scale-dependent issues can arise from progressively slower relaxation dynamics and become confounded by unforeseen instabilities observed only at larger scales. To address these issues, we systemically optimized a 4-site solvent-free CG lipid model that is suitable for conducting micron-scale molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins under various membrane properties. We applied this lipid model to explore the long-range membrane deformation induced by a large mechanosensitive ion channel, PIEZO. We show that the optimized CG models are powerful in elucidating the structural and dynamic interplay between PIEZO and the membrane. Furthermore, we anticipate that our methodological insights can prove useful for resolving issues stemming from scale-dependent limitations of similar CG methodologies.
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14
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Cruz FM, Macías Á, Moreno-Manuel AI, Gutiérrez LK, Vera-Pedrosa ML, Martínez-Carrascoso I, Pérez PS, Robles JMR, Bermúdez-Jiménez FJ, Díaz-Agustín A, de Benito FM, Arias-Santiago S, Braza-Boils A, Martín-Martínez M, Gutierrez-Rodríguez M, Bernal JA, Zorio E, Jiménez-Jaimez J, Jalife J. Extracellular Kir2.1 C122Y Mutant Upsets Kir2.1-PIP 2 Bonds and Is Arrhythmogenic in Andersen-Tawil Syndrome. Circ Res 2024; 134:e52-e71. [PMID: 38497220 PMCID: PMC11009053 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.323895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Andersen-Tawil syndrome type 1 is a rare heritable disease caused by mutations in the gene coding the strong inwardly rectifying K+ channel Kir2.1. The extracellular Cys (cysteine)122-to-Cys154 disulfide bond in the channel structure is crucial for proper folding but has not been associated with correct channel function at the membrane. We evaluated whether a human mutation at the Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide bridge leads to Kir2.1 channel dysfunction and arrhythmias by reorganizing the overall Kir2.1 channel structure and destabilizing its open state. METHODS We identified a Kir2.1 loss-of-function mutation (c.366 A>T; p.Cys122Tyr) in an ATS1 family. To investigate its pathophysiological implications, we generated an AAV9-mediated cardiac-specific mouse model expressing the Kir2.1C122Y variant. We employed a multidisciplinary approach, integrating patch clamping and intracardiac stimulation, molecular biology techniques, molecular dynamics, and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer experiments. RESULTS Kir2.1C122Y mice recapitulated the ECG features of ATS1 independently of sex, including corrected QT prolongation, conduction defects, and increased arrhythmia susceptibility. Isolated Kir2.1C122Y cardiomyocytes showed significantly reduced inwardly rectifier K+ (IK1) and inward Na+ (INa) current densities independently of normal trafficking. Molecular dynamics predicted that the C122Y mutation provoked a conformational change over the 2000-ns simulation, characterized by a greater loss of hydrogen bonds between Kir2.1 and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate than wild type (WT). Therefore, the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-binding pocket was destabilized, resulting in a lower conductance state compared with WT. Accordingly, on inside-out patch clamping, the C122Y mutation significantly blunted Kir2.1 sensitivity to increasing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate concentrations. In addition, the Kir2.1C122Y mutation resulted in channelosome degradation, demonstrating temporal instability of both Kir2.1 and NaV1.5 proteins. CONCLUSIONS The extracellular Cys122-to-Cys154 disulfide bond in the tridimensional Kir2.1 channel structure is essential for the channel function. We demonstrate that breaking disulfide bonds in the extracellular domain disrupts phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-dependent regulation, leading to channel dysfunction and defects in Kir2.1 energetic stability. The mutation also alters functional expression of the NaV1.5 channel and ultimately leads to conduction disturbances and life-threatening arrhythmia characteristic of Andersen-Tawil syndrome type 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco M. Cruz
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Macías
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Lilian K. Gutiérrez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Francisco J Bermúdez-Jiménez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada IBS, Granada, Spain
| | - Aitor Díaz-Agustín
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez de Benito
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Arias-Santiago
- Servicio de Dermatología Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada IBS, Granada, Spain
| | - Aitana Braza-Boils
- Unit of Inherited Cardiomyopathies and Sudden Death (CAFAMUSME), Health Research Institute La Fe, La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain
- Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mercedes Martín-Martínez
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Gutierrez-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan A. Bernal
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Zorio
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Unit of Inherited Cardiomyopathies and Sudden Death (CAFAMUSME), Health Research Institute La Fe, La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain
- Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Jiménez-Jaimez
- Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada IBS, Granada, Spain
| | - José Jalife
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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15
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Rybina AA, Glushak RA, Bessonova TA, Dakhnovets AI, Rudenko AY, Ozhiganov RM, Kaznadzey AD, Tutukina MN, Gelfand MS. Phylogeny and structural modeling of the transcription factor CsqR (YihW) from Escherichia coli. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7852. [PMID: 38570624 PMCID: PMC10991401 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58492-y] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
CsqR (YihW) is a local transcription factor that controls expression of yih genes involved in degradation of sulfoquinovose in Escherichia coli. We recently showed that expression of the respective gene cassette might be regulated by lactose. Here, we explore the phylogenetic and functional traits of CsqR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CsqR had a conserved Met25. Western blot demonstrated that CsqR was synthesized in the bacterial cell as two protein forms, 28.5 (CsqR-l) and 26 kDa (CsqR-s), the latter corresponding to start of translation at Met25. CsqR-s was dramatically activated during growth with sulfoquinovose as a sole carbon source, and displaced CsqR-l in the stationary phase during growth on rich medium. Molecular dynamic simulations revealed two possible states of the CsqR-s structure, with the interdomain linker being represented by either a disordered loop or an ɑ-helix. This helix allowed the hinge-like motion of the N-terminal domain resulting in a switch of CsqR-s between two conformational states, "open" and "compact". We then modeled the interaction of both CsqR forms with putative effectors sulfoquinovose, sulforhamnose, sulfoquinovosyl glycerol, and lactose, and revealed that they all preferred the same pocket in CsqR-l, while in CsqR-s there were two possible options dependent on the linker structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Rybina
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia, 121205.
| | - Roman A Glushak
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119234
| | - Tatiana A Bessonova
- Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS (Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research RAS"), Pushchino, Russia, 142290
| | | | - Alexander Yu Rudenko
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119991
| | - Ratislav M Ozhiganov
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119991
| | - Anna D Kaznadzey
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia, 127051
| | - Maria N Tutukina
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia, 121205
- Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS (Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research RAS"), Pushchino, Russia, 142290
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia, 127051
| | - Mikhail S Gelfand
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia, 121205
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems RAS, Moscow, Russia, 127051
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16
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Princiotto S, Casciaro B, G Temprano A, Musso L, Sacchi F, Loffredo MR, Cappiello F, Sacco F, Raponi G, Fernandez VP, Iucci T, Mangoni ML, Mori M, Dallavalle S, Pisano C. The antimicrobial potential of adarotene derivatives against Staphylococcus aureus strains. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107227. [PMID: 38387400 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens are severely impacting our ability to successfully treat common infections. Here we report the synthesis of a panel of adarotene-related retinoids showing potent antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus strains (including multidrug-resistant ones). Fluorescence and molecular dynamic studies confirmed that the adarotene analogues were able to induce conformational changes and disfunctions to the cell membrane, perturbing the permeability of the phospholipid bilayer. Since the major obstacle for developing retinoids is their potential cytotoxicity, a selected candidate was further investigated to evaluate its activity on a panel of human cell lines. The compound was found to be well tolerated, with IC50 5-15-fold higher than the MIC on S. aureus strains. Furthermore, the adarotene analogue had a good pharmacokinetic profile, reaching a plasma concentration of about 6 μM after 0.5 h after administration (150 mg/kg), at least twice the MIC observed against various bacterial strains. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the compound potentiated the growth-inhibitory effect of the poorly bioavailable rifaximin, when used in combination. Overall, the collected data pave the way for the development of synthetic retinoids as potential therapeutics for hard-to-treat infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Princiotto
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alvaro G Temprano
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEPHARM) Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Loana Musso
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Sacchi
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Loffredo
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Cappiello
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Sacco
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giammarco Raponi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Mori
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Sabrina Dallavalle
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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17
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Osterne VJ, Pinto-Junior VR, Oliveira MV, Nascimento KS, Van Damme EJ, Cavada BS. Computational insights into the circular permutation roles on ConA binding and structural stability. Curr Res Struct Biol 2024; 7:100140. [PMID: 38559841 PMCID: PMC10979261 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2024.100140] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms behind Concanavalin A (ConA) circular permutation have been under investigation since 1985. Although a vast amount of information is available about this lectin and its applications, the exact purpose of its processing remains unclear. To shed light on this, this study employed computer simulations to compare the unprocessed ProConA with the mature ConA. This approach aimed to reveal the importance of the post-translational modifications, especially how they affect the lectin stability and carbohydrate-binding properties. To achieve these goals, we conducted 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations and trajectory analyses on the monomeric forms of ProConA and ConA (both unbound and in complex with D-mannose and the GlcNAc2Man9 N-glycan), as well as on their oligomeric forms. Our findings reveal significant stability differences between ProConA and ConA at both the monomeric and tetrameric levels, with ProConA exhibiting consistently lower stability parameters compared to ConA. In terms of carbohydrate binding properties, however, both lectins showed remarkable similarities in their interaction profiles, contact numbers, and binding free energies with D-mannose and the high-mannose N-glycan. Overall, our results suggest that the processing of ProConA significantly enhances the stability of the mature lectin, especially in maintaining the tetrameric oligomer, without substantially affecting its carbohydrate-binding properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius J.S. Osterne
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vanir R. Pinto-Junior
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara, 60.440-970, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceara, 60.440-970, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Messias V. Oliveira
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara, 60.440-970, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Kyria S. Nascimento
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara, 60.440-970, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Els J.M. Van Damme
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Benildo S. Cavada
- Laboratory of Biologically Active Molecules, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara, 60.440-970, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
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18
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Petermeier P, Bittner JP, Jonsson T, Domínguez de María P, Byström E, Kara S. Integrated preservation of water activity as key to intensified chemoenzymatic synthesis of bio-based styrene derivatives. Commun Chem 2024; 7:57. [PMID: 38485751 PMCID: PMC10940287 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01138-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The valorization of lignin-derived feedstocks by catalytic means enables their defunctionalization and upgrading to valuable products. However, the development of productive, safe, and low-waste processes remains challenging. This paper explores the industrial potential of a chemoenzymatic reaction performing the decarboxylation of bio-based phenolic acids in wet cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) by immobilized phenolic acid decarboxylase from Bacillus subtilis, followed by a base-catalyzed acylation. Key-to-success is the continuous control of water activity, which fluctuates along the reaction progress, particularly at high substrate loadings (triggered by different hydrophilicities of substrate and product). A combination of experimentation, thermodynamic equilibrium calculations, and MD simulations revealed the change in water activity which guided the integration of water reservoirs and allowed process intensification of the previously limiting enzymatic step. With this, the highly concentrated sequential two-step cascade (400 g·L-1) achieves full conversions and affords products in less than 3 h. The chemical step is versatile, accepting different acyl donors, leading to a range of industrially sound products. Importantly, the finding that water activity changes in intensified processes is an academic insight that might explain other deactivations of enzymes when used in non-conventional media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Petermeier
- Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Group, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jan Philipp Bittner
- Institute of Thermal Separation Processes, Hamburg University of Technology, 21073, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Pablo Domínguez de María
- Sustainable Momentum SL, Av. Ansite 3, 4-6, 35011, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Emil Byström
- SpinChem AB, Tvistevägen 48C, 90736, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Selin Kara
- Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Group, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167, Hannover, Germany.
