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da Rocha JAP, da Costa RA, da Costa ADSS, da Rocha ECM, Gomes AJB, Machado AK, Fagan SB, Brasil DDSB, Lima e Lima AH. Harnessing Brazilian biodiversity database: identification of flavonoids as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease using computational approaches and all-atom molecular dynamics simulation. Front Chem 2024; 12:1336001. [PMID: 38456183 PMCID: PMC10917896 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1336001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) is the etiological agent responsible for the global outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). The main protease of SARS-CoV-2, Mpro, is a key enzyme that plays a vital role in mediating viral replication and transcription. In this study, a comprehensive computational approach was employed to investigate the binding affinity, selectivity, and stability of natural product candidates as potential new antivirals acting on the viral polyprotein processing mediated by SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. A library of 288 flavonoids extracted from Brazilian biodiversity was screened to select potential Mpro inhibitors. An initial filter based on Lipinski's rule of five was applied, and 204 compounds that did not violate any of the Lipinski rules were selected. The compounds were then docked into the active site of Mpro using the GOLD program, and the poses were subsequently re-scored using MM-GBSA (Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born Surface Area) binding free energy calculations performed by AmberTools23. The top five flavonoids with the best MM-GBSA binding free energy values were selected for analysis of their interactions with the active site residues of the protein. Next, we conducted a toxicity and drug-likeness analysis, and non-toxic compounds were subjected to molecular dynamics simulation and free energy calculation using the MM-PBSA (Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area) method. It was observed that the five selected flavonoids had lower MM-GBSA binding free energy with Mpro than the co-crystal ligand. Furthermore, these compounds also formed hydrogen bonds with two important residues, Cys145 and Glu166, in the active site of Mpro. Two compounds that passed the drug-likeness filter showed stable conformations during the molecular dynamics simulations. Among these, NuBBE_867 exhibited the best MM-PBSA binding free energy value compared to the crystallographic inhibitor. Therefore, this study suggests that NuBBE_867 could be a potential inhibitor against the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 and may be further examined to confirm our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Augusto Pereira da Rocha
- Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Paraná (IFPA) Campus Bragança, Bragança, Brazil
- Laboratório de Planejamento e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Chemistry, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Renato Araújo da Costa
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Evolution and Microbiology, Federal Institute of Education Science and Technology of Paraná (IFPA) Campus Abaetetuba, Abaetetuba, Brazil
| | - Andreia do Socorro Silva da Costa
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Elaine Cristina Medeiros da Rocha
- Laboratory of Modeling and Computational Chemistry, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Paraná (IFPA) Campus Bragança, Bragança, Brazil
- Laboratório de Planejamento e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Chemistry, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Anderson José Bahia Gomes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Evolution and Microbiology, Federal Institute of Education Science and Technology of Paraná (IFPA) Campus Abaetetuba, Abaetetuba, Brazil
| | | | | | - Davi do Socorro Barros Brasil
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Chemistry, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Anderson Henrique Lima e Lima
- Laboratório de Planejamento e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Chemistry, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
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da Costa RA, da Costa ADSS, da Rocha JAP, Lima MRDC, da Rocha ECM, Nascimento FCDA, Gomes AJB, do Rego JDAR, Brasil DDSB. Exploring Natural Alkaloids from Brazilian Biodiversity as Potential Inhibitors of the Aedes aegypti Juvenile Hormone Enzyme: A Computational Approach for Vector Mosquito Control. Molecules 2023; 28:6871. [PMID: 37836714 PMCID: PMC10574778 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28196871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explores the potential inhibitory activity of alkaloids, a class of natural compounds isolated from Brazilian biodiversity, against the mJHBP enzyme of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito is a significant vector of diseases such as dengue, zika, and chikungunya. The interactions between the ligands and the enzyme at the molecular level were evaluated using computational techniques such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD), and molecular mechanics with generalized Born surface area (MMGBSA) free energy calculation. The findings suggest that these compounds exhibit a high binding affinity with the enzyme, as confirmed by the binding free energies obtained in the simulation. Furthermore, the specific enzyme residues that contribute the most to the stability of the complex with the compounds were identified: specifically, Tyr33, Trp53, Tyr64, and Tyr129. Notably, Tyr129 residues were previously identified as crucial in the enzyme inhibition process. This observation underscores the significance of the research findings and the potential of the evaluated compounds as natural insecticides against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These results could stimulate the development of new vector control agents that are more efficient and environmentally friendly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Araújo da Costa
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (A.d.S.S.d.C.); (F.C.d.A.N.); (J.d.A.R.d.R.); (D.d.S.B.B.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Evolution and Microbiology, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pará (IFPA) Campus Abaetetuba, Abaetetuba 68440-000, PA, Brazil; (M.R.d.C.L.); (A.J.B.G.)
| | - Andréia do Socorro Silva da Costa
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (A.d.S.S.d.C.); (F.C.d.A.N.); (J.d.A.R.d.R.); (D.d.S.B.B.)
| | - João Augusto Pereira da Rocha
- Graduate Program in Chemistry, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (J.A.P.d.R.); (E.C.M.d.R.)
| | - Marlon Ramires da Costa Lima
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Evolution and Microbiology, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pará (IFPA) Campus Abaetetuba, Abaetetuba 68440-000, PA, Brazil; (M.R.d.C.L.); (A.J.B.G.)
| | | | - Fabiana Cristina de Araújo Nascimento
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (A.d.S.S.d.C.); (F.C.d.A.N.); (J.d.A.R.d.R.); (D.d.S.B.B.)
| | - Anderson José Baia Gomes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Evolution and Microbiology, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pará (IFPA) Campus Abaetetuba, Abaetetuba 68440-000, PA, Brazil; (M.R.d.C.L.); (A.J.B.G.)
| | - José de Arimatéia Rodrigues do Rego
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (A.d.S.S.d.C.); (F.C.d.A.N.); (J.d.A.R.d.R.); (D.d.S.B.B.)
| | - Davi do Socorro Barros Brasil
- Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, Graduate Program in Science and Environment, Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (A.d.S.S.d.C.); (F.C.d.A.N.); (J.d.A.R.d.R.); (D.d.S.B.B.)
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