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Georgiou N, Mavromoustakos T, Tzeli D. Docking, MD Simulations, and DFT Calculations: Assessing W254's Function and Sartan Binding in Furin. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:8226-8238. [PMID: 39194703 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46080486] [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: 06/23/2024] [Revised: 07/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Furins are serine endoproteases that are involved in many biological processes, where they play important roles in normal metabolism, in the activation of various pathogens, while they are a target for therapeutic intervention. Dichlorophenyl-pyridine "BOS" compounds are well known drugs that are used as inhibitors of human furin by an induced-fit mechanism, in which tryptophan W254 in the furin catalytic cleft acts as a molecular transition energy gate. The binding of "BOS" drug into the active center of furin has been computationally studied using the density functional theory (DFT) and ONIOM multiscaling methodologies. The binding enthalpies of the W254 with the furin-BOS is -32.8 kcal/mol ("open") and -18.8 kcal/mol ("closed"), while the calculated torsion barrier was found at 30 kcal/mol. It is significantly smaller than the value of previous MD calculations due to the relaxation of the environment, i.e., nearby groups of the W254, leading to the reduction of the energy demands. The significant lower barrier explains the experimental finding that the dihedral barrier of W254 is overcome. Furthermore, sartans were studied to evaluate their potential as furin inhibitors. Sartans are AT1 antagonists, and they effectively inhibit the hypertensive effects induced by the peptide hormone Angiotensin II. Here, they have been docked into the cavity to evaluate their effect on the BOS ligand via docking and molecular dynamics simulations. A consistent binding of sartans within the cavity during the simulation was found, suggesting that they could act as furin inhibitors. Finally, sartans interact with the same amino acids as W254, leading to a competitive binding that may influence the pharmacological efficacy and potential drug interactions of sartans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikitas Georgiou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 11571 Athens, Greece
| | - Thomas Mavromoustakos
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 11571 Athens, Greece
| | - Demeter Tzeli
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 11571 Athens, Greece
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 11635 Athens, Greece
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Georgiou N, Kakava MG, Routsi EA, Petsas E, Stavridis N, Freris C, Zoupanou N, Moschovou K, Kiriakidi S, Mavromoustakos T. Quercetin: A Potential Polydynamic Drug. Molecules 2023; 28:8141. [PMID: 38138630 PMCID: PMC10745404 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248141] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of natural products as potential drug leads has gained tremendous research interest. Quercetin is one of those natural products. It belongs to the family of flavonoids and, more specifically, flavonols. This review summarizes the beneficial pharmaceutical effects of quercetin, such as its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, which are some of the quercetin effects described in this review. Nevertheless, quercetin shows poor bioavailability and low solubility. For this reason, its encapsulation in macromolecules increases its bioavailability and therefore pharmaceutical efficiency. In this review, a brief description of the different forms of encapsulation of quercetin are described, and new ones are proposed. The beneficial effects of applying new pharmaceutical forms of nanotechnology are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikitas Georgiou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Margarita Georgia Kakava
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - Efthymios Alexandros Routsi
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
- Center of Excellence for Drug Design and Discovery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Errikos Petsas
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Nikolaos Stavridis
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Christoforos Freris
- Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece;
| | - Nikoletta Zoupanou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Kalliopi Moschovou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
| | - Sofia Kiriakidi
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
- Departamento de Quimica Orgánica, Facultade de Quimica, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Thomas Mavromoustakos
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (E.A.R.); (E.P.); (N.S.); (N.Z.); (K.M.); (S.K.)
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Tzeliou CE, Mermigki MA, Tzeli D. Review on the QM/MM Methodologies and Their Application to Metalloproteins. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092660. [PMID: 35566011 PMCID: PMC9105939 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The multiscaling quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) approach was introduced in 1976, while the extensive acceptance of this methodology started in the 1990s. The combination of QM/MM approach with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, otherwise known as the QM/MM/MD approach, is a powerful and promising tool for the investigation of chemical reactions’ mechanism of complex molecular systems, drug delivery, properties of molecular devices, organic electronics, etc. In the present review, the main methodologies in the multiscaling approaches, i.e., density functional theory (DFT), semiempirical methodologies (SE), MD simulations, MM, and their new advances are discussed in short. Then, a review on calculations and reactions on metalloproteins is presented, where particular attention is given to nitrogenase that catalyzes the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen molecules N₂ into NH₃ through the process known as nitrogen fixation and the FeMo-cofactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Eleftheria Tzeliou
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (C.E.T.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Markella Aliki Mermigki
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (C.E.T.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Demeter Tzeli
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (C.E.T.); (M.A.M.)
- Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-210-727-4307
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