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Diakou I, Papakonstantinou E, Papageorgiou L, Pierouli K, Dragoumani K, Spandidos DA, Bacopoulou F, Chrousos GP, Eliopoulos E, Vlachakis D. Novel computational pipelines in antiviral structure‑based drug design (Review). Biomed Rep 2022; 17:97. [PMID: 36382260 PMCID: PMC9634337 DOI: 10.3892/br.2022.1580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral infections constitute a fundamental and continuous challenge for the global scientific and medical community, as highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In combination with prophylactic vaccines, the development of safe and effective antiviral drugs remains a pressing need for the effective management of rare and common pathogenic viruses. The design of potent antivirals can be informed by the study of the three-dimensional structure of viral protein targets. Structure-based design of antivirals in silico provides a solution to the arduous and costly process of conventional drug development pipelines. Furthermore, rapid advances in high-throughput computing, along with the growth of available biomolecular and biochemical data, enable the development of novel computational pipelines in the hunt of antivirals. The incorporation of modern methods, such as deep-learning and artificial intelligence, has the potential to revolutionize the structure-based design and repurposing of antiviral compounds, with minimal side effects and high efficacy. The present review aims to provide an outline of both traditional computational drug design and emerging, high-level computing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Io Diakou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Louis Papageorgiou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Pierouli
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Dragoumani
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Flora Bacopoulou
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - George P. Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of The Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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2
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Diakou KI, Mitsis T, Pierouli K, Papakonstantinou E, Bongcam-Rudloff E, Wayengera M, Vlachakis D. Ebola Virus Disease and Current Therapeutic Strategies: A Review. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1339:131-137. [PMID: 35023100 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-78787-5_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The Ebola virus disease is a severe hemorrhagic fever that affects humans and other primates. Ebola virus, the causative agent of the disease, is transmitted to humans from wild animals and is highly contagious and aggressive with an estimated fatality rate to be around 50%. Since 1976, 11 outbreaks of Ebola virus disease have been reported in total, affecting mostly sub-Saharan Africa, while the most recent ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has more than 3000 reported cases and 72 deaths. Although an effective vaccine against Ebola virus disease has become available, no targeted treatment with proven efficacy upon infection is developed. Herein, we review the epidemiology of Ebola virus and the current situation in terms of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalliopi Io Diakou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Thanasis Mitsis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Pierouli
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Erik Bongcam-Rudloff
- SLU-Global Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Misaki Wayengera
- Department of Pathology, Unit of Genetics & Genomics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- DarkDNA Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Lab of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, King's College London, Strand, London, UK.
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3
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Leptidis S, Papakonstantinou E, Diakou KI, Pierouli K, Mitsis T, Dragoumani K, Bacopoulou F, Sanoudou D, Chrousos GP, Vlachakis D. Epitranscriptomics of cardiovascular diseases (Review). Int J Mol Med 2022; 49:9. [PMID: 34791505 PMCID: PMC8651226 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2021.5064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA modifications have recently become the focus of attention due to their extensive regulatory effects in a vast array of cellular networks and signaling pathways. Just as epigenetics is responsible for the imprinting of environmental conditions on a genetic level, epitranscriptomics follows the same principle at the RNA level, but in a more dynamic and sensitive manner. Nevertheless, its impact in the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains largely unexplored. CVD and its associated pathologies remain the leading cause of death in Western populations due to the limited regenerative capacity of the heart. As such, maintenance of cardiac homeostasis is paramount for its physiological function and its capacity to respond to environmental stimuli. In this context, epitranscriptomic modifications offer a novel and promising therapeutic avenue, based on the fine‑tuning of regulatory cascades, necessary for cardiac function. This review aimed to provide an overview of the most recent findings of key epitranscriptomic modifications in both coding and non‑coding RNAs. Additionally, the methods used for their detection and important associations with genetic variations in the context of CVD were summarized. Current knowledge on cardiac epitranscriptomics, albeit limited still, indicates that the impact of epitranscriptomic editing in the heart, in both physiological and pathological conditions, holds untapped potential for the development of novel targeted therapeutic approaches in a dynamic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanos Leptidis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Io Diakou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Pierouli
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Thanasis Mitsis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Dragoumani
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Flora Bacopoulou
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- First Department of Pediatrics, Center for Adolescent Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Despina Sanoudou
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Unit, Medical School, 'Attikon' Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Molecular Biology Division, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Center for New Biotechnologies and Precision Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - George P. Chrousos
