Identification of novel anti-cancer agents, applying in silico method for SENP1 protease inhibition

The SENP1 (Sentrin-Specific Protease1) is essential for desumoylation. SENP1 plays an essential role in many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer via targeting GATA2, NEMO, Pin1, SMAD4 and HIF-1α for deSUMOylation. Considering that, over expression of SENP1 was reported in cancer, thus an optional inhibitor of SENP1 can restitute the balance to the skewed system of SUMO and act as an effective therapeutic agent. The purpose of this study was to select and to sort inhibitors with a stronger binding affinity with SENP1. Molecular docking of SENP1 with natural compounds including Gallic acid, Caffeic acid, Thymoquinone, Thymol, Betaine, Alkannin, Ellagic acid, Betanin, Shikonin, Betanidin and Momordin IC was performed using AutoDock 4, then docking complexes for molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with GROMACS 4.6.5 were applied. Results with RMSD, RMSF, SASA, DSSP, gyrate, H-bond, ADMET and TOPKAT measurements, binding energy and structural features were surveyed. Among those, Gallic acid has shown the most significant results including RMSD and RMSF plots with high stability, high hydrogen bonds, high binding energy and the highest intermolecular bonds with SENP1. Gallic acid demonstrated strong connections and results of toxicity better than Momordin as control. Gallic acid is a phenolic compound which affects several pharmacological and biochemical pathways and has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and anticancer properties. Further research can improve the appropriate use of plant products drastically. Basic, pre-clinical and clinical research on Gallic acid may provide a roadmap for its ultimate application in the field of cancer prevention.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Molecular Dynamics Mechanisms of the Inhibitory Effects of Abemaciclib, Hymenialdisine, and Indirubin on CDK-6

BACKGROUND

Cyclin-Dependent Kinases-6 (CDK-6) is a serine/threonine protein kinase with regular activity in the cell cycle. Some inhibitors, such as abemaciclib, hymenialdisine, and indirubin, cause cell arrest by decreasing its activity.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Molecular Dynamic (MD) effects of abemaciclib, hymenialdisine, and indirubin on the structure of CDK-6.

METHODS

The PDB file of CDK-6 was obtained from the Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org). After the simulation of CDK-6 in the Gromacs software, 200 stages of molecular docking were run on CDK-6 in the presence of the inhibitors using AutoDock 4.2. The simulation of CDK-6 in the presence of inhibitors was performed after docking.

RESULTS

Abemaciclib showed the greatest tendency to bind CDK-6 via binding 16 residues in the binding site with hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic bonding. CDK-6 docked to hymenialdisine and indirubin increased the Total Energy (TE) and decreased the radius of gyration (Rg). CDK-6 docked to hymenialdisine significantly decreased the coil secondary structure.

CONCLUSION

CDK-6 is inhibited via high binding affinity to abemaciclib, hymenialdisine, and indirubin inhibitors and induces variation in the secondary structure and Rg in the CDK-6 docked to the three inhibitors. It seems that developing a drug with a binding tendency to CDK6 that is similar to those of abemaciclib, indirubin, and hymenialdisine can change the secondary structure of CDK6, possibly more potently, and can be used to develop anticancer drugs. However, additional studies are needed to confirm this argument.