Structural dynamics studies on the binding of aflatoxin B1 to chicken egg albumin using spectroscopic techniques and molecular docking

Comparative Study of Binding Behaviors of Cyanidin, Cyanidin-3-Galactoside, Peonidin with Tyrosinase

Cyanidin, peonidin and cyanidin-3-galactoside are the common anthocyanins with a variety of biological activities. Tyrosinase is a speed-limiting enzyme associated with melanin production. The inhibition of tyrosinase activity can prevent melanin disease while contributing to whitening. The interaction behaviors of the three anthocyanins against tyrosinase have been discussed in this paper. Cyanidin has strongest inhibitory effect on tyrosinase, and then peonidin, cyanidin-3-galactoside. Furthermore, the inhibition of tyrosinase by the three anthocyanins is mixed modes. The three anthocyanins can induce the static fluorescence quenching of tyrosinase. Cyanidin exhibits strongest binding affinity on tyrosinase, and then peonidin, cyanidin-3-galactoside based on Ka values obtain by fluorescence analysis. The binding of all anthocyanin to tyrosinase induce its conformation changes. According to molecular docking and fluorescence studies, they bind to tyrosinase by hydrogen bond and van der Waals force. In addition, the optimal modes of the three anthocyanins with tyrosinase are predicated by molecular docking. This work emphasizes that cyanidin, peonidin and cyanidin-3-galactoside may be potential drugs for the treatment of diseases caused by melanin.

Exploring the interaction of tepotinib with calf thymus DNA using molecular dynamics simulation and multispectroscopic techniques

In recent times, there has been a surge in the discovery of drugs that directly interact with DNA, influencing gene expression. As a result, understanding how biomolecules interact with DNA has become a major area of research. One such drug is Tepotinib (TPT), an FDA-approved anti-cancer medication known as a MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor, used in chemotherapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with MET exon 14 skipping alterations. In our study, we adopted both biophysical and in-silico methods to investigate the binding relationship of TPT and ctDNA. The absorption spectra of ctDNA exhibited a hypochromic effect when titrated with TPT and the binding constant of TPT-ctDNA complex was calculated, Ka = 9.91 × 104 M-1. By computing bimolecular enhancement constant (KB) and thermodynamic enhancement constant (KD) in fluorometric investigations, it was found that the fluorescence enhancement is a result of a static process involving the ctDNA-TPT complex formation in the ground state, as opposed to a dynamic process. The displacement assay results further supported this finding, showing that TPT exhibits a binding preference for minor groove of ct-DNA and was also demonstrated by KI quenching and CD spectroscopy. The molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations validated TPT's groove binding nature and binding pattern with ctDNA, respectively. Thus, the results of our present investigation offer valuable insights into the interaction between TPT and ctDNA. It is evident that TPT, as an anti-cancer medication, binds to the minor groove of ctDNA.

In vitro and in silico binding studies of phytochemical isochroman with calf thymus DNA using multi-spectroscopic and computational modelling techniques

A wide range of therapeutic molecules uses deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as an intracellular target. The interaction of small molecules to DNA is a key feature in pharmacology and plays a vital role in the development of novel and more efficient drugs with increased selective activity and enhanced therapeutic effectiveness. Isochroman (IC) is a constituent of Olea europea plant, which has been shown to exhibit several beneficial pharmacological activities. At present, its interaction studies using calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) have not been explained. A set of multi-spectroscopic techniques has been performed to determine the interaction mechanism of isochroman with ct-DNA. Absorption spectra and quenching in fluorescence studies show that isochroman and ct-DNA form a complex. The static mode of quenching was determined by the Stern-Volmer plot. The value of binding constant, Kb = 4.0 × 103 M-1 revealed moderate type of binding. Effects of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and ionic strength were studied to examine the isochroman binding to ct-DNA. Potassium iodide (KI) quenching effects and competitive binding studies clearly showed that isochroman binds in the minor groove of ct-DNA. Circular dichroic and DNA melting experiments also confirmed these results. The experimental outputs were further corroborated via in silico computational modelling studies. Lipinski's rule of 5 and SwissADME showed drug-likeness and oral bioavailability scores. Protox ІІ online software predicts oral and organ toxicity.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A 3D copper (II) coordination polymer based on sulfanilic acid ligand (CP 1) for efficient biomolecular interaction with bovine serum albumin: spectroscopic, molecular modelling and DFT analysis