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- First Department of Pediatrics, Center for Adolescent Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- First Department of Pediatrics, Center for Adolescent Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- School of Informatics, Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
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4
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Diakou KI, Mitsis T, Pierouli K, Papakonstantinou E, Megalooikonomou V, Efthimiadou A, Vlachakis D. Study of the Langat virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase through homology modeling. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 26. [PMID: 34316455 PMCID: PMC8312719 DOI: 10.14806/ej.26.1.944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Langat virus is a member of the Flaviviridae family and a close relative of a group of important tick-borne viruses that cause human encephalitis. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a significant component of the replication mechanism of the Flaviviridae viral family. In the present work, a three-dimensional model of the Langat virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase was designed through homology modeling. The experimentally determined structure of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of Dengue virus type II, another member of the same viral family, was employed as template for the homology modeling process. The resulting model underwent a series of optimisations and its quality was verified using the Verify3D algorithm. Important functional characteristics of the family of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases were identified in the generated model, thus affirming the potential for its use in the possible design of anti-viral agents for Langat virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalliopi Io Diakou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Thanasis Mitsis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Pierouli
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasileios Megalooikonomou
- Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, School of Engineering, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Aspasia Efthimiadou
- Department of Soil Science of Athens, Institute of Soil and Water Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization - Demeter, Attica, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Lab of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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5
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Vlachakis D, Papakonstantinou E, Mitsis T, Pierouli K, Diakou I, Chrousos G, Bacopoulou F. Molecular mechanisms of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and potential anti-COVID19 pharmacological targets since the outbreak of the pandemic. Food Chem Toxicol 2020; 146:111805. [PMID: 33038452 PMCID: PMC7543766 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a severe threat against public health and global economies. COVID-19, the disease caused by this virus, is highly contagious and has led to an ongoing pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 affects, mainly, the respiratory system, with most severe cases primarily showcasing acute respiratory distress syndrome. Currently, no targeted therapy exists, and since the number of infections and death toll keeps rising, it has become a necessity to study possible therapeutic targets. Antiviral drugs can target various stages of the viral infection, and in the case of SARS-CoV-2, both structural and non-structural proteins have been proposed as potential drug targets. This review focuses on the most researched SARS-CoV-2 proteins, their structure, function, and possible therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece; University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, 8 Levadias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece; Lab of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens, 11527, Greece; Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece
| | - Thanasis Mitsis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece
| | - Katerina Pierouli
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece
| | - Io Diakou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Athens, 11855, Greece
| | - George Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, 8 Levadias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece; Lab of Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou Street, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - Flora Bacopoulou
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, 8 Levadias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece.
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6
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Integrated structural and functional analysis of the protective effects of kinetin against oxidative stress in mammalian cellular systems. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13330. [PMID: 32770053 PMCID: PMC7414151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70253-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolism and signaling of cytokinins was first established in plants, followed by cytokinin discoveries in all kingdoms of life. However, understanding of their role in mammalian cells is still scarce. Kinetin is a cytokinin that mitigates the effects of oxidative stress in mammalian cells. The effective concentrations of exogenously applied kinetin in invoking various cellular responses are not well standardized. Likewise, the metabolism of kinetin and its cellular targets within the mammalian cells are still not well studied. Applying vitality tests as well as comet assays under normal and hyper-oxidative states, our analysis suggests that kinetin concentrations of 500 nM and above cause cytotoxicity as well as genotoxicity in various cell types. However, concentrations below 100 nM do not cause any toxicity, rather in this range kinetin counteracts oxidative burst and cytotoxicity. We focus here on these effects. To get insights into the cellular targets of kinetin mediating these pro-survival functions and protective effects we applied structural and computational approaches on two previously testified targets for these effects. Our analysis deciphers vital residues in adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) and adenosine receptor (A2A-R) that facilitate the binding of kinetin to these two important human cellular proteins. We finally discuss how the therapeutic potential of kinetin against oxidative stress helps in various pathophysiological conditions.
