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Xiang X, Chen K, Li A, Yang G, An X, Kan J. Decoding the bitter taste of Idesia polycarpa var. vestita Diels fruit: Bitterness contribution and mechanisms. Food Chem 2024; 460:140609. [PMID: 39094345 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140609] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
To comprehensively explore the contribution and mechanisms of identified low-threshold bitter substances in Idesia polycarpa var. vestita Diels (I. vestita) fruit, we performed quantification and elucidated their interactions with main bitter taste receptors through molecular docking. The established method for quantifying bitter compounds in I. vestita fruit was validated, yielding satisfactory parameters for linearity, stability, and accuracy. Idescarpin (17.71-101.05 mg/g) and idesin (7.88-77.14 mg/g) were the predominant bitter compounds in terms of content. Taste activity values (TAVs) exceeded 10 for the bitter substances, affirming their pivotal role as major contributors to overall bitterness of I. vestita fruit. Notably, idescarpin with the highest TAV, played a crucial role in generating the bitterness of I. vestita fruit. Hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions were the main driving forces. This study holds potential implications for industrial development of I. vestita fruit by providing novel insights into the mechanism underlying its bitterness formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuwen Xiang
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products on Storage and Preservation (Chongqing), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Chongqing 400715, PR China
| | - Kewei Chen
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products on Storage and Preservation (Chongqing), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Chinese-Hungarian Cooperative Research Centre for Food Science, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, PR China
| | - Aijun Li
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products on Storage and Preservation (Chongqing), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Chongqing 400715, PR China
| | - Gang Yang
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products on Storage and Preservation (Chongqing), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Chongqing 400715, PR China
| | - Xiaofeng An
- Chongqing Shanlinyuan Forestry Comprehensive Development Co., Ltd., Chongqing 400800, PR China
| | - Jianquan Kan
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-products on Storage and Preservation (Chongqing), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Chinese-Hungarian Cooperative Research Centre for Food Science, Chongqing 400715, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, PR China.
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2
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Perin N, Lončar B, Kadić M, Kralj M, Starčević K, Carvalho RA, Jarak I, Hranjec M. Design, Synthesis, Antitumor Activity and NMR-Based Metabolomics of Novel Amino Substituted Tetracyclic Imidazo[4,5-b]Pyridine Derivatives. ChemMedChem 2024; 19:e202300633. [PMID: 38757872 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300633] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Newly prepared tetracyclic imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine derivatives were synthesized to study their antiproliferative activity against human cancer cells. Additionally, the structure-activity was studied to confirm the impact of the N atom position in pyridine nuclei as well as the chosen amino side chains on antiproliferative activity. Targeted amino substituted regioisomers were prepared by using uncatalyzed amination from corresponding chloro substituted precursors. The most active compounds 6 a, 8 and 10 showed improved activity in comparison to standard drug etoposide with IC50 values in a nanomolar range of concentration (0.2-0.9 μM). NMR-based metabolomics is a powerful instrument to elucidate activity mechanism of new chemotherapeutics. Multivariate and univariate statistical analysis of metabolic profiles of non-small cell lung cancer cells before and after exposure to 6 a revealed significant changes in metabolism of essential amino acids, glycerophospholipids and oxidative defense. Insight into the changes of metabolic pathways that are heavily involved in cell proliferation and survival provide valuable guidelines for more detailed analysis of activity metabolism and possible targets of this class of bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataša Perin
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 19, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Matej Kadić
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 19, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marijeta Kralj
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Kristina Starčević
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Rui A Carvalho
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ivana Jarak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Pólo III - Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marijana Hranjec
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 19, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Nugraha R, Kurniawan F, Abdullah A, Lopata AL, Ruethers T. Antihypertensive and Antidiabetic Drug Candidates from Milkfish ( Chanos chanos)-Identification and Characterization through an Integrated Bioinformatic Approach. Foods 2024; 13:2594. [PMID: 39200521 PMCID: PMC11353658 DOI: 10.3390/foods13162594] [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: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Integrated bioinformatics tools have created more efficient and robust methods to overcome in vitro challenges and have been widely utilized for the investigation of food proteins and the generation of peptide sequences. This study aimed to analyze the physicochemical properties and bioactivities of novel peptides derived from hydrolyzed milkfish (Chanos chanos) protein sequences and to discover their potential angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)- and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPPIV)-inhibitory activities using machine learning-based tools, including BIOPEP-UWM, PeptideRanker, and the molecular docking software HADDOCK 2.4. Nine and three peptides were predicted to have ACE- and DPPIV-inhibitory activities, respectively. The DPPIV-inhibitory peptides were predicted to inhibit the compound with no known specific mode. Meanwhile, two tetrapeptides (MVWH and PPPS) were predicted to possess a competitive mode of ACE inhibition by directly binding to the tetra-coordinated Zn ion. Among all nine discovered ACE-inhibitory peptides, only the PPPS peptide satisfied the drug-likeness analysis requirements with no violations of the Lipinski rule of five and should be further investigated in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roni Nugraha
- Department of Aquatic Product Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, IPB University, Dramaga 16680, Indonesia; (F.K.); (A.A.)