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19
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Zhang Y, Anbir S, McTiernan J, Li S, Worcester M, Mishra P, Colvin ME, Gopinathan A, Mohideen U, Zandi R, Kuhlman TE. Synthesis, insertion, and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein within lipid bilayers. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadm7030. [PMID: 38416838 PMCID: PMC10901468 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adm7030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Throughout history, coronaviruses have posed challenges to both public health and the global economy; nevertheless, methods to combat them remain rudimentary, primarily due to the absence of experiments to understand the function of various viral components. Among these, membrane (M) proteins are one of the most elusive because of their small size and challenges with expression. Here, we report the development of an expression system to produce tens to hundreds of milligrams of M protein per liter of Escherichia coli culture. These large yields render many previously inaccessible structural and biophysical experiments feasible. Using cryo-electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, we image and characterize individual membrane-incorporated M protein dimers and discover membrane thinning in the vicinity, which we validated with molecular dynamics simulations. Our results suggest that the resulting line tension, along with predicted induction of local membrane curvature, could ultimately drive viral assembly and budding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhong Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Sara Anbir
- Biophysics Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Joseph McTiernan
- Department of Physics, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95340, USA
| | - Siyu Li
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Michael Worcester
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Pratyasha Mishra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Michael E. Colvin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95340, USA
| | - Ajay Gopinathan
- Department of Physics, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA 95340, USA
| | - Umar Mohideen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Roya Zandi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Thomas E. Kuhlman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Microbiology Program, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
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20
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Ji J, Carpentier B, Chakraborty A, Nangia S. An Affordable Topography-Based Protocol for Assigning a Residue's Character on a Hydropathy (PARCH) Scale. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:1656-1672. [PMID: 37018141 PMCID: PMC10902853 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
The hydropathy of proteins or quantitative assessment of protein-water interactions has been a topic of interest for decades. Most hydropathy scales use a residue-based or atom-based approach to assign fixed numerical values to the 20 amino acids and categorize them as hydrophilic, hydroneutral, or hydrophobic. These scales overlook the protein's nanoscale topography, such as bumps, crevices, cavities, clefts, pockets, and channels, in calculating the hydropathy of the residues. Some recent studies have included protein topography in determining hydrophobic patches on protein surfaces, but these methods do not provide a hydropathy scale. To overcome the limitations in the existing methods, we have developed a Protocol for Assigning a Residue's Character on the Hydropathy (PARCH) scale that adopts a holistic approach to assigning the hydropathy of a residue. The parch scale evaluates the collective response of the water molecules in the protein's first hydration shell to increasing temperatures. We performed the parch analysis of a set of well-studied proteins that include the following─enzymes, immune proteins, and integral membrane proteins, as well as fungal and virus capsid proteins. Since the parch scale evaluates every residue based on its location, a residue may have very different parch values inside a crevice versus a surface bump. Thus, a residue can have a range of parch values (or hydropathies) dictated by the local geometry. The parch scale calculations are computationally inexpensive and can compare hydropathies of different proteins. The parch analysis can affordably and reliably aid in designing nanostructured surfaces, identifying hydrophilic and hydrophobic patches, and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Ji
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Britnie Carpentier
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Arindam Chakraborty
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Shikha Nangia
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
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21
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Pinto-Dueñas DC, Hernández-Guzmán C, Marsch PM, Wadurkar AS, Martín-Tapia D, Alarcón L, Vázquez-Victorio G, Méndez-Méndez JV, Chanona-Pérez JJ, Nangia S, González-Mariscal L. The Role of ZO-2 in Modulating JAM-A and γ-Actin Junctional Recruitment, Apical Membrane and Tight Junction Tension, and Cell Response to Substrate Stiffness and Topography. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2453. [PMID: 38473701 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052453] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This work analyzes the role of the tight junction (TJ) protein ZO-2 on mechanosensation. We found that the lack of ZO-2 reduced apical membrane rigidity measured with atomic force microscopy, inhibited the association of γ-actin and JAM-A to the cell border, and instead facilitated p114RhoGEF and afadin accumulation at the junction, leading to an enhanced mechanical tension at the TJ measured by FRET, with a ZO-1 tension probe, and increased tricellular TJ tension. Simultaneously, adherens junction tension measured with an E-cadherin probe was unaltered. The stability of JAM-A and ZO-2 binding was assessed by a collaborative in silico study. The absence of ZO-2 also impacted the cell response to the substrate, as monolayers plated in 20 kPa hydrogels developed holes not seen in parental cultures and displayed a retarded elongation and formation of cell aggregates. The absence of ZO-2 was sufficient to induce YAP and Snail nuclear accumulation in cells cultured over glass, but when ZO-2 KD cells were plated in nanostructured ridge arrays, they displayed an increased abundance of nuclear Snail and conspicuous internalization of claudin-4. These results indicate that the absence of ZO-2 also impairs the response of cells to substrate stiffness and exacerbates transformation triggered by substrate topography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Cristina Pinto-Dueñas
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Christian Hernández-Guzmán
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Patrick Matthew Marsch
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Anand Sunil Wadurkar
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Dolores Martín-Tapia
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Lourdes Alarcón
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Genaro Vázquez-Victorio
- Physics Department, Science School, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | | | | | - Shikha Nangia
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Lorenza González-Mariscal
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City 07360, Mexico
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22
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Mohamed SK, Karthikeyan S, A Omran O, Ahsin A, Salah H, Mague JT, Al-Salahi R, El Bakri Y. Insights into the crystal structure investigation and virtual screening approach of quinoxaline derivatives as potent against c-Jun N-terminal kinases 1. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-20. [PMID: 38321917 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2305317] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Quinoxaline derivatives are an important class of heterocyclic compounds in which N replaces one or more carbon atoms of the naphthalene ring and exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activities and therapeutic applications. As a result, we were encouraged to explore a new synthetic approach to quinoxaline derivatives. In this work, we synthesized two new derivatives namely, ethyl 4-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-3-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinoxaline-2-carboxylate (2) and 3-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinoxaline-2-carbohydrazide (3) respectively. Their structures were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Hirshfeld surface (HS) analysis is performed to understand the nature and magnitude of intermolecular interactions in the crystal packing. Density functional theory using the wb97xd/def2-TZVP method was chosen to explore their reactivity, electronic stability and optical properties. Charge transfer (CT) and orbital energies were analyzed via natural population analysis (NPA), and frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory. The calculated excellent static hyperpolarizability (βo) indicates nonlinear optical (NLO) properties for 2 and 3. Both compounds show potent activity against c-Jun N-terminal kinases 1 (JNK 1) based on structural activity relationship studies, further subjected to molecular docking, molecular dynamics and ADMET analysis to understand their potential as drug candidates.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaaban K Mohamed
- Chemistry and Environmental Division, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, England
| | - Subramani Karthikeyan
- Center for Healthcare Advancement, Innovation and Research, Vellore Institute of Technology University, Chennai, India
| | - Omran A Omran
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Atazaz Ahsin
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hanan Salah
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Joel T Mague
- Department of Chemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Rashad Al-Salahi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Youness El Bakri
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Chemistry, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
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23
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Mora Lagares L, Pérez-Castillo Y, Novič M. Exploring the dynamics of the ABCB1 membrane transporter P-glycoprotein in the presence of ATP and active/non-active compounds through molecular dynamics simulations. Toxicology 2024; 502:153732. [PMID: 38272384 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette family of transporters that confers multidrug resistance to cancer cells and is actively involved in the pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics of a big variety of drugs. Extensive studies have provided insights into the binding of many compounds, but the precise mechanism of translocation across the membrane remains unknown; in this context, the major challenge has been to understand the basis for its polyspecificity. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of human P-gp (hP-gp) in an explicit membrane-and-water environment were performed to investigate the dynamic behavior of the transporter in the presence of different compounds (active and inactive) in the binding pocket and ATP molecules within the nucleotide binding domains (NBDs). The complexes studied involve four compounds: cyclosporin A (CSA), amiodarone (AMI), pamidronate (APD), and valproic acid (VPA). While CSA and AMI are known to interact with P-gp, APD and VPA do not. The results highlighted how the presence of ATP notably contributed to increased flexibility of key residues in NBD1 of active systems, indicating potential conformational changes activating the translocation mechanism. MD simulations reveal how these domains adapt and respond to the presence of different substrates, as well as the influence of ATP binding on their flexibility. Furthermore, distinctive behavior was observed in the presence of active and inactive compounds, particularly in the arrangement of ATP between NBDs, supporting the proposed nucleotide sandwich dimer mechanism for ATP binding. This study provides comprehensive insights into P-gp behavior with various ligands and ATP, offering implications for drug development, toxicity assessment and demonstrating the validity of the results derived from the MD simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liadys Mora Lagares