Several biochemical reactions occur during the interaction of metal complexes and proteins due to conformational modifications in the structure of the protein, which provide fundamental knowledge of the effect, mechanism, and transport of many drugs throughout the body. Here, we report the synthesis, identification, and impact of the 3-dimensional Copper(II)sulfanilic acid coordination polymer (CP 1) on interactions with bovine serum albumin (BSA). The CP 1 was synthesized via a simple hot stirring method, and the single crystal XRD confirms the effective bonding interactions between metal and organic ligand, forming a crystalline polymeric chain and the topological study shows the sql type of underlying net topology. Powder XRD, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were also performed. Moreover, DFT/B3LYP calculations provide chemical precision for the resulting complex. Further, the changes that occur in the secondary structure of protein when CP 1 binds with BSA as well as its binding capacity were investigated via circular dichroism analysis and spectroscopic methods such as UV-absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The CP 1/BSA complex melting point was also measured, and its temperature-dependent heat denaturation was studied along with molecular docking.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Elucidation of binding dynamics of tyrosine kinase inhibitor tepotinib, to human serum albumin, using spectroscopic and computational approach

Tepotinib (TPT), an anticancer drug, is a fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor approved by the FDA for the chemotherapy of urothelial carcinoma. The binding of anticancer medicines to HSA can affect their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The absorption, fluorescence emission, circular dichroism, molecular docking, and simulation studies were used to evaluate the binding relationship between TPT and HSA. The absorption spectra exhibited a hyperchromic effect upon the interaction of TPT with HSA. The Stern-Volmer and binding constant of the HSA-TPT complex demonstrates that fluorescence quenching is triggered by a static rather than a dynamic process. Further, the displacement assays and molecular docking results revealed that TPT preferred binding to site III of HSA. Circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed that TPT binding to HSA induces conformational changes and reduces α-helical content. The thermal CD spectra reveal that tepotinib enhances protein's stability in the temperature range of 20 to 90 °C. The findings of MDS studies provide further evidence for the stability of the HSA-TPT complex. Consequently, the findings of the present investigation provide a clear picture of the impacts of TPT on HSA interaction. These interactions are thought to make the microenvironment around HSA more hydrophobic than in its native state.

Glycation reduces the binding dynamics of aflatoxin B1 to human serum albumin: a comprehensive spectroscopic and computational investigation

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent mutagen, is synthesized by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus. Human serum albumin (HSA) is a globular protein with diverse roles. As AFB1 is ingested with food and is transported in the body via blood, it becomes pertinent to comprehend the effect of the binding of this toxin on the structure and conformation of HSA, which may help to get insight into the toxic effect of the exposure of the mycotoxin. In this study, multi-spectroscopic approaches have been used to evaluate the binding efficiency of AFB1 with both the native HSA (nHSA) and the glycated HSA (gHSA). Steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy reveals the static type of fluorescence quenching in the fluorescence emission spectra of nHSA and gHSA in the presence of AFB1. The binding constant (Kb) is calculated to be 6.88 × 104 M-1 for nHSA, while a reduced Kb value of 2.95 × 104 M-1 has been obtained for gHSA. The circular dichroism study confirms the change in the secondary structure of nHSA and gHSA in the presence of AFB1, followed by alterations in the melting temperature (Tm) of nHSA and gHSA. In silico computational findings envisaged the amino acid residues and bonds involved in the binding of nHSA and gHSA with AFB1. The comprehensive study analyzes the binding effectiveness of AFB1 with nHSA and gHSA and shows reduced binding of AFB1 to gHSA.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Computational Studies of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1): A Review