- Tropical Futures Institute, James Cook University, Singapore 387380, Singapore; (A.L.L.); (T.R.)
| | - Fahmi Kurniawan
- Department of Aquatic Product Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, IPB University, Dramaga 16680, Indonesia; (F.K.); (A.A.)
| | - Asadatun Abdullah
- Department of Aquatic Product Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, IPB University, Dramaga 16680, Indonesia; (F.K.); (A.A.)
| | - Andreas L. Lopata
- Tropical Futures Institute, James Cook University, Singapore 387380, Singapore; (A.L.L.); (T.R.)
- Molecular Allergy Research Laboratory, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Thimo Ruethers
- Tropical Futures Institute, James Cook University, Singapore 387380, Singapore; (A.L.L.); (T.R.)
- Molecular Allergy Research Laboratory, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD 4811, Australia
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Liu D, Wei B, Liang L, Sheng Y, Sun S, Sun X, Li M, Li H, Yang C, Peng Y, Xie Y, Wen C, Chen L, Liu X, Chen X, Liu H, Liu J. The Circadian Clock Component RORA Increases Immunosurveillance in Melanoma by Inhibiting PD-L1 Expression. Cancer Res 2024; 84:2265-2281. [PMID: 38718296 PMCID: PMC11247325 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-3942] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Circadian clock perturbation frequently occurs in cancer and facilitates tumor progression by regulating malignant growth and shaping the immune microenvironment. Emerging evidence has indicated that clock genes are disrupted in melanoma and linked to immune escape. Herein, we found that the expression of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-α (RORA) is downregulated in melanoma patients and that patients with higher RORA expression have a better prognosis after immunotherapy. Additionally, RORA was significantly positively correlated with T-cell infiltration and recruitment. Overexpression or activation of RORA stimulated cytotoxic T-cell-mediated antitumor responses. RORA bound to the CD274 promoter and formed an inhibitory complex with HDAC3 to suppress PD-L1 expression. In contrast, the DEAD-box helicase family member DDX3X competed with HDAC3 for binding to RORA, and DDX3X overexpression promoted RORA release from the suppressive complex and thereby increased PD-L1 expression to generate an inhibitory immune environment. The combination of a RORA agonist with an anti-CTLA4 antibody synergistically increased T-cell antitumor immunity in vivo. A score based on the combined expression of HDAC3, DDX3X, and RORA correlated with immunotherapy response in melanoma patients. Together, this study elucidates a mechanism of clock component-regulated antitumor immunity, which will help inform the use of immunotherapy and lead to improved outcomes for melanoma patients receiving combined therapeutic treatments. Significance: RORA forms a corepressor complex to inhibit PD-L1 expression and activate antitumor T-cell responses, indicating that RORA is a potential target and predictive biomarker to improve immunotherapy response in melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Clinical Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Benliang Wei
- Big Data Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Long Liang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yue Sheng
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shengjie Sun
- Department of Biomedical Informatic, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xing Sun
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Maohua Li
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Haobo Li
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chaoying Yang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuanliang Peng
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yifang Xie
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chengcai Wen
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xionghao Liu
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Clinical Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Clinical Research Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Molecular Biology Research Center, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Abbasifard M, Bagherzadeh K, Khorramdelazad H. The story of clobenpropit and CXCR4: can be an effective drug in cancer and autoimmune diseases? Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1410104. [PMID: 39070795 PMCID: PMC11272485 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1410104] [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: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Clobenpropit is a histamine H3 receptor antagonist and has developed as a potential therapeutic drug due to its ability to inhibit CXCR4, a chemokine receptor involved in autoimmune diseases and cancer pathogenesis. The CXCL12/CXCR4 axis involves several biological phenomena, including cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, inflammation, and metastasis. Accordingly, inhibiting CXCR4 can have promising clinical outcomes in patients with malignancy or autoimmune disorders. Based on available knowledge, Clobenpropit can effectively regulate the release of monocyte-derived inflammatory cytokine in autoimmune diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), presenting a potential targeted target with possible advantages over current therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes the intricate interplay between Clobenpropit and CXCR4 and the molecular mechanisms underlying their interactions, comprehensively analyzing their impact on immune regulation. Furthermore, we discuss preclinical and clinical investigations highlighting the probable efficacy of Clobenpropit for managing autoimmune diseases and cancer. Through this study, we aim to clarify the immunomodulatory role of Clobenpropit and its advantages and disadvantages as a novel therapeutic opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Abbasifard