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Papageorgiou L, Papakonstantinou E, Salis C, Polychronidou E, Hagidimitriou M, Maroulis D, Eliopoulos E, Vlachakis D. Drugena: A Fully Automated Immunoinformatics Platform for the Design of Antibody-Drug Conjugates Against Neurodegenerative Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1194:203-215. [PMID: 32468536 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32622-7_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies are proteins that are the first line of defense in the adaptive immune response of vertebrates. Thereby, they are involved in a multitude of biochemical mechanisms and clinical manifestations with significant medical interest, such as autoimmunity, the regulation of infection, and cancer. An emerging field in antibody science that is of huge medicinal interest is the development of novel antibody-interacting drugs. Such entities are the antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which are a new type of targeted therapy, which consist of an antibody linked to a payload drug. Overall, the underlying principle of ADCs is the discerning delivery of a drug to a target, hoping to increase the potency of the original drug. Drugena suite is a pioneering platform that employs state-of-the-art computational biology methods in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases using ADCs. Drugena encompasses an up-to-date structural database of specialized antibodies for neurological disorders and the NCI database with over 96 million entities for the in silico development of ADCs. The pipeline of the Drugena suite has been divided into several steps and modules that are closely related with a synergistic fashion under a user-friendly graphical user interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Constantinos Salis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Marianna Hagidimitriou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Maroulis
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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8
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Raftopoulou S, Nicolaides NC, Papageorgiou L, Amfilochiou A, Zakinthinos SG, George P, Eliopoulos E, Chrousos GP, Vlachakis D. Structural Study of the DNA: Clock/Bmal1 Complex Provides Insights for the Role of Cortisol, hGR, and HPA Axis in Stress Management and Sleep Disorders. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1195:59-71. [PMID: 32468460 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32633-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we deploy an in silico pipeline of structural bioinformatics, thermodynamics, and molecular dynamics to investigate the role of cortisol in circadian rhythms, biorhythms, stress response, and even sleep disorders. Our study shows that high concentrations of cortisol intercalate in the minor groove of DNA. This phenomenon widens the adjacent major grooves and provides the Clock/Bmal1 complex with more space to dock and interact with DNA. Then, the strong charges of cortisol pull the alpha helices of the Clock/Bmal1 complex and bend it inward, thus establishing stronger interactions and prolonged signaling. Our results indicate that elevated cortisol levels play an important role in stress, inflammation, and sleep disorders as a result of prolonged and stronger dsDNA - Clock/Bmal1 interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Raftopoulou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Affidea Healthcare Company, Athens, Greece
| | - Nicolas C Nicolaides
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Louis Papageorgiou
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Amfilochiou
- Sismanoglio General Hospital of Attica, Respiratory Function & Sleep Study Unit, Marousi, Greece
| | - Spyros G Zakinthinos
- Critical Care and Pulmonary Services, Evangelismos Hospital, Medical School of Athens University, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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9
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Papageorgiou L, Maroulis D, Chrousos GP, Eliopoulos E, Vlachakis D. Antibody Clustering Using a Machine Learning Pipeline that Fuses Genetic, Structural, and Physicochemical Properties. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1194:41-58. [PMID: 32468522 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32622-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Antibody V domain clustering is of paramount importance to a repertoire of immunology-related areas. Although several approaches have been proposed for antibody clustering, still no consensus has been reached. Numerous attempts use information from genes, protein sequences, 3D structures, and 3D surfaces in an effort to elucidate unknown action mechanisms directly related to their function and to either link them directly to diseases or drive the discovery of new medicines, such as antibody drug conjugates (ADC). Herein, we describe a new V domain antibody clustering method based on the comparison of the interaction sites between each antibody and its antigen. A more specific clustering analysis of the antibody's V domain was provided using deep learning and data mining techniques. The multidimensional information was extracted from the structural resolved antibodies when they were captured to interact with other proteins. The available 3D structures of protein antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) interfaces contain information about how antibody V domains recognize antigens as well as about which amino acids are involved in the recognition. As such, the antibody surface holds information about antigens' folding that reside with the Ab-Ag interface residues and how they interact. In order to gain insight into the nature of such interactions, we propose a new simple philosophy to transform the conserved framework (fragment regions, complementarity-determining regions) of antibody V domain in a binary form using structural features of antibody-antigen interactions, toward identifying new antibody signatures in V domain binding activity. Finally, an advanced three-level hybrid classification scheme has been set for clustering antibodies in subgroups, which can combine the information from the protein sequences, the three-dimensional structures, and specific "key patterns" of recognized interactions. The clusters provide multilevel information about antibodies and antibody-antigen complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Maroulis
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Elias Eliopoulos
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. .,Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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10
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Olive Oil Polyphenols in Neurodegenerative Pathologies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1195:77-91. [PMID: 32468462 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32633-3_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases lead to the death of nerve cells in the brain or the spinal cord. A wide range of diseases are included within the group of neurodegenerative disorders, with the most common ones being dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. Millions of older people are suffering from such pathologies. The global increase of life expectancy unavoidably leads to a consequent increase in the number of people who will be at some degree affected by neurodegenerative-related diseases. At this moment, there is no effective therapy or treatment that can reverse the loss of neurons. A growing number of studies highlight the value of the consumption of medical foods, and in particular olive oil, as one of the most important components of the Mediterranean diet. A diet based on extra virgin olive oil seems to contribute toward the lowering of risk of age-related pathologies due to high phenol concentration. The link of a polyphenol found in extra virgin olive oil, namely, tyrosol, with the protein tyrosinase, associated to Parkinson's disease is underlined as a paradigm of affiliation between polyphenols and neurodegenerative disorders.
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11
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Papageorgiou L, Loukatou S, Sofia K, Maroulis D, Vlachakis D. An updated evolutionary study of Flaviviridae NS3 helicase and NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase reveals novel invariable motifs as potential pharmacological targets. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2017; 12:2080-93. [PMID: 26864387 DOI: 10.1039/c5mb00706b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The rate of Flaviviridae family virus infections worldwide has increased dramatically in the last few years. In addition, infections caused by arthropod vector viruses including Hepatitis C, West Nile, Dengue fever, Yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis are emerging throughout the world. Based on a recent taxon update, the Flaviviridae family comprises four main genera; Flavivirus, Hepacivirus, Pestivirus and a recent genus Pegivirus. Although the new scientific classification plays a key role in providing useful information about the relationships between viruses, many new documented viruses remain unclassified. Furthermore, based on the different results of several studies the classification is unclear. In an effort to provide more insights into the classification of viruses, a holistic evolutionary study of the two viral enzymes NS3 helicase and NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) has been conducted in this study. These two viral enzymes are very crucial for the inhibition of viruses due to the fact that they are involved in the survival, proliferation and transmission of viruses. The main goal of this study is the presentation of two novel updated phylogenetic trees of the enzymes NS3 helicase and NS5 RdRp as a reliable phylogeny "map" to correlate the information of the closely related viruses and identify new possible targets for the Flaviviridae family virus inhibition. Despite the earliest trials for drugs against Flaviviridae related viruses, no antiviral drug vaccine has been available to date. Therefore there is an urgent need for research towards the development of efficient antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece. and Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Styliani Loukatou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece.
| | - Kossida Sofia
- IMGT®, The International ImMunoGeneTics Information System®, Universite de Montpellier, Laboratoire d'ImmunoGenetique Moleculaire LIGM, UPR CNRS 1142, Institut de Genetique Humaine, 141 rue de la Cardonille, Montpellier, 34396 Cedex 5, France
| | - Dimitrios Maroulis
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece.
