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Cunha AES, Loureiro RJS, Simões CJV, Brito RMM. Unveiling New Druggable Pockets in Influenza Non-Structural Protein 1: NS1-Host Interactions as Antiviral Targets for Flu. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032977. [PMID: 36769298 PMCID: PMC9918223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza viruses are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide in winter seasonal outbreaks and in flu pandemics. Influenza viruses have a high rate of evolution, requiring annual vaccine updates and severely diminishing the effectiveness of the available antivirals. Identifying novel viral targets and developing new effective antivirals is an urgent need. One of the most promising new targets for influenza antiviral therapy is non-structural protein 1 (NS1), a highly conserved protein exclusively expressed in virus-infected cells that mediates essential functions in virus replication and pathogenesis. Interaction of NS1 with the host proteins PI3K and TRIM25 is paramount for NS1's role in infection and pathogenesis by promoting viral replication through the inhibition of apoptosis and suppressing interferon production, respectively. We, therefore, conducted an analysis of the druggability of this viral protein by performing molecular dynamics simulations on full-length NS1 coupled with ligand pocket detection. We identified several druggable pockets that are partially conserved throughout most of the simulation time. Moreover, we found out that some of these druggable pockets co-localize with the most stable binding regions of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) sites of NS1 with PI3K and TRIM25, which suggests that these NS1 druggable pockets are promising new targets for antiviral development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia E. S. Cunha
- Coimbra Chemistry Center—Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui J. S. Loureiro
- Coimbra Chemistry Center—Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
- Correspondence: (R.J.S.L.); (R.M.M.B.)
| | - Carlos J. V. Simões
- Coimbra Chemistry Center—Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
- BSIM Therapeutics, Instituto Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui M. M. Brito
- Coimbra Chemistry Center—Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
- BSIM Therapeutics, Instituto Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal
- Correspondence: (R.J.S.L.); (R.M.M.B.)
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Coelho CMM, Pereira R, Vieira TF, Teixeira CM, Fernandes MJG, Rodrigues ARO, Pereira DM, Sousa S, Gil Fortes A, Castanheira EMS, T Gonçalves MS. Synthesis, computational and nanoencapsulation studies on eugenol-derived insecticides. NEW J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2nj01893d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A new set of alkoxy alcohols were synthesised by reaction of eugenol oxirane with aliphatic and aromatic alcohols. These eugenol derivatives were evaluated against their effect upon the viability of...
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Pereira RB, Pinto NFS, Fernandes MJG, Vieira TF, Rodrigues ARO, Pereira DM, Sousa SF, Castanheira EMS, Fortes AG, Gonçalves MST. Amino Alcohols from Eugenol as Potential Semisynthetic Insecticides: Chemical, Biological, and Computational Insights. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26216616. [PMID: 34771025 PMCID: PMC8587747 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of β-amino alcohols were prepared by the reaction of eugenol epoxide with aliphatic and aromatic amine nucleophiles. The synthesized compounds were fully characterized and evaluated as potential insecticides through the assessment of their biological activity against Sf9 insect cells, compared with a commercial synthetic pesticide (chlorpyrifos, CHPY). Three derivatives bearing a terminal benzene ring, either substituted or unsubstituted, were identified as the most potent molecules, two of them displaying higher toxicity to insect cells than CHPY. In addition, the most promising molecules were able to increase the activity of serine proteases (caspases) pivotal to apoptosis and were more toxic to insect cells than human cells. Structure-based inverted virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that these molecules likely target acetylcholinesterase and/or the insect odorant-binding proteins and are able to form stable complexes with these proteins. Encapsulation assays in liposomes of DMPG and DPPC/DMPG (1:1) were performed for the most active compound, and high encapsulation efficiencies were obtained. A thermosensitive formulation was achieved with the compound release being more efficient at higher temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato B. Pereira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (R.B.P.); (D.M.P.)
| | - Nuno F. S. Pinto
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (N.F.S.P.); (M.J.G.F.); (A.G.F.)
| | - Maria José G. Fernandes
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (N.F.S.P.); (M.J.G.F.); (A.G.F.)
| | - Tatiana F. Vieira
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (T.F.V.); (S.F.S.)