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Kowsar Bagherzadeh
- Eye Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Khorramdelazad
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
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Spassov DS. Binding Affinity Determination in Drug Design: Insights from Lock and Key, Induced Fit, Conformational Selection, and Inhibitor Trapping Models. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7124. [PMID: 39000229 PMCID: PMC11240957 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Binding affinity is a fundamental parameter in drug design, describing the strength of the interaction between a molecule and its target protein. Accurately predicting binding affinity is crucial for the rapid development of novel therapeutics, the prioritization of promising candidates, and the optimization of their properties through rational design strategies. Binding affinity is determined by the mechanism of recognition between proteins and ligands. Various models, including the lock and key, induced fit, and conformational selection, have been proposed to explain this recognition process. However, current computational strategies to predict binding affinity, which are based on these models, have yet to produce satisfactory results. This article explores the connection between binding affinity and these protein-ligand interaction models, highlighting that they offer an incomplete picture of the mechanism governing binding affinity. Specifically, current models primarily center on the binding of the ligand and do not address its dissociation. In this context, the concept of ligand trapping is introduced, which models the mechanisms of dissociation. When combined with the current models, this concept can provide a unified theoretical framework that may allow for the accurate determination of the ligands' binding affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danislav S Spassov
- Drug Design and Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Satheesh S, Al Solami L. Antifouling activities of proteinase K and α-amylase enzymes: Laboratory bioassays and in silico analysis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31683. [PMID: 38828329 PMCID: PMC11140711 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The application of enzymes as antifoulants is one of the environment-friendly strategies in biofouling management. In this study, antifouling activities of commercially available proteinase K and α-amylase enzymes were evaluated using barnacle larva and biofilm-forming bacteria as test organisms. The enzymes were also tested against barnacle cement protein through in silico analysis. The results showed that both enzymes inhibited the attachment of bacteria and settlement of barnacle larvae on the test surface. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.312 mg ml-1 was exhibited by proteinase K against biofilm-forming bacteria. The calculated LC50 values for proteinase K and α-amylase against the barnacle nauplii were 91.8 and 230.96 mg ml-1 respectively. While α-amylase showed higher antibiofilm activity, proteinase K exhibited higher anti-larval settlement activity. Similarly, in silico analysis of the enzymes revealed promising anti-settlement activity, as the enzymes showed good binding scores with barnacle cement protein. Overall, the results suggested that the enzymes proteinase K and α-amylase could be used in antifouling coatings to reduce the settlement of biofouling on artificial materials in the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sathianeson Satheesh
- Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lafi Al Solami
- Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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8
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Sarvmeili J, Baghban Kohnehrouz B, Gholizadeh A, Shanehbandi D, Ofoghi H. Immunoinformatics design of a structural proteins driven multi-epitope candidate vaccine against different SARS-CoV-2 variants based on fynomer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10297. [PMID: 38704475 PMCID: PMC11069592 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61025-2] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The ideal vaccines for combating diseases that may emerge in the future require more than simply inactivating a few pathogenic strains. This study aims to provide a peptide-based multi-epitope vaccine effective against various severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 strains. To design the vaccine, a library of peptides from the spike, nucleocapsid, membrane, and envelope structural proteins of various strains was prepared. Then, the final vaccine structure was optimized