1
|
Yuan Z, Chen X, Fan S, Chang L, Chu L, Zhang Y, Wang J, Li S, Xie J, Hu J, Miao R, Zhu L, Zhao Z, Li H, Li S. Binding Free Energy Calculation Based on the Fragment Molecular Orbital Method and Its Application in Designing Novel SHP-2 Allosteric Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:671. [PMID: 38203841 PMCID: PMC10779950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010671] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The accurate prediction of binding free energy is a major challenge in structure-based drug design. Quantum mechanics (QM)-based approaches show promising potential in predicting ligand-protein binding affinity by accurately describing the behavior and structure of electrons. However, traditional QM calculations face computational limitations, hindering their practical application in drug design. Nevertheless, the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method has gained widespread application in drug design due to its ability to reduce computational costs and achieve efficient ab initio QM calculations. Although the FMO method has demonstrated its reliability in calculating the gas phase potential energy, the binding of proteins and ligands also involves other contributing energy terms, such as solvent effects, the 'deformation energy' of a ligand's bioactive conformations, and entropy. Particularly in cases involving ionized fragments, the calculation of solvation free energy becomes particularly crucial. We conducted an evaluation of some previously reported implicit solvent methods on the same data set to assess their potential for improving the performance of the FMO method. Herein, we develop a new QM-based binding free energy calculation method called FMOScore, which enhances the performance of the FMO method. The FMOScore method incorporates linear fitting of various terms, including gas-phase potential energy, deformation energy, and solvation free energy. Compared to other widely used traditional prediction methods such as FEP+, MM/PBSA, MM/GBSA, and Autodock vina, FMOScore showed good performance in prediction accuracies. By constructing a retrospective case study, it was observed that incorporating calculations for solvation free energy and deformation energy can further enhance the precision of FMO predictions for binding affinity. Furthermore, using FMOScore-guided lead optimization against Src homology-2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2), we discovered a novel and potent allosteric SHP-2 inhibitor (compound 8).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yuan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Xingyu Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Sisi Fan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Longfeng Chang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Linna Chu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Ying Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Jie Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Shuang Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Jinxin Xie
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Jianguo Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Runyu Miao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Lili Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Zhenjiang Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Honglin Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
- Innovation Center for AI and Drug Discovery, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Shiliang Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (Z.Y.); (X.C.); (S.F.); (Z.Z.)
- Innovation Center for AI and Drug Discovery, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dos Santos Nascimento IJ, Albino SL, da Silva Menezes KJ, de Azevedo Teotônio Cavalcanti M, de Oliveira MS, Mali SN, de Moura RO. Targeting SmCB1: Perspectives and Insights to Design Antischistosomal Drugs. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2264-2284. [PMID: 37921174 DOI: 10.2174/0109298673255826231011114249] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries, and schistosomiasis is among the most relevant diseases worldwide. In addition, one of the two biggest problems in developing drugs against this disease is related to drug resistance, which promotes the demand to develop new drug candidates for this purpose. Thus, one of the drug targets most explored, Schistosoma mansoni Cathepsin B1 (SmCB1 or Sm31), provides new opportunities in drug development due to its essential functions for the parasite's survival. In this way, here, the latest developments in drug design studies targeting SmCB1 were approached, focusing on the most promising analogs of nitrile, vinyl sulphones, and peptidomimetics. Thus, it was shown that despite being a disease known since ancient times, it remains prevalent throughout the world, with high mortality rates. The therapeutic arsenal of antischistosomal drugs (ASD) consists only of praziquantel, which is widely used for this purpose and has several advantages, such as efficacy and safety. However, it has limitations, such as the impossibility of acting on the immature worm and exploring new targets to overcome these limitations. SmCB1 shows its potential as a cysteine protease with a catalytic triad consisting of Cys100, His270, and Asn290. Thus, design studies of new inhibitors focus on their catalytic mechanism for designing new analogs. In fact, nitrile and sulfonamide analogs show the most significant potential in drug development, showing that these chemical groups can be better exploited in drug discovery against schistosomiasis. We hope this manuscript guides the authors in searching for promising new antischistosomal drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Igor José Dos Santos Nascimento
- Pharmacy Department, Cesmac University Center, Maceió, 57051-160, Brazil
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Sonaly Lima Albino
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Karla Joane da Silva Menezes
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Misael de Azevedo Teotônio Cavalcanti
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Mozaniel Santana de Oliveira
- Coordination of Botany-Laboratory Adolpho Ducke, Avenida Perimetral, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, 1901, Belém, 66077-530, PA Brazil
| | - Suraj N Mali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga East, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Ricardo Olimpio de Moura
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|