- Theory Department, Laboratory for Cheminformatics, National Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Yunierkis Pérez-Castillo
- Bio-Cheminformatics Research Group and Escuela de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Las, Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador
| | - Marjana Novič
- Theory Department, Laboratory for Cheminformatics, National Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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24
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Hosseini AN, van der Spoel D. Martini on the Rocks: Can a Coarse-Grained Force Field Model Crystals? J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:1079-1088. [PMID: 38261634 PMCID: PMC10839907 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Computational chemistry is an important tool in numerous scientific disciplines, including drug discovery and structural biology. Coarse-grained models offer simple representations of molecular systems that enable simulations of large-scale systems. Because there has been an increase in the adoption of such models for simulations of biomolecular systems, critical evaluation is warranted. Here, the stability of the amyloid peptide and organic crystals is evaluated using the Martini 3 coarse-grained force field. The crystals change shape drastically during the simulations. Radial distribution functions show that the distance between backbone beads in β-sheets increases by ∼1 Å, breaking the crystals. The melting points of organic compounds are much too low in the Martini force field. This suggests that Martini 3 lacks the specific interactions needed to accurately simulate peptides or organic crystals without imposing artificial restraints. The problems may be exacerbated by the use of the 12-6 potential, suggesting that a softer potential could improve this model for crystal simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Najla Hosseini
- Department of Cell and Molecular
Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David van der Spoel
- Department of Cell and Molecular
Biology, Uppsala University, Box 596, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
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25
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Nada AA, Metwally AM, Asaad AM, Celik I, Ibrahim RS, Eldin SMS. Synergistic effect of potential alpha-amylase inhibitors from Egyptian propolis with acarbose using in silico and in vitro combination analysis. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:65. [PMID: 38291462 PMCID: PMC10826043 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04348-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: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an affliction impacting the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. An approach used in the management of Type 2 DM involves the use of the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme inhibitor, acarbose. Although acarbose has long been the go-to drug in this key approach, it has become apparent that its side effects negatively impact patient adherence and subsequently, therapeutic outcomes. Similar to acarbose in its mechanism of action, bee propolis, a unique natural adhesive biomass consisting of biologically active metabolites, has been found to have antidiabetic potential through its inhibition of α-amylase. To minimize the need for ultimately novel agents while simultaneously aiming to decrease the side effects of acarbose and enhance its efficacy, combination drug therapy has become a promising pharmacotherapeutic strategy and a focal point of this study. METHODS Computer-aided molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations accompanied by in vitro testing were used to mine novel, pharmacologically active chemical entities from Egyptian propolis to combat Type 2 DM. Glide docking was utilized for a structure-based virtual screening of the largest in-house library of Egyptian propolis metabolites gathered from literature, in addition to GC-MS analysis of the propolis sample under investigation. Thereafter, combination analysis by means of fixed-ratio combinations of acarbose with propolis and the top chosen propolis-derived phytoligand was implemented. RESULTS Aucubin, identified for the first time in propolis worldwide and kaempferol were the most promising virtual hits. Subsequent in vitro α-amylase inhibitory assay demonstrated the ability of these hits to significantly inhibit the enzyme in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 2.37 ± 0.02 mM and 4.84 ± 0.14 mM, respectively. The binary combination of acarbose with each of propolis and kaempferol displayed maximal synergy at lower effect levels. Molecular docking and MD simulations revealed a cooperative binding mode between kaempferol and acarbose within the active site. CONCLUSION The suggested strategy seems imperative to ensure a steady supply of new therapeutic entities sourced from Egyptian propolis to regress the development of DM. Further pharmacological in vivo investigations are required to confirm the potent antidiabetic potential of the studied combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Nada
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alkhartoom Square, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
| | - Aly M Metwally
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alkhartoom Square, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
| | - Aya M Asaad
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alkhartoom Square, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
| | - Ismail Celik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Kayseri, 38039, Turkey
| | - Reham S Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alkhartoom Square, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt.
| | - Safa M Shams Eldin
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alkhartoom Square, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
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26
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Yao J, Hua X, Huo W, Xiao L, Wang Y, Tang Q, Valdivia CR, Valdivia HH, Dong W, Xiao L. The Effect of Acidic Residues on the Binding between Opicalcin1 and Ryanodine Receptor from the Structure-Functional Analysis. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2024; 87:104-112. [PMID: 38128916 PMCID: PMC10825818 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Calcin is a group ligand with high affinity and specificity for the ryanodine receptors (RyRs). Little is known about the effect of its acidic residues on the spacial structure as well as the interaction with RyRs. We screened the opicalcin1 acidic mutants and investigated the effect of mutation on activity. The results indicated that all acidic mutants maintained the structural features, but their surface charge distribution underwent significant changes. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were used to analyze the interaction between opicalcin1 mutants and RyRs, which demonstrated that all opicalcin1 mutants effectively bound to the channel domain of RyR1. This stable binding induced a pronounced asymmetry in the structure of the RyR tetramer, exhibiting a high degree of structural dissimilarity. [3H]Ryanodine binding to RyR1 was enhanced in D2A and D15A, which was similar to opicalcin1, but that effect was suppressed in E12A and E29A and reversed for the DE-4A, thereby inhibiting ryanodine binding. Opicalcin1 and DE-4A also exhibited the ability to form stable docking structures with RyR2. Acidic residues play a crucial role in the structure of calcin and its functional interaction with RyRs that is beneficial for the calcin optimization to develop more active peptide lead compounds for RyR-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinchi Yao
- School
of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian116081, China
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical
University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hua
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical
University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Wenjing Huo
- The
305 Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100017, China
| | - Li Xiao
- Department
of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53188, United States
- Department
of Forensic Toxicological Analysis, West China School of Basic Medical
Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan
University, Chengdu 610017, China
| | - Yongfang Wang
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical
University), Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qinglong Tang
- Central
Medical District of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100120, China
| | - Carmen R. Valdivia
- Department
of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53188, United States
| | - Héctor H. Valdivia
- Department
of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53188, United States
| | - Weibing Dong
- School
of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian116081, China
| | - Liang Xiao
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical
University), Shanghai 200433, China
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27
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Duan M, Song S, Wasserman H, Lee PH, Liu KJ, Gordân R, He Y, Mao P. High UV damage and low repair, but not cytosine deamination, stimulate mutation hotspots at ETS binding sites in melanoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2310854121. [PMID: 38241433 PMCID: PMC10823218 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310854121] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Noncoding mutation hotspots have been identified in melanoma and many of them occur at the binding sites of E26 transformation-specific (ETS) proteins; however, their formation mechanism and functional impacts are not fully understood. Here, we used UV (Ultraviolet) damage sequencing data and analyzed cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) formation, DNA repair, and CPD deamination in human cells at single-nucleotide resolution. Our data show prominent CPD hotspots immediately after UV irradiation at ETS binding sites, particularly at sites with a conserved TTCCGG motif, which correlate with mutation hotspots identified in cutaneous melanoma. Additionally, CPDs are repaired slower at ETS binding sites than in flanking DNA. Cytosine deamination in CPDs to uracil is suggested as an important step for UV mutagenesis. However, we found that CPD deamination is significantly suppressed at ETS binding sites, particularly for the CPD hotspot on the 5' side of the ETS motif, arguing against a role for CPD deamination in promoting ETS-associated UV mutations. Finally, we analyzed a subset of frequently mutated promoters, including the ribosomal protein genes RPL13A and RPS20, and found that mutations in the ETS motif can significantly reduce the promoter activity. Thus, our data identify high UV damage and low repair, but not CPD deamination, as the main mechanism for ETS-associated mutations in melanoma and uncover important roles of often-overlooked mutation hotspots in perturbing gene transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Duan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