using the fully protected epitopes and the fynomer scaffold. Using bioinformatics tools, the antigenicity, allergenicity, toxicity, physicochemical properties, population coverage, and secondary and three-dimensional structures of the vaccine candidate were evaluated. The bioinformatic analyses confirmed the high quality of the vaccine. According to further investigations, this structure is similar to native protein and there is a stable and strong interaction between vaccine and receptors. Based on molecular dynamics simulation, structural compactness and stability in binding were also observed. In addition, the immune simulation showed that the vaccine can stimulate immune responses similar to real conditions. Finally, codon optimization and in silico cloning confirmed efficient expression in Escherichia coli. In conclusion, the fynomer-based vaccine can be considered as a new style in designing and updating vaccines to protect against coronavirus disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Sarvmeili
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, 51666, Iran
| | | | - Ashraf Gholizadeh
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, 51666, Iran
| | - Dariush Shanehbandi
- Department of Immunology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 51666, Iran
| | - Hamideh Ofoghi
- Department of Biotechnology, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran, 33131, Iran
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Harwardt J, Geyer FK, Schoenfeld K, Baumstark D, Molkenthin V, Kolmar H. Balancing the Affinity and Tumor Cell Binding of a Two-in-One Antibody Simultaneously Targeting EGFR and PD-L1. Antibodies (Basel) 2024; 13:36. [PMID: 38804304 PMCID: PMC11130809 DOI: 10.3390/antib13020036] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The optimization of the affinity of monoclonal antibodies is crucial for the development of drug candidates, as it can impact the efficacy of the drug and, thus, the dose and dosing regimen, limit adverse effects, and reduce therapy costs. Here, we present the affinity maturation of an EGFR×PD-L1 Two-in-One antibody for EGFR binding utilizing site-directed mutagenesis and yeast surface display. The isolated antibody variants target EGFR with a 60-fold-improved affinity due to the replacement of a single amino acid in the CDR3 region of the light chain. The binding properties of the Two-in-One variants were confirmed using various methods, including BLI measurements, real-time antigen binding measurements on surfaces with a mixture of both recombinant proteins and cellular binding experiments using flow cytometry as well as real-time interaction cytometry. An AlphaFold-based model predicted that the amino acid exchange of tyrosine to glutamic acid enables the formation of a salt bridge to an arginine at EGFR position 165. This easily adaptable approach provides a strategy for the affinity maturation of bispecific antibodies with respect to the binding of one of the two antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Harwardt
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Felix Klaus Geyer
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Katrin Schoenfeld
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | | | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Peter-Grünberg-Strasse 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
- Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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Zia S, Sumon MM, Ashik MA, Basar A, Lim S, Oh Y, Park Y, Rahman MM. Potential Inhibitors of Lumpy Skin Disease's Viral Protein (DNA Polymerase): A Combination of Bioinformatics Approaches. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1283. [PMID: 38731287 PMCID: PMC11083254 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091283] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Lumpy skin disease (LSD), caused by a virus within the Poxviridae family and Capripoxvirus genus, induces nodular skin lesions in cattle. This spreads through direct contact and insect vectors, significantly affecting global cattle farming. Despite the availability of vaccines, their efficacy is limited by poor prophylaxis and adverse effects. Our study aimed to identify the potential inhibitors targeting the LSDV-encoded DNA polymerase protein (gene LSDV039) for further investigation through comprehensive analysis and computational methods. Virtual screening revealed rhein and taxifolin as being potent binders among 380 phytocompounds, with respective affinities of -8.97 and -7.20 kcal/mol. Canagliflozin and tepotinib exhibited strong affinities (-9.86 and -8.86 kcal/mol) among 718 FDA-approved antiviral drugs. Simulating the molecular dynamics of canagliflozin, tepotinib, rhein, and taxifolin highlighted taxifolin's superior stability and binding energy. Rhein displayed compactness in RMSD and RMSF, but fluctuated in Rg and SASA, while canagliflozin demonstrated stability compared to tepotinib. This study highlights the promising potential of using repurposed drugs and phytocompounds as potential LSD therapeutics. However, extensive validation through in vitro and in vivo testing and clinical trials is crucial for their practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabbir Zia
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh; (S.Z.); (M.-M.S.); (M.-A.A.); (A.B.)