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) exhibits the most potent mutagenic and carcinogenic activity among aflatoxins. For this reason, AFB₁ is recognized as a human group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency of Research on Cancer. Consequently, it is essential to determine its properties and behavior in different chemical systems. The chemical properties of AFB₁ can be explored using computational chemistry, which has been employed complementarily to experimental investigations. The present review includes in silico studies (semiempirical, Hartree-Fock, DFT, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics) conducted from the first computational study in 1974 to the present (2022). This work was performed, considering the following groups: (a) molecular properties of AFB₁ (structural, energy, solvent effects, ground and the excited state, atomic charges, among others); (b) theoretical investigations of AFB₁ (degradation, quantification, reactivity, among others); (c) molecular interactions with inorganic compounds (Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, and Mg²⁺); (d) molecular interactions with environmentally compounds (clays); and (e) molecular interactions with biological compounds (DNA, enzymes, cyclodextrins, glucans, among others). Accordingly, in this work, we provide to the stakeholder the knowledge of toxicity of types of AFB₁-derivatives, the structure-activity relationships manifested by the bonds between AFB₁ and DNA or proteins, and the types of strategies that have been employed to quantify, detect, and eliminate the AFB₁ molecule.

Investigating binding dynamics of trans resveratrol to HSA for an efficient displacement of aflatoxin B1 using spectroscopy and molecular simulation

Resveratrol is a polyphenol belonging to the class stilbenes. The active and stable form of resveratrol is trans-resveratrol. This polyphenol is bestowed with numerous biological properties. Aflatoxin B₁ is a hepato-carcinogen and mutagen that is produced by Aspergillus species. In this study, the interaction of trans-resveratrol with HSA followed by competitive dislodging of AFB₁ from HSA by trans-resveratrol has been investigated using spectroscopic studies. The UV-absorption studies revealed ground state complex formation between HSA and trans-resveratrol. Trans-resveratrol binds strongly to HSA with the binding constant of ~ 10⁷ M⁻¹ to a single binding site (n = 1.58), at 298.15 K. The Stern–Volmer quenching constant was calculated as 7.83 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ at 298.15 K, suggesting strong fluorescence quenching ability of trans-resveratrol. Site markers displacement assay projected subdomain IIA as the binding site of trans-resveratrol to HSA. The molecular docking approach envisages the amino acid residues involved in the formation of the binding pocket. As confirmed from the site marker displacement assays, both trans-resveratrol and AFB₁ binds to HSA in the same binding site, subdomain IIA. The study explores the ability of trans-resveratrol to displace AFB₁ from the HSA-AFB₁ complex, thereby affecting the toxicokinetic behavior of AFB₁ associated with AFB₁ exposure.

Interaction study of engeletin toward cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2D6 by multi-spectroscopy and molecular docking

The inhibitory effects of engeletin on the activities of human cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2D6 (CYP3A4 and CYP2D6) were investigated by enzyme kinetics, multi-spectroscopy and molecular docking. Engeletin was found to strongly inhibit CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, with the IC₅₀ of 1.32 μM and 2.87 μM, respectively. The inhibition modes of engeletin against CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 were a competitive type and a mixed type, respectively. The fluorescence of the two CYPs was quenched statically by engeletin, which was bound to CYP3A4 stronger than to CYP2D6 at the same temperature. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, three-dimensional fluorescence, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and synchronous fluorescence confirmed that the conformation and micro-environment of the two CYPs protein were changed after binding with engeletin. Molecular docking, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and the fluorescence data revealed that engeletin had strong binding affinity to the two CYPs through hydrogen and van der Waals forces. The findings here suggested that engeletin may cause the herb-drug interactions for its inhibition of CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 activities.

Investigation on electronic structure, vibrational spectra, NBO analysis, and molecular docking studies of aflatoxins and selected emerging mycotoxins against wild-type androgen receptor

The geometry, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), vibrational, NBO analysis, and molecular docking simulations of aflatoxins (B1, B2, M1, M2, G1, G2), zearalenone (ZEA) emodin (EMO), alternariol (AOH), alternariol monoethyl ether (AMME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA) mycotoxins have been extensively theoretically studied and discussed based on quantum density functional theory calculations using Gaussian 16 software package. The theoretical computation for the geometry optimization, NBOs, and the molecular docking interaction was conducted using Density Functional Theory with B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p), NBO program, and AutoDock Vina tools respectively. Charge delocalization patterns and second-order perturbation energies of the most interacting natural bond orbitals (NBOs) of these mycotoxins have also been computed and predicted. Interestingly, among the mycotoxins investigated, aflatoxin G1 is seen to give the strongest stabilization energy while Zearalenone shows the highest tendency to accept electron(s) and emodin, an emerging mycotoxin gave the best binding pose within the androgen receptor pocket with a mean binding affinity of -7.40 kcal/mol.