| | - Shenghan Song
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
- Translational Informatics Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
| | - Hana Wasserman
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
| | - Po-Hsuen Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
| | - Ke Jian Liu
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY11794-7263
| | - Raluca Gordân
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Computer Science, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
| | - Yi He
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
- Translational Informatics Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
| | - Peng Mao
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM87131
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28
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Petgrave M, Ramgoolam SD, Ganesan A. Deciphering the Molecular Association of Human CRIP1a with an Agonist-Bound Cannabinoid Receptor 1. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:499-517. [PMID: 38159053 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) is a class A G-protein-coupled receptor that plays important roles in several physiological and pathophysiological processes. Therefore, targeted regulation of CB1 activity is a potential therapeutic strategy for several diseases, including neurological disorders. Apart from cannabinoid ligands, CB1 signaling can also be regulated by different CB1-associated proteins. In particular, the cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1a (CRIP1a) associates with an activated CB1 receptor and alters the G-protein selectivity, thereby reducing the agonist-mediated signal transduction of the CB1 receptor. Experimental evidence suggests that two peptides corresponding to the distal and central C-terminal segments of CB1 could interact with CRIP1a. However, our knowledge of the molecular basis of CB1-CRIP1a recognition is still limited. In this work, we use an extensive combination of computational methods to build the first comprehensive atomistic model human CB1-CRIP1a complex. Our model provides novel structural insights into the interactions of CRIP1a with a membrane-embedded, complete, agonist-bound CB1 receptor in humans. Our results highlight the key residues that stabilize the CB1-CRIP1a complex, which will be useful to guide in vitro mutagenesis experiments. Furthermore, our human CB1-CRIP1a complex presents a model system for structure-based drug design to target this physiologically important complex for modulating CB1 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Petgrave
- ArGan'sLab, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2G 1C5, Canada
| | - Shubham Devesh Ramgoolam
- ArGan'sLab, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2G 1C5, Canada
| | - Aravindhan Ganesan
- ArGan'sLab, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2G 1C5, Canada
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29
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Antolínez S, Jones PE, Phillips JC, Hadden-Perilla JA. AMBERff at Scale: Multimillion-Atom Simulations with AMBER Force Fields in NAMD. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:543-554. [PMID: 38176097 PMCID: PMC10806814 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are an essential structural biology technique with increasing application to multimillion-atom systems, including viruses and cellular machinery. Classical MD simulations rely on parameter sets, such as the AMBER family of force fields (AMBERff), to accurately describe molecular motion. Here, we present an implementation of AMBERff for use in NAMD that overcomes previous limitations to enable high-performance, massively parallel simulations encompassing up to two billion atoms. Single-point potential energy comparisons and case studies on model systems demonstrate that the implementation produces results that are as accurate as running AMBERff in its native engine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Antolínez
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Peter Eugene Jones
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - James C. Phillips
- National
Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jodi A. Hadden-Perilla
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
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30
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Liu K, Rotskoff GM, Vanden-Eijnden E, Hocky GM. Computing equilibrium free energies through a nonequilibrium quench. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:034109. [PMID: 38240301 PMCID: PMC10799689 DOI: 10.1063/5.0176700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Many methods to accelerate sampling of molecular configurations are based on the idea that temperature can be used to accelerate rare transitions. These methods typically compute equilibrium properties at a target temperature using reweighting or through Monte Carlo exchanges between replicas at higher temperatures. A recent paper [G. M. Rotskoff and E. Vanden-Eijnden, Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 150602 (2019)] demonstrated that accurate equilibrium densities of states can also be computed through a nonequilibrium "quench" process, where sampling is performed at a higher temperature to encourage rapid mixing and then quenched to lower energy states with dissipative dynamics. Here, we provide an implementation of the quench dynamics in LAMMPS and evaluate a new formulation of nonequilibrium estimators for the computation of partition functions or free energy surfaces (FESs) of molecular systems. We show that the method is exact for a minimal model of N-independent harmonic springs and use these analytical results to develop heuristics for the amount of quenching required to obtain accurate sampling. We then test the quench approach on alanine dipeptide, where we show that it gives an FES that is accurate near the most stable configurations using the quench approach but disagrees with a reference umbrella sampling calculation in high FE regions. We then show that combining quenching with umbrella sampling allows the efficient calculation of the free energy in all regions. Moreover, by using this combined scheme, we obtain the FES across a range of temperatures at no additional cost, making it much more efficient than standard umbrella sampling if this information is required. Finally, we discuss how this approach can be extended to solute tempering and demonstrate that it is highly accurate for the case of solvated alanine dipeptide without any additional modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grant M. Rotskoff
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Eric Vanden-Eijnden
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, New York 10012, USA
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Alghamdi MA, Azam F, Alam P. Deciphering Campylobacter jejuni DsbA1 protein dynamics in the presence of anti-virulent compounds: a multi-pronged computer-aided approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38230450 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2302945] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The current study aims to evaluate Asinex library compounds against Campylobacter jejuni DsbA1 protein, a thiol disulfide oxidoreductase enzyme that plays a major role in the oxidative folding of bacterial virulence proteins, making it a promising anti-viral drug target. By employing several techniques of computer-aided drug design, BDC25697459, BDD33601083, and BDC30129064 were identified with binding energy scores of -8.8 kcal/mol, -8.8 kcal/mol, and -8.3 kcal/mol, respectively. However, the control molecule, tetraethylene glycol, exhibited a binding energy score of -7.0 kcal/mol. The control, BDD33601083, and BDC30129064 were unveiled to bind the same co-crystallized binding site (pocket 1), while BDC25697459 interacted with a new binding pocket (pocket 2) adjacent to the control binding region. The molecular dynamics simulation showed that complexes exhibit stable dynamics without significant global or residue-level fluctuations. The average RMSD values were in the range of 2.07 Å-2.45 Å. Similarly, mean RMSF was recorded between 1.30 and 1.42 Å. The C. jejuni DsbA1 was also observed as compact in the presence of the compounds, showing a mean RoG value in the range of 16.42 Å-16.55 Å. In terms of MM/PBSA binding energy, the BDC30129064 complex was ranked top with -44.88 ± 4.14 kcal/mol, whereas the positive control molecule exhibited -22.22 ± 3.33 kcal/mol. From a pharmacokinetic perspective, the compounds are suitable candidates for clinical trial investigation. Preliminary computational analysis of these virtual hits indicates that these compounds have a low potential for ADME and toxicity-associated liabilities. In summary, the compounds displayed a high affinity for the C. jejuni DsbA1 protein, indicating potential efficacy that requires further investigation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mashael A Alghamdi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faizul Azam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Prawez Alam
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia
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Zhang X, Guseinov AA, Jenkins L, Li K, Tikhonova IG, Milligan G, Zhang C. Structural basis for the ligand recognition and signaling of free fatty acid receptors. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj2384. [PMID: 38198545 PMCID: PMC10780892 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj2384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Free fatty acid receptors 1 to 4 (FFA1 to FFA4) are class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). FFA1 to FFA3 share substantial sequence similarity, whereas FFA4 is unrelated. However, FFA1 and FFA4 are activated by long-chain fatty acids, while FFA2 and FFA3 respond to short-chain fatty acids generated by intestinal microbiota. FFA1, FFA2, and FFA4 are potential drug targets for metabolic and inflammatory conditions. Here, we determined the active structures of FFA1 and FFA4 bound to docosahexaenoic acid, FFA4 bound to the synthetic agonist TUG-891, and butyrate-bound FFA2, each complexed with an engineered heterotrimeric Gq protein (miniGq), by cryo-electron microscopy. Together with computational simulations and mutagenesis studies, we elucidated the similarities and differences in the binding modes of fatty acid ligands to their respective GPCRs. Our findings unveiled distinct mechanisms of receptor activation and G protein coupling. We anticipate that these outcomes will facilitate structure-based drug development and underpin future research on this group of GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Abdul-Akim Guseinov
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Laura Jenkins
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK
| | - Kunpeng Li
- Cryo-EM Core Facility, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Irina G. Tikhonova
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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Kumar M, Haque MA, Kaur P. Computational and Biophysical Approaches to Identify Cell Wall-Associated Modulators in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2727:35-55. [PMID: 37815707 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3491-2_4] [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] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
An increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens, in recent times, has posed a great challenge for treating the affected patients. This has paved the way for the development and design of antibiotics against the previously less explored newer targets. Among these, peptidoglycan (PG) biosynthesis serves as a promising target for the design and development of novel drugs. The peptidoglycan cell wall synthesis in bacteria is essential for its viability. The enzyme class, Mur ligases, plays a key role in PG biosynthesis. Therefore, compounds with the ability to inhibit these enzymes (Mur ligase) can serve as potential candidates for developing small modulators. The enzyme, UDP-N-acetyl pyruvyl-glucosamine reductase (MurB), is essential for PG biosynthesis, a crucial part of the bacterial cell wall. The development of novel drugs to treat infections may thus focus on inhibiting MurB function. Understanding the mechanism of action of Mur B is central to developing efficient inhibitors. For the treatment of S. typhi infections, it is also critical to find therapeutic drugs that specifically target MurB. The enzyme Mur B from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (stMurB) was expressed and purified for biophysical characterization to gauge the molecular interactions and estimate thermodynamic stability, for determining attributes for possible therapeutic intervention. The thermal melting profile of MurB was monitored by circular dichroism (CD) and validated by performing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An in silico virtual screening of various natural inhibitors was conducted with modelled stMurB structure. The three top hits (quercetin, berberine, and scopoletin) obtained from in silico screening were validated for complex stability through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Further, fluorescence binding studies were undertaken for the selected natural inhibitors with stMurB alone and with its NADPH-bound form. The natural inhibitors, scopoletin and berberine, displayed lesser binding to stMurB compared to quercetin. Also, a stronger binding affinity was exhibited between quercetin and stMurB compared to NADPH and stMurB. Based on the above two findings, quercetin can be developed as an inhibitor of stMurB enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Kumar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Md Anzarul Haque
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Punit Kaur
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Khan MA, Shahid M, Celik I, Khan HM, Shahzad A, Husain FM, Adil M. Attenuation of quorum sensing regulated virulence functions and biofilm of pathogenic bacteria by medicinal plant Artemisia annua and its phytoconstituent 1, 8-cineole. Microsc Res Tech 2024; 87:133-148. [PMID: 37728140 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24418] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in bacterial pathogens is a serious public health concern. A significant therapeutic target for MDR infections is the quorum sensing-regulated bacterial pathogenicity. Determining the anti-quorum sensing abilities of certain medicinal plants against bacterial pathogens as well as the in-silico interactions of particular bioactive phytocompounds with QS and biofilm-associated proteins were the objectives of the present study. In this study, 6 medicinal plants were selected based on their ethnopharmacological usage, screened for Anti-QS activity and Artemisia annua leaf extract (AALE) demonstrated pigment inhibitory activity against Chromobacterium violaceum CV12472. Further, the methanol active fraction significantly inhibited the virulence factors (pyocyanin, pyoverdine, rhamnolipid and swarming motility) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Serratia marcescens MTCC 97 at respective sub-MICs. The inhibition of biofilm was determined using a microtiter plate test and scanning electron microscopy. Biofilm formation was impaired by 70%, 72% and 74% in P. aeruginosa, C. violaceum and S. marcescens, respectively at 0.5xMIC of the extract. The phytochemical content of the extract was studied using GC-MS and 1, 8-cineole was identified as major bioactive compound. Furthermore, 1, 8-cineole was docked with quorum sensing (QS) proteins (LasI, LasR, CviR, and rhlR) and biofilm proteins (PilY1 and PilT). In silico docking and dynamics simulations studies suggested interactions with QS-receptors CviR', LasI, LasR, and biofilm proteins PilY1, PilT for anti-QS activity. Further, 1, 8-cineole demonstrated 66% and 51% reduction in violacein production and biofilm formation, respectively to validate the findings of computational analysis. Findings of the present investigation suggests that 1, 8-cineole plays a crucial role in the QS and biofilm inhibitory activity demonstrated by Artemisia annua extract. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Artemisia annua leaf extract (AALE) methanol fraction demonstrated broad-spectrum QS and biofilm inhibition Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed biofilm inhibition Molecular docking and simulation studies suggested positive interactions of 1,8-cineol with QS-receptors and biofilm proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Ahamad Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mohammad Shahid
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Medical Science, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Ismail Celik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Haris M Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Anwar Shahzad
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Fohad Mabood Husain
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Adil
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Herz AM, Kellici T, Morao I, Michel J. Alchemical Free Energy Workflows for the Computation of Protein-Ligand Binding Affinities. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2716:241-264. [PMID: 37702943 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3449-3_11] [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] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Alchemical free energy methods can be used for the efficient computation of relative binding free energies during preclinical drug discovery stages. In recent years, this has been facilitated further by the implementation of workflows that enable non-experts to quickly and consistently set up the required simulations. Given the correct input structures, workflows handle the difficult aspects of setting up perturbations, including consistently defining the perturbable molecule, its atom mapping and topology generation, perturbation network generation, running of the simulations via different sampling methods, and analysis of the results. Different academic and commercial workflows are discussed, including FEW, FESetup, FEPrepare, CHARMM-GUI, Transformato, PMX, QLigFEP, TIES, ProFESSA, PyAutoFEP, BioSimSpace, FEP+, Flare, and Orion. These workflows differ in various aspects, such as mapping algorithms or enhanced sampling methods. Some workflows can accommodate more than one molecular dynamics (MD) engine and use external libraries for tasks. Differences between workflows can present advantages for different use cases, however a lack of interoperability of the workflows' components hinders systematic comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Herz
- EaStChem School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tahsin Kellici
- Evotec (UK) Ltd., In Silico Research and Development, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK
- Merck & Co., Inc., Modelling and Informatics, West Point, PA, USA
| | - Inaki Morao
- Evotec (UK) Ltd., In Silico Research and Development, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Julien Michel
- EaStChem School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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Nikolaev A, Tropina EV, Boldyrev KN, Maksimov EG, Borshchevskiy V, Mishin A, Yudenko A, Kuzmin A, Kuznetsova E, Semenov O, Remeeva A, Gushchin I. Two distinct mechanisms of flavoprotein spectral tuning revealed by low-temperature and time-dependent spectroscopy. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4851. [PMID: 38038877 PMCID: PMC10731561 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Flavins such as flavin mononucleotide or flavin adenine dinucleotide are bound by diverse proteins, yet have very similar spectra when in the oxidized state. Recently, we developed new variants of flavin-binding protein CagFbFP exhibiting notable blue (Q148V) or red (I52V A85Q) shifts of fluorescence emission maxima. Here, we use time-resolved and low-temperature spectroscopy to show that whereas the chromophore environment is static in Q148V, an additional protein-flavin hydrogen bond is formed upon photoexcitation in the I52V A85Q variant. Consequently, in Q148V, excitation, emission, and phosphorescence spectra are shifted, whereas in I52V A85Q, excitation and low-temperature phosphorescence spectra are relatively unchanged, while emission spectrum is altered. We also determine the x-ray structures of the two variants to reveal the flavin environment and complement the spectroscopy data. Our findings illustrate two distinct color-tuning mechanisms of flavin-binding proteins and could be helpful for the engineering of new variants with improved optical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Nikolaev
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age‐Related DiseasesMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyDolgoprudnyRussia
| | - Elena V. Tropina
- Institute of Spectroscopy RASTroitskMoscowRussia
- National Research University Higher School of EconomicsMoscowRussia
| | | | | | - Valentin Borshchevskiy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age‐Related DiseasesMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyDolgoprudnyRussia
| | - Alexey Mishin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age‐Related DiseasesMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyDolgoprudnyRussia
| | - Anna Yudenko
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age‐Related DiseasesMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyDolgoprudnyRussia
| | - Alexander Kuzmin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age‐Related DiseasesMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyDolgoprudnyRussia
| | - Elizaveta Kuznetsova
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age‐Related DiseasesMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyDolgoprudnyRussia
| | - Oleg Semenov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age‐Related DiseasesMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyDolgoprudnyRussia
| | - Alina Remeeva
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age‐Related DiseasesMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyDolgoprudnyRussia
| | - Ivan Gushchin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age‐Related DiseasesMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyDolgoprudnyRussia
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37
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Almeida ER, Goliatt PVZC, Dos Santos HF, Picaud F. Modeling the Cellular Uptake of Functionalized Carbon Nanohorns Loaded with Cisplatin through a Breast Cancer Cell Membrane. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:38-52. [PMID: 37646561 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00379] [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] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
The cisplatin encapsulation into carbon nanohorns (CNH) is a promising nanoformulation to circumvent the drug dissipation and to specifically accumulate it in tumor sites. Herein, biased molecular dynamics simulations were used to analyze the transmembrane transport of the CNH loaded with cisplatin through a breast cancer cell membrane prototype. The simulations revealed a four-stage mechanism: approach, insertion, permeation, and internalization. Despite the lowest structural disturbance of the membrane provided by the nanocarrier, the average free energy barrier for the translocation was 55.2 kcal mol-1, suggesting that the passive process is kinetically unfavorable. In contrast, the free energy profiles revealed potential wells of -6.8 kcal mol-1 along the insertion stage in the polar heads region of the membrane, which might enhance the retention of the drug in tumor sites; therefore, the most likely cisplatin delivery mechanism should involve the adsorption and retention of CNH on the surface of cancer cells, allowing the loaded cisplatin be slowly released and passively transported through the cell membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo R Almeida