| | - Md-Mehedi Sumon
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh; (S.Z.); (M.-M.S.); (M.-A.A.); (A.B.)
| | - Md-Ashiqur Ashik
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh; (S.Z.); (M.-M.S.); (M.-A.A.); (A.B.)
| | - Abul Basar
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh; (S.Z.); (M.-M.S.); (M.-A.A.); (A.B.)
| | - Sangjin Lim
- College of Forest & Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yeonsu Oh
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yungchul Park
- College of Forest & Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea;
| | - Md-Mafizur Rahman
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh; (S.Z.); (M.-M.S.); (M.-A.A.); (A.B.)
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Amatya E, Subramanian C, Cohen MS, Blagg BSJ. Development of Hsp90 C-terminal inhibitors with noviomimetics that manifest anti-proliferative activities. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:888-894. [PMID: 38516588 PMCID: PMC10953479 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00529a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of the Hsp90 C-terminal domain offers a promising opportunity to treat numerous diseases/indications. Furthermore, the development of Hsp90 C-terminal inhibitors (CTIs) is advantageous over N-terminal inhibitors because it avoids the detriments associated with induction of the heat shock response (HSR). However, the lack of co-crystal structures of small molecules bound to the C-terminus have hindered their development. Therefore, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies have been pursued to optimize such inhibitors. Noviose sugar surrogates, also known as noviomimetics have been prepared to investigate the size and nature of the C-terminal domain binding pocket. Herein, we report the synthesis and anti-proliferative activity manifested by this new series of Hsp90 C-terminal inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Amatya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Warren Center for Drug Discovery, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana 46556 USA
| | - Chitra Subramanian
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Urbana Illinois 61801 USA
| | - Mark S Cohen
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Urbana Illinois 61801 USA
| | - Brian S J Blagg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Warren Center for Drug Discovery, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana 46556 USA
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12
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Sadaqat B, Dar MA, Sha C, Abomohra A, Shao W, Yong YC. Thermophilic β-mannanases from bacteria: production, resources, structural features and bioengineering strategies. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:130. [PMID: 38460032 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03912-4] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
β-mannanases are pivotal enzymes that cleave the mannan backbone to release short chain mannooligosaccharides, which have tremendous biotechnological applications including food/feed, prebiotics and biofuel production. Due to the high temperature conditions in many industrial applications, thermophilic mannanases seem to have great potential to overcome the thermal impediments. Thus, structural analysis of thermostable β-mannanases is extremely important, as it could open up new avenues for genetic engineering, and protein engineering of these enzymes with enhanced properties and catalytic efficiencies. Under this scope, the present review provides a state-of-the-art discussion on the thermophilic β-mannanases from bacterial origin, their production, engineering and structural characterization. It covers broad insights into various molecular biology techniques such as gene mutagenesis, heterologous gene expression, and protein engineering, that are employed to improve the catalytic efficiency and thermostability of bacterial mannanases for potential industrial applications. Further, the bottlenecks associated with mannanase production and process optimization are also discussed. Finally, future research related to bioengineering of mannanases with novel protein expression systems for commercial applications are also elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beenish Sadaqat
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Box 124, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mudasir A Dar
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chong Sha
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China
| | - Abdelfatah Abomohra
- Aquatic Ecophysiology and Phycology, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, 22609, Germany
| | - Weilan Shao
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yang-Chun Yong
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China.
