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Povinelli APR, Zazeri G, Jones AM, Cornélio ML. A Computational–Experimental Investigation of the Molecular Mechanism of Interleukin-6-Piperine Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147994. [PMID: 35887341 PMCID: PMC9323498 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein, we elucidate the biophysical aspects of the interaction of an important protein, Interleukin-6 (IL6), which is involved in cytokine storm syndrome, with a natural product with anti-inflammatory activity, piperine. Despite the role of piperine in the inhibition of the transcriptional protein NF-κB pathway responsible for activation of IL6 gene expression, there are no studies to the best of our knowledge regarding the characterisation of the molecular interaction of the IL6-piperine complex. In this context, the characterisation was performed with spectroscopic experiments aided by molecular modelling. Fluorescence spectroscopy alongside van’t Hoff analyses showed that the complexation event is a spontaneous process driven by non-specific interactions. Circular dichroism aided by molecular dynamics revealed that piperine caused local α-helix reduction. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics disclosed the microenvironment of interaction as non-polar amino acid residues. Although piperine has three available hydrogen bond acceptors, only one hydrogen-bond was formed during our simulation experiments, reinforcing the major role of non-specific interactions that we observed experimentally. Root mean square deviation (RMSD) and hydrodynamic radii revealed that the IL6-piperine complex was stable during 800 ns of simulation. Taken together, these results can support ongoing IL6 drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Ribeiro Povinelli
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Mato Grosso, Campo Novo do Parecis 78360-000, Brazil;
| | - Gabriel Zazeri
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Mato Grosso, Campo Novo do Parecis 78360-000, Brazil;
- Correspondence: (G.Z.); (M.L.C.)
| | - Alan M. Jones
- School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Marinônio Lopes Cornélio
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE), UNESP, Rua Cristovão Colombo 2265, São José do Rio Preto 15054-000, Brazil
- Correspondence: (G.Z.); (M.L.C.)
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