- Núcleo de Estudos em Química Computacional (NEQC), Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Campus Universitário, Martelos, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-330, Brazil
- Laboratoire de Nanomédecine, Imagerie et Thérapeutiques, EA 4662, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, Université de Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, Cedex, France
| | - Priscila V Z Capriles Goliatt
- Grupo de Modelagem Computacional Aplicada (GMCA), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Modelagem Computacional (PGMC), Departamento de Ciência da Computação, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Campus Universitário, Martelos, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-330, Brazil
| | - Hélio F Dos Santos
- Núcleo de Estudos em Química Computacional (NEQC), Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Campus Universitário, Martelos, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais 36036-330, Brazil
| | - Fabien Picaud
- Laboratoire de Nanomédecine, Imagerie et Thérapeutiques, EA 4662, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, Université de Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, Cedex, France
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38
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Barbhuiya TK, Jayarathna DK, Gilmour R, Smet-Nocca C, Gandhi NS. Characterization of Posttranslationally Modified PHF-1 Tau Peptides Using Gaussian Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:3-31. [PMID: 38512658 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_1] [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] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein, Tau, is an intrinsically disordered protein that plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. The posttranslational modifications across the Tau protein domains are involved in regulating Tau protein's function and disease onset. Of the various posttranslational modifications at Ser, Thr, and Tyr sites, O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation are the most critical ones, playing a vital role in Tau aggregation and tauopathies. To understand the function, it is essential to characterize the structural changes associated with Tau modification. Previous experimental studies have focused on high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance techniques to structurally characterize the effect of phosphorylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and combination of both PTMs on Tau conformation in small peptides centered on the PHF-1 epitope from amino acid 392 to 411. The structural characterization using atomistic molecular dynamics simulation of such disordered peptides requires long simulation time, proper sampling method, and utilization of appropriate force fields for accurate determination of conformational ensembles, resembling the experimental data. This chapter details the protocol for the structural characterization of modified Tau peptides using the CHARMM36m force field and enhanced sampling methods like Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) simulation. We have focused on a detailed explanation of the GaMD method and analyses of molecular dynamics trajectories to explain the relationship between two modifications, phospho- and glyco-, at C-terminus of Tau protein and its stable conformation over the longer simulation timeframes. The analyses involve energetics reweighting, clustering of simulation trajectories, and characterization of secondary structure using circular dichroism data from the simulation. The reader can utilize this protocol to investigate the structures of complex proteins, especially the disordered ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabassum Khair Barbhuiya
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Dulari K Jayarathna
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Raechelle Gilmour
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Caroline Smet-Nocca
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Neha S Gandhi
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
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Bilget Guven E, Durmaz Sahin I, Altiparmak D, Servili B, Essiz S, Cetin-Atalay R, Tuncbilek M. Newly synthesized 6-substituted piperazine/phenyl-9-cyclopentyl containing purine nucleobase analogs act as potent anticancer agents and induce apoptosis via inhibiting Src in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:2658-2676. [PMID: 38107180 PMCID: PMC10718522 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00440f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Newly synthesized 6-substituted piperazine/phenyl-9-cyclopentyl-containing purine nucleobase analogs were tested for their in vitro anticancer activity against human cancer cells. Compounds 15, 17-24, 49, and 56 with IC50 values less than 10 μM were selected for further examination on an enlarged panel of liver cancer cell lines. Experiments revealed that compound 19 utilizes its high cytotoxic potential (IC50 < 5 μM) to induce apoptosis in vitro. Compound 19 displayed a KINOMEscan selectivity score S35 of 0.02 and S10 of 0.01 and demonstrated a significant selectivity against anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) over other kinases. Compounds 19, 21, 22, 23, and 56 complexed with ALK, BTK, and (discoidin domain-containing receptor 2) DDR2 were analyzed structurally for binding site interactions and binding affinities via molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Compounds 19 and 56 displayed similar interactions with the activation loop of the kinases, while only compound 19 reached toward the multiple subsites of the active site. Cell cycle and signaling pathway analyses exhibited that compound 19 decreases phosho-Src, phospho-Rb, cyclin E, and cdk2 levels in liver cancer cells, eventually inducing apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebru Bilget Guven
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University 06560, Yenimahalle Ankara Turkey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Kadir Has University 34083, Cibali-Fatih Istanbul Turkey
| | - Irem Durmaz Sahin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Bilkent University 06800, Bilkent Ankara Turkey
- School of Medicine, Koc University 34450, Sarıyer İstanbul Turkey
| | - Duygu Altiparmak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University 06560, Yenimahalle Ankara Turkey
| | - Burak Servili
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Bioinformatics and Genetics Program, Kadir Has University Fatih 34083 Istanbul Turkey
| | - Sebnem Essiz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Kadir Has University 34083, Cibali-Fatih Istanbul Turkey
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Bioinformatics and Genetics Program, Kadir Has University Fatih 34083 Istanbul Turkey
| | - Rengul Cetin-Atalay
- Cancer System Biology Laboratory, CanSyL, Graduate School of Informatics, Middle East Technical University 06800 Ankara Turkey
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Chicago Chicago IL 60637 USA
| | - Meral Tuncbilek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University 06560, Yenimahalle Ankara Turkey
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Winkler L, Galindo-Murillo R, Cheatham TE. Assessment of A- to B- DNA Transitions Utilizing the Drude Polarizable Force Field. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:8955-8966. [PMID: 38014857 PMCID: PMC10720382 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c01002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
In addition to the well-characterized B-form of DNA, duplex DNA can adopt various conformations, such as A or Z-DNA. Though less common, these structures can be induced biologically through protein or ligand interactions or experimentally with niche environmental conditions, such as high salt concentrations or in mixed water-ethanol. Reproducing these alternate structures through molecular dynamics simulations in recent years has been quite challenging with the currently available force fields, simulation techniques, and time scales. In this study, the Drude polarizable force field is tested for its ability to facilitate transitions between A-DNA and B-DNA or maintain A-DNA. Though transitions away from B-DNA were observed in high concentrations of ethanol, the resulting structures had hybrid properties taken from both B-DNA and A-DNA structures. This was also true for A-DNA in ethanol, which lost some of the A-DNA properties that it was expected to maintain. When B-DNA was tested in high salt environments, the resulting B-DNA structures showed no distinguishable differences with the increasing salt concentrations tested. These results with the Drude FF and recent results with additive force fields suggest that at present the current additive and polarizable force fields do not facilitate a complete transition between B- to A-DNA conformations under the conditions simulated. At present, the Drude FF favors A-B DNA hybrid structures when simulated in nonphysiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Winkler
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 2000 East 30 South Skaggs 306, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112,United States
| | - Rodrigo Galindo-Murillo
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Thomas E. Cheatham
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 2000 East 30 South Skaggs 306, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112,United States
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41
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Do HN, Malvankar SR, Wolfe MS, Miao Y. Molecular Dynamics Activation of γ-Secretase for Cleavage of the Notch1 Substrate. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:4216-4226. [PMID: 37942767 PMCID: PMC10900880 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00594] [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] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-Secretase is an intramembrane aspartyl protease complex that cleaves the transmembrane domain of over 150 peptide substrates, including amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the Notch family of receptors, via two conserved aspartates D257 and D385 in the presenilin-1 (PS1) catalytic subunit. However, while the activation of γ-secretase for cleavage of APP has been widely studied, the cleavage of Notch by γ-secretase remains poorly explored. Here, we combined Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) simulations and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of proteolytic products to present the first dynamic models for cleavage of Notch by γ-secretase. MS showed that γ-secretase cleaved the WT Notch at Notch residue G34, while cleavage of the L36F mutant Notch occurred at Notch residue C33. Initially, we prepared our simulation systems starting from the cryoEM structure of Notch-bound γ-secretase (PDB: 6IDF) and failed to capture the proper cleavages of WT and L36F Notch by γ-secretase. We then discovered an incorrect registry of the Notch substrate in the PS1 active site through alignment of the experimental structure of Notch-bound (PDB: 6IDF) and APP-bound γ-secretase (PDB: 6IYC). Every residue of the APP substrate was systematically mutated to the corresponding Notch residue to prepare a resolved model of Notch-bound γ-secretase complexes. GaMD simulations of the resolved model successfully captured γ-secretase activation for proper cleavages of both WT and L36F mutant Notch. Our findings presented here provided mechanistic insights into the structural dynamics and enzyme-substrate interactions required for γ-secretase activation for cleavage of Notch and other substrates.