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13
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Rosilan NF, Jamali MAM, Sufira SA, Waiho K, Fazhan H, Ismail N, Sung YY, Mohamed-Hussein ZA, Hamid AAA, Afiqah-Aleng N. Molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies uncover the host-pathogen protein-protein interactions in Penaeus vannamei and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297759. [PMID: 38266027 PMCID: PMC10807825 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297759] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Shrimp aquaculture contributes significantly to global economic growth, and the whiteleg shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, is a leading species in this industry. However, Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection poses a major challenge in ensuring the success of P. vannamei aquaculture. Despite its significance in this industry, the biological knowledge of its pathogenesis remains unclear. Hence, this study was conducted to identify the interaction sites and binding affinity between several immune-related proteins of P. vannamei with V. parahaemolyticus proteins associated with virulence factors. Potential interaction sites and the binding affinity between host and pathogen proteins were identified using molecular docking and dynamics (MD) simulation. The P. vannamei-V. parahaemolyticus protein-protein interaction of Complex 1 (Ferritin-HrpE/YscL family type III secretion apparatus protein), Complex 2 (Protein kinase domain-containing protein-Chemotaxis CheY protein), and Complex 3 (GPCR-Chemotaxis CheY protein) was found to interact with -4319.76, -5271.39, and -4725.57 of the docked score and the formation of intermolecular bonds at several interacting residues. The docked scores of Complex 1, Complex 2, and Complex 3 were validated using MD simulation analysis, which revealed these complexes greatly contribute to the interactions between P. vannamei and V. parahaemolyticus proteins, with binding free energies of -22.50 kJ/mol, -30.20 kJ/mol, and -26.27 kJ/mol, respectively. This finding illustrates the capability of computational approaches to search for molecular binding sites between host and pathogen, which could increase the knowledge of Vibrio spp. infection on shrimps, which then can be used to assist in the development of effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Fathiah Rosilan
- Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology (ICAMB), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Muhamad Arif Mohamad Jamali
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Bandar Baru Nilai, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Siti Aishah Sufira
- Research Unit for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (RUBIC), Kuliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Khor Waiho
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
- Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Hanafiah Fazhan
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
- Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Noraznawati Ismail
- Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology (ICAMB), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Yeong Yik Sung
- Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology (ICAMB), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Zeti-Azura Mohamed-Hussein
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, UKM Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Azzmer Azzar Abdul Hamid
- Research Unit for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (RUBIC), Kuliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Nor Afiqah-Aleng
- Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology (ICAMB), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
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14
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Adhikari S, Mondal J. Machine Learning Subtle Conformational Change due to Phosphorylation in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9433-9449. [PMID: 37905972 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05136] [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: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorylation of intrinsically disordered proteins/regions (IDPs/IDRs) has a profound effect in biological functions such as cell signaling, protein folding or unfolding, and long-range allosteric effects. However, here we focus on two IDPs, namely 83-residue IDR transcription factor Ash1 and 92-residue long N-terminal region of CDK inhibitor Sic1 protein, found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for which experimental measurements of average conformational properties, namely, radius of gyration and structure factor, indicate negligible changes upon phosphorylation. Here, we show that a judicious dissection of conformational ensemble via combination of unsupervised machine learning and extensive molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories can highlight key differences and similarities among the phosphorylated and wild-type IDP. In particular, we develop Markov state model (MSM) using the latent-space dimensions of an autoencoder, trained using multi-microsecond long MD simulation trajectories. Examination of structural changes among the states, prior to and upon phosphorylation, captured several similarities and differences in their backbone contact maps, secondary structure, and torsion angles. Hydrogen bonding analysis revealed that phosphorylation not only increases the number of hydrogen bonds but also switches the pattern of hydrogen bonding between the backbone and side chain atoms with the phosphorylated residues. We also observe that although phosphorylation introduces salt bridges, there is a loss of the cation-π interaction. Phosphorylation also improved the probability for long-range hydrophobic contacts and also enhanced interaction with water molecules and improved the local structure of water as evident from the geometric order parameters. The observations on these machine-learnt states gave important insights, as it would otherwise be difficult to determine experimentally which is important, if we were to understand the role of phosphorylation of IDPs in their biological functions.