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Papageorgiou L, Megalooikonomou V, Vlachakis D. Genetic and structural study of DNA-directed RNA polymerase II of Trypanosoma brucei, towards the designing of novel antiparasitic agents. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3061. [PMID: 28265521 PMCID: PMC5335688 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei brucei (TBB) belongs to the unicellular parasitic protozoa organisms, specifically to the Trypanosoma genus of the Trypanosomatidae class. A variety of different vertebrate species can be infected by TBB, including humans and animals. Under particular conditions, the TBB can be hosted by wild and domestic animals; therefore, an important reservoir of infection always remains available to transmit through tsetse flies. Although the TBB parasite is one of the leading causes of death in the most underdeveloped countries, to date there is neither vaccination available nor any drug against TBB infection. The subunit RPB1 of the TBB DNA-directed RNA polymerase II (DdRpII) constitutes an ideal target for the design of novel inhibitors, since it is instrumental role is vital for the parasite’s survival, proliferation, and transmission. A major goal of the described study is to provide insights for novel anti-TBB agents via a state-of-the-art drug discovery approach of the TBB DdRpII RPB1. In an attempt to understand the function and action mechanisms of this parasite enzyme related to its molecular structure, an in-depth evolutionary study has been conducted in parallel to the in silico molecular designing of the 3D enzyme model, based on state-of-the-art comparative modelling and molecular dynamics techniques. Based on the evolutionary studies results nine new invariant, first-time reported, highly conserved regions have been identified within the DdRpII family enzymes. Consequently, those patches have been examined both at the sequence and structural level and have been evaluated in regard to their pharmacological targeting appropriateness. Finally, the pharmacophore elucidation study enabled us to virtually in silico screen hundreds of compounds and evaluate their interaction capabilities with the enzyme. It was found that a series of chlorine-rich set of compounds were the optimal inhibitors for the TBB DdRpII RPB1 enzyme. All-in-all, herein we present a series of new sites on the TBB DdRpII RPB1 of high pharmacological interest, alongside the construction of the 3D model of the enzyme and the suggestion of a new in silico pharmacophore model for fast screening of potential inhibiting agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece; Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patra, Greece
| | | | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece; Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patra, Greece
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X-ray structure of the pestivirus NS3 helicase and its conformation in solution. J Virol 2015; 89:4356-71. [PMID: 25653438 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.03165-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Pestiviruses form a genus in the Flaviviridae family of small enveloped viruses with a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome. Viral replication in this family requires the activity of a superfamily 2 RNA helicase contained in the C-terminal domain of nonstructural protein 3 (NS3). NS3 features two conserved RecA-like domains (D1 and D2) with ATPase activity, plus a third domain (D3) that is important for unwinding nucleic acid duplexes. We report here the X-ray structure of the pestivirus NS3 helicase domain (pNS3h) at a 2.5-Å resolution. The structure deviates significantly from that of NS3 of other genera in the Flaviviridae family in D3, as it contains two important insertions that result in a narrower nucleic acid binding groove. We also show that mutations in pNS3h that rescue viruses from which the core protein is deleted map to D3, suggesting that this domain may be involved in interactions that facilitate particle assembly. Finally, structural comparisons of the enzyme in different crystalline environments, together with the findings of small-angle X-ray-scattering studies in solution, show that D2 is mobile with respect to the rest of the enzyme, oscillating between closed and open conformations. Binding of a nonhydrolyzable ATP analog locks pNS3h in a conformation that is more compact than the closest apo-form in our crystals. Together, our results provide new insight and bring up new questions about pNS3h function during pestivirus replication. IMPORTANCE Although pestivirus infections impose an important toll on the livestock industry worldwide, little information is available about the nonstructural proteins essential for viral replication, such as the NS3 helicase. We provide here a comparative structural and functional analysis of pNS3h with respect to its orthologs in other viruses of the same family, the flaviviruses and hepatitis C virus. Our studies reveal differences in the nucleic acid binding groove that could have implications for understanding the unwinding specificity of pNS3h, which is active only on RNA duplexes. We also show that pNS3h has a highly dynamic behavior--a characteristic probably shared with NS3 helicases from all Flaviviridae members--that could be targeted for drug design by using recent algorithms to specifically block molecular motion. Compounds that lock the enzyme in a single conformation or limit its dynamic range of conformations are indeed likely to block its helicase function.