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42
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Pathak Y, Camps I, Mishra A, Tripathi V. Targeting notch signaling pathway in breast cancer stem cells through drug repurposing approach. Mol Divers 2023; 27:2431-2440. [PMID: 36376717 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-022-10561-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: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is recognized globally as one of the leading causes of malignant morbidity. It is a heterogeneous disease that accounts for 30 percent of all women diagnosed with cancer. To bring an anti-cancer drug from the bench to the bedside is an expensive and time-consuming process. The drug repurposing approach targets new enemies (new diseases) with old weapons (known drugs). The present study identified an FDA-approved drug targeting the γ-secretase complex involved in the Notch signaling pathway in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). A literature survey and in-silico study identified Venetoclax as a γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) from 1615 FDA-approved drug compounds. In-silico docking potential of Venetoclax was better than the standard γ-secretase inhibitor RO4929097. Also, the molecular dynamics simulations of 200 ns confirmed the stability of the Venetoclax-γ-secretase complex. These findings suggest that the use of Venetoclax represents a potential γ-secretase inhibitor in breast cancer stem cells. Eventually, the in vitro and clinical evaluation will be needed to confirm the potential chemopreventive and treatment effects of Venetoclax against breast cancer and breast cancer stem cells. Venetoclax appeared as the most promising drug of the 1615 FDA-approved drugs. Our in-silico findings suggest that Venetoclax may act as a γ-secretase inhibitor against the Notch signaling pathway in breast cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamini Pathak
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India
| | - Ihosvany Camps
- Laboratório de Modelagem Computacional - LaModel, Instituto de Ciências Exatas - ICEx, Universidade Federal de Alfenas - UNIFAL-MG, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- High Performance & Quantum Computing Labs, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Amaresh Mishra
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India
| | - Vishwas Tripathi
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India.
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43
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Srole DN, Jung G, Waring AJ, Nemeth E, Ganz T. Characterization of erythroferrone structural domains relevant to its iron-regulatory function. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105374. [PMID: 37866631 PMCID: PMC10692919 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron delivery to the plasma is closely coupled to erythropoiesis, the production of red blood cells, as this process consumes most of the circulating plasma iron. In response to hemorrhage and other erythropoietic stresses, increased erythropoietin stimulates the production of the hormone erythroferrone (ERFE) by erythrocyte precursors (erythroblasts) developing in erythropoietic tissues. ERFE acts on the liver to inhibit bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling and thereby decrease hepcidin production. Decreased circulating hepcidin concentrations then allow the release of iron from stores and increase iron absorption from the diet. Guided by evolutionary analysis and Alphafold2 protein complex modeling, we used targeted ERFE mutations, deletions, and synthetic ERFE segments together with cell-based bioassays and surface plasmon resonance to probe the structural features required for bioactivity and BMP binding. We define the ERFE active domain and multiple structural features that act together to entrap BMP ligands. In particular, the hydrophobic helical segment 81 to 86 and specifically the highly conserved tryptophan W82 in the N-terminal region are essential for ERFE bioactivity and Alphafold2 modeling places W82 between two tryptophans in its ligands BMP2, BMP6, and the BMP2/6 heterodimer, an interaction similar to those that bind BMPs to their cognate receptors. Finally, we identify the cationic region 96-107 and the globular TNFα-like domain 186-354 as structural determinants of ERFE multimerization that increase the avidity of ERFE for BMP ligands. Collectively, our results provide further insight into the ERFE-mediated inhibition of BMP signaling in response to erythropoietic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel N Srole
- Department of Medicine, Center for Iron Disorders, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA; Molecular and Medical Pharmacology Graduate Program, Graduate Programs in Bioscience, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Grace Jung
- Department of Medicine, Center for Iron Disorders, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alan J Waring
- Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Lundquist Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Elizabeta Nemeth
- Department of Medicine, Center for Iron Disorders, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tomas Ganz
- Department of Medicine, Center for Iron Disorders, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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44
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Hassan SS, Shams R, Camps I, Basharat Z, Sohail S, Khan Y, Ullah A, Irfan M, Ali J, Bilal M, Morel CM. Subtractive sequence analysis aided druggable targets mining in Burkholderia cepacia complex and finding inhibitors through bioinformatics approach. Mol Divers 2023; 27:2823-2847. [PMID: 36567421 PMCID: PMC9790820 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-022-10584-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is a group of gram-negative bacteria composed of at least 20 different species that cause diseases in plants, animals as well as humans (cystic fibrosis and airway infection). Here, we analyzed the proteomic data of 47 BCC strains by classifying them in three groups. Phylogenetic analyses were performed followed by individual core region identification for each group. Comparative analysis of the three individual core protein fractions resulted in 1766 ortholog/proteins. Non-human homologous proteins from the core region gave 1680 proteins. Essential protein analyses reduced the target list to 37 proteins, which were further compared to a closely related out-group, Burkholderia gladioli ATCC 10,248 strain, resulting in 21 proteins. 3D structure modeling, validation, and druggability step gave six targets that were subjected to further target prioritization parameters which ultimately resulted in two BCC targets. A library of 12,000 ZINC drug-like compounds was screened, where only the top hits were selected for docking orientations. These included ZINC01405842 (against Chorismate synthase aroC) and ZINC06055530 (against Bifunctional N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase/Glucosamine-1-phosphate acetyltransferase glmU). Finally, dynamics simulation (200 ns) was performed for each ligand-receptor complex, followed by ADMET profiling. Of these targets, details of their applicability as drug targets have not yet been elucidated experimentally, hence making our predictions novel and it is suggested that further wet-lab experimentations should be conducted to test the identified BCC targets and ZINC scaffolds to inhibit them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Shah Hassan
- Jamil–ur–Rehman Center for Genome Research, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
- Centre for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Building “Expansão”, 8th Floor Room 814, Av. Brasil 4036, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-361 Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar, 25000 KP Pakistan
| | - Rida Shams
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar, 25000 KP Pakistan
| | - Ihosvany Camps
- Laboratório de Modelagem Computacional—LaModel, Instituto de Ciências Exatas—ICEx. Universidade Federal de Alfenas—UNIFAL-MG, Alfenas, Minas Gerais Brazil
- High Performance & Quantum Computing Labs, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Zarrin Basharat
- Jamil–ur–Rehman Center for Genome Research, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
| | - Saman Sohail
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar, 25000 KP Pakistan
| | - Yasmin Khan
- Jamil–ur–Rehman Center for Genome Research, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
| | - Asad Ullah
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar, 25000 KP Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- Jamil–ur–Rehman Center for Genome Research, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270 Pakistan
| | - Javed Ali
- Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science & Technology–KUST, Kohat, KP Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science & Technology–KUST, Kohat, KP Pakistan
| | - Carlos M. Morel
- Centre for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Building “Expansão”, 8th Floor Room 814, Av. Brasil 4036, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-361 Brazil
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45
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Pierce M, Ji J, Novak SX, Sieburg MA, Nangia S, Nangia S, Hougland JL. Combined Computational-Biochemical Approach Offers an Accelerated Path to Membrane Protein Solubilization. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7159-7170. [PMID: 37939203 PMCID: PMC10685452 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Membrane proteins are difficult to isolate and purify due to their dependence on the surrounding lipid membrane for structural stability. Detergents are often used to solubilize these proteins, with this approach requiring a careful balance between protein solubilization and denaturation. Determining which detergent is most appropriate for a given protein has largely been done empirically through screening, which requires large amounts of membrane protein and associated resources. Here, we describe an alternative to conventional detergent screening using a computational modeling approach to identify the most likely candidate detergents for solubilizing a protein of interest. We demonstrate our approach using ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT), a member of the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase family of integral membrane enzymes that has not been solubilized or purified in active form. A computationally derived GOAT structural model provides the only structural information required for this approach. Using computational analysis of detergent ability to penetrate phospholipid bilayers and stabilize the GOAT structure, a panel of common detergents were rank-ordered for their proposed ability to solubilize GOAT. The simulations were performed at all-atom resolution for a combined simulation time of 24 μs. Independently, we biologically screened these detergents for their solubilization of fluorescently tagged GOAT constructs. We found computational prediction of protein structural stabilization was the better predictor of detergent solubilization ability, but neither approach was effective for predicting detergents that would support GOAT enzymatic function. The current rapid expansion of membrane protein computational models lacking experimental structural information and our computational detergent screening approach can greatly improve the efficiency of membrane protein detergent solubilization, supporting downstream functional and structural studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariah
R. Pierce
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Jingjing Ji
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Sadie X. Novak
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Michelle A. Sieburg
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Shivangi Nangia
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, United States
| | - Shikha Nangia
- Department
of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- BioInspired
Syracuse, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - James L. Hougland
- Department
of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- BioInspired
Syracuse, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
- Department
of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
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46