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Dsouza N, C SK. Predicting the changes in neutralizing antibody interaction with G protein derived from Bangladesh isolates of Nipah virus: molecular dynamics based approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37643003 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2252084] [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: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The infectious Nipah virus (NiV) is categorized into NiV-M (Malaysia) and NiV-B (Bangladesh) groups based on its genome comparison, pathogenicity, and mortality rate. The development of therapeutic molecules has used NiV-M-derived data in multiple studies than NiV-B. In continuation with this, the protein level investigation is also less explored to understand the interaction with therapeutic neutralizing antibodies for NiV-B. So, this study focuses on understanding the impact of NiV-B-specific mutations on the interaction of therapeutic neutralizing antibodies with the G protein. The population-based comparative analysis of NiV-B G protein sequences with NiV-M sequence identified twenty-six mutations. These predominantly polar mutations were then used to model the mutant protein (G_MT). In a comparative study, the G protein G_MT and reference protein G_WT (Malaysian origin) were subjected to a protein docking with neutralizing human monoclonal antibody HENV26. The binding affinity and the free binding energy of the glycoprotein in complex with G-WT and G_MT were calculated using PRODIGY and MM/PBSA tools respectively. Based on the PRODIGY report, G-WT showed stronger binding (-13.8 kcal/mol) compared to that of the G_MT (-9.0 kcal/mol) with the HENV26 antibody. The stability of the complexes was evaluated using MM/PBSA which showed higher binding energy with HENV26 for G_WT (-75.11 kcal/mol) in contrast to G_MT (-41.66 kcal/mol). The results indicate that the mutant G protein has a reduced ability to bind to neutralizing antibodies, resulting in a decreased effectiveness against strains carrying these mutations.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norine Dsouza
- School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India
- Department of Biotechnology, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, India
| | - Selvaa Kumar C
- School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil Deemed to be University, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India
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16
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Tan KS, Azman AS, Hassandarvish P, Amelia-Yap ZH, Tan TK, Low VL. Protein Profiling of Aedes aegypti Treated with Streptomyces sp. KSF103 Ethyl Acetate Extract Reveals Potential Insecticidal Targets and Metabolic Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12398. [PMID: 37569772 PMCID: PMC10418484 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512398] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The insecticidal activity of Streptomyces sp. KSF103 ethyl acetate (EA) extract against mosquitoes is known; however, the underlying mechanism behind this activity remains elusive. In this study, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to investigate changes in the protein profile of Aedes aegypti larvae and adults treated with lethal concentrations of 50 (LC50) EA extract. By comparing the treated and untreated mosquitoes, this study aimed to identify proteins or pathways that exhibit alterations, potentially serving as targets for future insecticide development. Treatment with a lethal concentration of EA extract upregulated 15 proteins in larvae, while in adults, 16 proteins were upregulated, and two proteins were downregulated. These proteins were associated with metabolism, protein regulation/degradation, energy production, cellular organization and structure, enzyme activity, and catalysis, as well as calcium ion transport and homeostasis. Notably, ATP synthase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA), and ATP citrate synthase were significantly expressed in both groups. Gene ontology analysis indicated a focus on energy metabolic processes. Molecular docking revealed a strong interaction between dodemorph, selagine (compounds from the EA extract), and FBA, suggesting FBA as a potential protein target for insecticide development. Further studies such as Western blot and transcriptomic analyses are warranted to validate the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ker Shien Tan
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (K.S.T.); (P.H.); (Z.H.A.-Y.)
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | | | - Pouya Hassandarvish
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (K.S.T.); (P.H.); (Z.H.A.-Y.)
| | - Zheng Hua Amelia-Yap
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (K.S.T.); (P.H.); (Z.H.A.-Y.)
| | - Tiong Kai Tan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Van Lun Low
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (K.S.T.); (P.H.); (Z.H.A.-Y.)
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17
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Spassov DS, Atanasova M, Doytchinova I. Inhibitor Trapping in N-Myristoyltransferases as a Mechanism for Drug Potency. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11610. [PMID: 37511367 PMCID: PMC10380619 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411610] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Predicting inhibitor potency is critical in drug design and development, yet it has remained one of computational biology's biggest unresolved challenges. Here, we show that in the case of the N-myristoyltransferase (NMT), this problem could be traced to the mechanisms by which the NMT enzyme is inhibited. NMT adopts open or closed conformations necessary for orchestrating the different steps of the catalytic process. The results indicate that the potency of the NMT inhibitors is determined by their ability to stabilize the enzyme conformation in the closed state, and that in this state, the small molecules themselves are trapped and locked inside the structure of the enzyme, creating a significant barrier for their dissociation. By using molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that the conformational stabilization of the protein molecule in its closed form is highly correlated with the ligands activity and can be used to predict their potency. Hence, predicting inhibitor potency in silico might depend on modeling the conformational changes of the protein molecule upon binding of the ligand rather than estimating the changes in free binding energy that arise from their interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danislav S Spassov
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mariyana Atanasova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Irini Doytchinova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
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