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Vlachakis D, Fakourelis P, Megalooikonomou V, Makris C, Kossida S. DrugOn: a fully integrated pharmacophore modeling and structure optimization toolkit. PeerJ 2015; 3:e725. [PMID: 25648563 PMCID: PMC4304849 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During the past few years, pharmacophore modeling has become one of the key components in computer-aided drug design and in modern drug discovery. DrugOn is a fully interactive pipeline designed to exploit the advantages of modern programming and overcome the command line barrier with two friendly environments for the user (either novice or experienced in the field of Computer Aided Drug Design) to perform pharmacophore modeling through an efficient combination of the PharmACOphore, Gromacs, Ligbuilder and PDB2PQR suites. Our platform features a novel workflow that guides the user through each logical step of the iterative 3D structural optimization setup and drug design process. For the pharmacophore modeling we are focusing on either the characteristics of the receptor or the full molecular system, including a set of selected ligands. DrugOn can be freely downloaded from our dedicated server system at www.bioacademy.gr/bioinformatics/drugon/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Paraskevas Fakourelis
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | | | - Christos Makris
- Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.,IMGT, Laboratoire d'ImmunoGénétique Moléculaire, Institut de Génétique Humaine, Montpellier, France
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Papageorgiou L, Loukatou S, Koumandou VL, Makałowski W, Megalooikonomou V, Vlachakis D, Kossida S. Structural models for the design of novel antiviral agents against Greek Goat Encephalitis. PeerJ 2014; 2:e664. [PMID: 25392762 PMCID: PMC4226726 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Greek Goat Encephalitis virus (GGE) belongs to the Flaviviridae family of the genus Flavivirus. The GGE virus constitutes an important pathogen of livestock that infects the goat’s central nervous system. The viral enzymes of GGE, helicase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), are ideal targets for inhibitor design, since those enzymes are crucial for the virus’ survival, proliferation and transmission. In an effort to understand the molecular structure underlying the functions of those viral enzymes, the three dimensional structures of GGE NS3 helicase and NS5 RdRP have been modelled. The models were constructed in silico using conventional homology modelling techniques and the known 3D crystal structures of solved proteins from closely related species as templates. The established structural models of the GGE NS3 helicase and NS5 RdRP have been evaluated for their viability using a repertoire of in silico tools. The goal of this study is to present the 3D conformations of the GGE viral enzymes as reliable structural models that could provide the platform for the design of novel anti-GGE agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Papageorgiou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece ; Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Styliani Loukatou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Vassiliki Lila Koumandou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | | | | | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens , Athens , Greece
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Docking studies of Pakistani HCV NS3 helicase: a possible antiviral drug target. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106339. [PMID: 25188400 PMCID: PMC4154687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) helicase is believed to be essential for viral replication and has become an attractive target for the development of antiviral drugs. The study of helicase is useful for elucidating its involvement in positive sense single-stranded RNA virus replication and to serve as templates for the design of novel antiviral drugs. In recent years, several models have been proposed on the conformational change leading to protein movement and RNA unwinding. Some compounds have been recently reported to inhibit the helicase and these include small molecules, RNA aptamers and antibodies. The current study is designed to help gain insights for the consideration of potential inhibitors for Pakistani HCV NS3 helicase protein. We have cloned, expressed and purified HCV NS3 helicase from Pakistani HCV serum samples and determined its 3D structure and employed it further in computational docking analysis to identify inhibitors against HCV genotype 3a (GT3a),including six antiviral key molecules such as quercetin, beta-carotene, resveratrol, catechins, lycopene and lutein. The conformation obtained after docking showed good hydrogen bond (HBond) interactions with best docking energy for quercetin and catechins followed by resveratrol and lutein. These anti-helicase key molecules will offer an alternative attraction to target the viral helicase, due to the current limitation with the interferon resistance treatment and presences of high rate of resistance in anti-protease inhibitor classes.