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, BioSIM—Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita O. Rodrigues
- Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.R.O.R.); (E.M.S.C.)
| | - David M. Pereira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (R.B.P.); (D.M.P.)
| | - Sérgio F. Sousa
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (T.F.V.); (S.F.S.)
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, BioSIM—Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Elisabete M. S. Castanheira
- Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (A.R.O.R.); (E.M.S.C.)
| | - A. Gil Fortes
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (N.F.S.P.); (M.J.G.F.); (A.G.F.)
| | - M. Sameiro T. Gonçalves
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; (N.F.S.P.); (M.J.G.F.); (A.G.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-253-604-372
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Natal CM, Fernandes MJG, Pinto NFS, Pereira RB, Vieira TF, Rodrigues ARO, Pereira DM, Sousa SF, Fortes AG, Castanheira EMS, T Gonçalves MS. New carvacrol and thymol derivatives as potential insecticides: synthesis, biological activity, computational studies and nanoencapsulation. RSC Adv 2021; 11:34024-34035. [PMID: 35497284 PMCID: PMC9042360 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra05616f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
New compounds with potential insecticide activity were synthesized by structural modifications performed in the monoterpenoid phenolic moieties of carvacrol and thymol, resulting in a set of derivatives with the ether function containing the propyl, chloropropyl or hydroxypropyl chains, as well as a bicyclic ether with an unsaturated chain containing a carboxylic acid terminal. In addition, an analogue of carvacrol and thymol isomers bearing methoxyl, 1-hydroxyethyl and (3-chlorobenzoyl)oxy, instead of the three original methyl groups, was also synthesized. Several structural changes that resulted in diminished insecticide activity have been identified, but two significantly active molecules have been synthesized, one of them being less toxic to human cells than the naturally-derived starting materials. Structure-based inverted virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that these active molecules likely target the insect odorant binding proteins and/or acetylcholinesterase and are able to form stable complexes. For the most promising compounds, nanoencapsulation assays were carried out in liposomes of egg phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (7 : 3) prepared by both thin film hydration and ethanolic injection methods. The compound-loaded liposomes were generally monodisperse and with sizes smaller than or around 200 nm. The thin film hydration method allowed high encapsulation efficiencies (above 85%) for both compounds and a delayed release, while for the systems prepared by ethanolic injection the encapsulation efficiency is lower than 50%, but the release is almost complete in two days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina M Natal
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho Campus of Gualtar 4710-057 Braga Portugal
| | - Maria José G Fernandes
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho Campus of Gualtar 4710-057 Braga Portugal
| | - Nuno F S Pinto
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho Campus of Gualtar 4710-057 Braga Portugal
| | - Renato B Pereira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228 4050-313 Porto Portugal
| | - Tatiana F Vieira
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto 4200-319 Porto Portugal.,UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, BioSIM - Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto 4200-319 Porto Portugal
| | - Ana Rita O Rodrigues
- Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar 4710-057 Braga Portugal
| | - David M Pereira
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228 4050-313 Porto Portugal
| | - Sérgio F Sousa
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto 4200-319 Porto Portugal.,UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, BioSIM - Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto 4200-319 Porto Portugal
| | - A Gil Fortes
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho Campus of Gualtar 4710-057 Braga Portugal
| | - Elisabete M S Castanheira
- Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar 4710-057 Braga Portugal
| | - M Sameiro T Gonçalves
- Centre of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Minho Campus of Gualtar 4710-057 Braga Portugal
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Safavi A, Ghodousi ES, Ghavamizadeh M, Sabaghan M, Azadbakht O, veisi A, Babaei H, Nazeri Z, Darabi MK, Zarezade V. Computational investigation of novel farnesyltransferase inhibitors using 3D-QSAR pharmacophore modeling, virtual screening, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies: A new insight into cancer treatment. J Mol Struct 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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