Interaction study of astilbin, isoastilbin and neoastilbin toward CYP2D6 by multi-spectroscopy and molecular docking

Astilbin, isoastilbin and neoastilbin are the three flavonoid isomers prevalent in Rhizoma Smilax glabra. The interactions between human cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and the three isomers were investigated by multiple spectroscopic coupled with molecular docking. As a result, the fluorescence intensity of CYP2D6 was quenched statically by the three isomers. Meanwhile, astilbin had the strongest binding ability to CYP2D6, followed by isoastilbin and neoastilbin under the identical temperature. Synchronous fluorescence, three-dimensional fluorescence, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, circular dichroism and Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirmed that the conformation and micro-environment of CYP2D6 protein were changed after binding with the three isomers. As suggested from molecular docking, the three isomers had strong binding affinity to CYP2D6 via the bonding of hydrogen and van der Waals forces, and the results were in agreement with the fluorescence results. The findings here suggested that astilbin, isoastilbin and neoastilbin may cause the herb-drug interactions for their inhibition of CYP2D6 activity.

Biomolecular interactions and binding dynamics of tyrosine kinase inhibitor erdafitinib, with human serum albumin

Erdafitinib is an approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits fibroblast growth factor receptor. It has been described as one of the potent anti-tumor drugs especially for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma. In this study, we have investigated the binding dynamics of erdafitinib with human serum albumin (HSA) using multiple spectroscopic techniques. The outcome of the results suggests the occurrence of static quenching during the interaction of HSA with erdafitinib which leads to the formation of non-fluorescent HSA-erdafitinib ground state complex. Formation of HSA-erdafitinib complex was also confirmed from the findings of absorption spectral analysis. The changes in microenvironment around hydrophobic domains (especially tryptophan and tyrosine) were deciphered from fluorescence spectroscopy which was further confirmed by synchronous spectral analysis. In order to gain insight into the binding site of erdafitinib in HSA, molecular docking combined with competitive displacement assay was performed. The modified form of Stern Volmer equation was used to estimate various binding parameters including number of binding sites. The findings are indicative of a single binding site (n = 1) with binding constant in the order of 10⁴. The negative values of thermodynamic parameters like ΔG, ΔH and ΔS were suggestive of the binding reaction being spontaneous and exothermic, while the hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals interactions being the major forces present between HSA and erdafitinib. Circular dichroism spectral analysis revealed the alterations in the conformation of HSA structure and reduction in its α-helical content.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma[Formula: see text].

Investigating the mechanism of binding of nalidixic acid with deoxyribonucleic acid and serum albumin: a biophysical and molecular docking approaches

Nalidixic acid is a bacterial DNA gyrase inhibitor and the first member of the synthetic quinolone antibiotics. It is used in the treatment of various infectious diseases like urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, sexually transmitted diseases, acute bronchitis, and sinusitis. Interactions studies are of great significance as it will be beneficial for designing new therapeutic molecules with preferable plasma solubility and its efficacy. In this paper, we have aim to ascertain the binding mode of nalidixic acid with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) through various biophysical and in silico method. UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic experiments confirmed the formation of a complex between nalidixic acid with ct-DNA. The binding constant is in the range of 10³ M^-1, indicating the groove binding mode between ct-DNA and nalidixic acid. Groove binding mode was also validated by competitive displacement assay, potassium iodide quenching experiment, circular dichroism, DNA melting studies. In the case of BSA, UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic experiments confirmed the formation of a complex between nalidixic acid with BSA. The value of a binding constant in the case of BSA was found to be 1.517 × 10⁵ M^-1. The site marker displacement experiment revealed the binding location of nalidixic acid to a site I in BSA. Secondary structural and microenvironmental changes also studied through circular dichroism and three-dimensional fluorescence. Furthermore, the synchronous fluorescence spectra of BSA with nalidixic acid showed that there were changes in the microenvironment around tryptophan residues. In silico molecular docking further confirmed the binding of nalidixic acid to site I in BSA and the minor groove of DNA.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.