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Loukatou S, Papageorgiou L, Fakourelis P, Filntisi A, Polychronidou E, Bassis I, Megalooikonomou V, Makałowski W, Vlachakis D, Kossida S. Molecular dynamics simulations through GPU video games technologies. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOCHEMISTRY 2014; 3:64-71. [PMID: 27525251 PMCID: PMC4980074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Bioinformatics is the scientific field that focuses on the application of computer technology to the management of biological information. Over the years, bioinformatics applications have been used to store, process and integrate biological and genetic information, using a wide range of methodologies. One of the most de novo techniques used to understand the physical movements of atoms and molecules is molecular dynamics (MD). MD is an in silico method to simulate the physical motions of atoms and molecules under certain conditions. This has become a state strategic technique and now plays a key role in many areas of exact sciences, such as chemistry, biology, physics and medicine. Due to their complexity, MD calculations could require enormous amounts of computer memory and time and therefore their execution has been a big problem. Despite the huge computational cost, molecular dynamics have been implemented using traditional computers with a central memory unit (CPU). A graphics processing unit (GPU) computing technology was first designed with the goal to improve video games, by rapidly creating and displaying images in a frame buffer such as screens. The hybrid GPU-CPU implementation, combined with parallel computing is a novel technology to perform a wide range of calculations. GPUs have been proposed and used to accelerate many scientific computations including MD simulations. Herein, we describe the new methodologies developed initially as video games and how they are now applied in MD simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Loukatou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Louis Papageorgiou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, Athens 15784, Greece
| | - Paraskevas Fakourelis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
- Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics Faculty, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece
| | - Arianna Filntisi
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Polychronidou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
- Department of Informatics, Ionian University, Tsirigoti Square 7, Corfu 49100, Greece
| | - Ioannis Bassis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Vasileios Megalooikonomou
- Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics Faculty, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece
| | - Wojciech Makałowski
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Münster, Niels-Stensen-Straße 14, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
- Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics Faculty, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece
- Bionetwork ltd. 15234, Chalandri, Athens, Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
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Loukatou S, Fakourelis P, Papageorgiou L, Megalooikonomou V, Kossida S, Vlachakis D. Ebola virus epidemic: a deliberate accident? JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOCHEMISTRY 2014; 3:72-76. [PMID: 30175076 PMCID: PMC6114937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Loukatou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Paraskevas Fakourelis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Louis Papageorgiou
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
- Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University Campus, Athens, 15784, Greece
| | - Vasileios Megalooikonomou
- Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, School of Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Computational Biology & Medicine Group, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou Efessiou 4, Athens 11527, Greece
- Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, School of Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece
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Vlachakis D, Tsaniras SC, Ioannidou K, Papageorgiou L, Baumann M, Kossida S. A series of Notch3 mutations in CADASIL; insights from 3D molecular modelling and evolutionary analyses. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOCHEMISTRY 2014; 3:134. [PMID: 31799216 PMCID: PMC6887539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
CADASIL disease belongs to the group of rare diseases. It is well established that the Notch3 protein is primarily responsible for the development of CADASIL syndrome. Herein, we attempt to shed light to the actual molecular mechanism underlying CADASIL via insights that we have from preliminary in silico and proteomics studies on the Notch3 protein. At the moment, we are aware of a series of Notch3 point mutations that promote CADASIL. In this direction, we investigate the nature, extent, physicochemical and structural significance of the mutant species in an effort to identify the underlying mechanism of Notch3 role and implications in cell signal transduction. Overall, our in silico study has revealed a rather complex molecular mechanism of Notch3 on the structural level; depending of the nature and position of each mutation, a consensus significant loss of beta-sheet structure is observed throughout all in silico modeled mutant/wild type biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Katerina Ioannidou
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
| | - Louis Papageorgiou
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marc Baumann
- Protein Chemistry/Proteomics Unit, Biomedicum Helsinki, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, Finland
| | - Sophia Kossida
- Bioinformatics & Medical Informatics Team, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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