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Khan MR, Khan MS, Manoharan R, Karthikeyan S, Alhosaini K, Odeibat HAM, Ahmad MDI, Al-Okail M, Al-Twaijry N. Inhibitory Potential of Carnosine and Aminoguanidine Towards Glycation and Fibrillation of Albumin: In-vitro and Simulation Studies. J Fluoresc 2023:10.1007/s10895-023-03485-9. [PMID: 37971607 DOI: 10.1007/s10895-023-03485-9] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Carnosine is beta-alanyl histidine, a dipeptide, endogenously produced in our body by the carnosine synthase enzyme. It is an antioxidant, thus protecting from the deleterious effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Similarly, aminoguanidine (AG) also prevents AGEs formation by scavenging free radicals such as reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive carbonyl species (RCS). This study used experimental and computational techniques to perform a comparative analysis of carnosine and AG and their inhibiting properties against glycated human serum albumin (HSA). Fructose-mediated glycation of albumin produced fluorescent structures, such as pentosidine and malondialdehyde. These AGEs were significantly reduced by carnosine and AG. At 20 mM, carnosine and AG quenches pentosidine fluorescence by 66% and 83%, respectively. A similar inhibitory effect was observed for malondialdehyde. Protein hydrophobicity and tryptophan fluorescence were restored in the presence of carnosine and AG. Aminoguanidine decreased fibrillation in HSA, while carnosine did not significantly affect aggregation/fibrillation. In addition, molecular docking study observed binding scores of -5.90 kcal/mol and -2.59 kcal/mol by HSA-aminoguanidine and HSA-carnosine complex, respectively. Aminoguanidine forms one conventional hydrogen bond with ARG A:10 and a salt bridge with ASP A:13, ASP A:259, ASP A:255, and ASP A:256 from the amine group. Similarly, carnosine forms only hydrogen bonds with GLU A:501 and GLN A:508 from the amine and hydroxy group. The root mean square deviation (RMSD) calculated from simulation studies was 1 nm upto 70 ns for the HSA-aminoguanidine complex and the spectrum of HSA-carnosine was significantly deviated and not stabilized. The superior inhibitory activity of aminoguanidine could be due to additional salt bridge bonding with albumin. Conclusively, aminoguanidine can be the better treatment choice for diabetes-associated neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Rashid Khan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Shahnawaz Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rupavarshini Manoharan
- Division of Physics, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology University, Chennai Campus, Chennai, 600127, India
| | - Subramani Karthikeyan
- Centre for Healthcare Advancement, Innovation and Research, Vellore Institute of Technology University, Chennai Campus, Chennai, 600127, India
| | - Khaled Alhosaini
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - M D Irshad Ahmad
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, UTHEALTH Science Centre, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Majed Al-Okail
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nojood Al-Twaijry
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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47
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Srivastava D, Patra N. Enhanced Uptake of Anticancer C6-Pep Dimer in a Model Membrane Caused by Differential p Ka in Acidic Microenvironment. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9747-9758. [PMID: 37776281 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) presents a challenge for the action of antitumor drugs by acting as an additional barrier for the passive crossing of the cell membrane by chemotherapic agents playing a critical role in the proliferation of tumor cells. Anticancer lipopeptide C6-Pep dimer containing the leucine zipper motif shows an increased uptake into the model tumor membrane in TME, and application of external heat might lead to the uncoiling of the zipper, which could result in cell lysis. This work investigated the cause of this increased uptake of C6-Pep dimer into the bilayer model in TME. Accurate protonation states of all the titratable residues of the C6-Pep dimer in TME were determined using constant pH molecular dynamics. In TME, except for two terminal Glu5 residues, all other Glu residues in the C6-Pep dimer were permanently protonated. The remaining Glu5 residues had differential pKa values, leading to the construction of four possible dimers with different fixed protonation states, and molecular dynamics was used to study their interaction with the anionic bilayer. Except for the dimer at a physiological pH, the other dimers were positively charged and could readily adsorb on the membrane surface. The free energy of insertion of these dimers in the bilayer was lower for single and double protonated Glu5-containing dimers than for the others. After the insertion of the lipopeptides into the membrane, thinning of the bilayer in the vicinity of dimers and an increase in area per lipid of the bilayer were observed for all systems, indicating destabilization of the bilayer due to this intercalation. This study shows that the anticancer lipopeptide C6-Pep utilizes the TME around a tumor cell for insertion into the membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diship Srivastava
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, Dhanbad 826004, India
| | - Niladri Patra
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, Dhanbad 826004, India
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48
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Amith W, Dutagaci B. Complex Conformational Space of the RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain upon Phosphorylation. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9223-9235. [PMID: 37870995 PMCID: PMC10626582 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c02655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) have been closely studied during the past decade due to their importance in many biological processes. The disordered nature of this group of proteins makes it difficult to observe its full span of the conformational space using either experimental or computational studies. In this article, we explored the conformational space of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (Pol II), which is also an intrinsically disordered low complexity domain, using enhanced sampling methods. We provided a detailed conformational analysis of model systems of CTD with different lengths; first with the last 44 residues of the human CTD sequence and finally the CTD model with 2-heptapeptide repeating units. We then investigated the effects of phosphorylation on CTD conformations by performing simulations at different phosphorylated states. We obtained broad conformational spaces in nonphosphorylated CTD models, and phosphorylation has complex effects on the conformations of the CTD. These complex effects depend on the length of the CTD, spacing between the multiple phosphorylation sites, ion coordination, and interactions with the nearby residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weththasinghage
D. Amith
- Department of Molecular and
Cell Biology, University of California,
Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Bercem Dutagaci
- Department of Molecular and
Cell Biology, University of California,
Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
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49
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Di Felice R, Mayes ML, Richard RM, Williams-Young DB, Chan GKL, de Jong WA, Govind N, Head-Gordon M, Hermes MR, Kowalski K, Li X, Lischka H, Mueller KT, Mutlu E, Niklasson AMN, Pederson MR, Peng B, Shepard R, Valeev EF, van Schilfgaarde M, Vlaisavljevich B, Windus TL, Xantheas SS, Zhang X, Zimmerman PM. A Perspective on Sustainable Computational Chemistry Software Development and Integration. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:7056-7076. [PMID: 37769271 PMCID: PMC10601486 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
The power of quantum chemistry to predict the ground and excited state properties of complex chemical systems has driven the development of computational quantum chemistry software, integrating advances in theory, applied mathematics, and computer science. The emergence of new computational paradigms associated with exascale technologies also poses significant challenges that require a flexible forward strategy to take full advantage of existing and forthcoming computational resources. In this context, the sustainability and interoperability of computational chemistry software development are among the most pressing issues. In this perspective, we discuss software infrastructure needs and investments with an eye to fully utilize exascale resources and provide unique computational tools for next-generation science problems and scientific discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Di Felice
- Departments
of Physics and Astronomy and Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
- CNR-NANO
Modena, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Maricris L. Mayes
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts 02747, United States
| | | | | | - Garnet Kin-Lic Chan
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Wibe A. de Jong
- Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Niranjan Govind
- Physical
Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Martin Head-Gordon
- Pitzer Center
for Theoretical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Matthew R. Hermes
- Department
of Chemistry, Chicago Center for Theoretical Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Karol Kowalski
- Physical
Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Xiaosong Li
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Hans Lischka
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech
University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, United States
| | - Karl T. Mueller
- Physical
and Computational Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Erdal Mutlu
- Advanced
Computing, Mathematics, and Data Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Anders M. N. Niklasson
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, United States
| | - Mark R. Pederson
- Department
of Physics, The University of Texas at El
Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Bo Peng
- Physical
Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Ron Shepard
- Chemical
Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne
National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Edward F. Valeev
- Department
of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | | | - Bess Vlaisavljevich
- Department
of Chemistry, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, United States
| | - Theresa L. Windus
- Department
of Chemistry, Iowa State University and
Ames Laboratory, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Sotiris S. Xantheas
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Advanced
Computing, Mathematics and Data Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Xing Zhang
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Paul M. Zimmerman
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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Almeida ER, Goliatt PVZC, Dos Santos HF, Picaud F. Translocation Processes of Pt(II)-Based Drugs through Human Breast Cancer Cell Membrane: In Silico Experiments. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:6141-6155. [PMID: 37751589 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most frequent modalities of cancer worldwide, with notable mortality. The medication based on platinum drugs (cisplatin (cddp), carboplatin (cpx), and oxaliplatin (oxa)) is a conventional chemotherapy despite severe side effects and the development of drug resistance. In order to provide a deeper molecular description of the influx and efflux processes of platinum drugs through breast cancer tissues, this study focuses on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the passive translocation process through a realistic plasma membrane prototype of human breast cancer cell (c_memb). The results showed that the permeation events were mainly mediated by neutral lipids (DOPC, DOPE, and cholesterol), producing a low and temporary membrane deformation. The drug insertion in the region of polar heads was the most favorable stage of the translocation mechanism, especially for cddp and oxa with potential wells of -8.6 and -9.8 kcal mol-1, respectively. However, the potentials of mean force (PMF) revealed unfavorable kinetics for the permeation of these drugs through lipid tails, with energy barriers of 28.3 (cddp), 32.2 (cpx), and 30.4 kcal mol-1 (oxa). The low permeability coefficients (P) of cpx and oxa, which were 3 and 1 orders of magnitude inferior than for cddp, resulted from the high energy barriers for their traslocation processes through the membrane. The obtained results provide a more accurate picture of the permeation of Pt(II)-based drugs through breast cancer cells, which may be relevant for the design and evaluation of new platinum complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo R Almeida
- Núcleo de Estudos em Química Computacional (NEQC), Departamento de Química, ICE, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Campus Universitário, Martelos, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-330, Brazil
- Laboratoire de Nanomédecine, Imagerie et Thérapeutiques, EA 4662, Université de Franche-Comté, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon cedex, France
| | - Priscila V Z Capriles Goliatt
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Modelagem Computacional (PGMC), Departamento de Ciência da Computação, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Campus Universitário, Martelos, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-330, Brazil
| | - Hélio F Dos Santos
- Núcleo de Estudos em Química Computacional (NEQC), Departamento de Química, ICE, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Campus Universitário, Martelos, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-330, Brazil
| | - Fabien Picaud
- Laboratoire de Nanomédecine, Imagerie et Thérapeutiques, EA 4662, Université de Franche-Comté, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon cedex, France
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