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Nie K, Zhang J, Xu H, Ren K, Yu C, Zhang Q, Li F, Yang Q. Reverse design of haptens based on antigen spatial conformation to prepare anti-capsaicinoids&gingerols antibodies for monitoring of gutter cooking oil. Food Chem X 2024; 22:101273. [PMID: 38524780 PMCID: PMC10957407 DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101273] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Rapid simultaneous detection of multi-component adulteration markers can improve the accuracy of identification of gutter cooking oil in edible oil, which is made possible by broad-spectrum antibody (bs-mAb). This study used capsaicinoids (CPCs) and gingerol derivatives (GDs) as adulteration markers, and two broad-spectrum haptens (bs-haptens) were designed and synthesized based on a reverse design strategy of molecular docking. Electrostatic potential (ESP) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) preparation verified the strategy's feasibility. To further investigate the recognition mechanism, five other reported antigens and mAbs were also used. Finally, the optimal combination (Hapten 5-OVA/1-F12) and key functional groups (f-groups) were determined. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for CPCs-GDs was between 88.13 and 499.16 ng/mL. Meanwhile, a preliminary lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) study made practical monitoring possible. The study provided a theoretical basis for the virtual screening of bs-haptens and simultaneous immunoassay of multiple exogenous markers to monitor gutter oil rapidly and accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunying Nie
- School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Vegetable Safety and Quality Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Zibo City Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Safety Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jiali Zhang
- School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Vegetable Safety and Quality Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Zibo City Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Safety Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
| | - Haitao Xu
- School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Vegetable Safety and Quality Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Zibo City Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Safety Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
| | - Keyun Ren
- School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Vegetable Safety and Quality Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Zibo City Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Safety Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
| | - Chunlei Yu
- School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Vegetable Safety and Quality Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Zibo City Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Safety Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China
- Key Laboratory of Detection for Mycotoxins, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China
- Laboratory of Risk Assessment for Oil-seeds Products, Wuhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Falan Li
- School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Vegetable Safety and Quality Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Zibo City Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Safety Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
| | - Qingqing Yang
- School of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Vegetable Safety and Quality Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
- Zibo City Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Safety Traceability, No. 266 Xincun Xilu, Zibo 255049, Shandong Province, China
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Zhang VY, O’Connor SL, Welsh WJ, James MH. Machine learning models to predict ligand binding affinity for the orexin 1 receptor. Artif Intell Chem 2024; 2:100040. [PMID: 38476266 PMCID: PMC10927255 DOI: 10.1016/j.aichem.2023.100040] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The orexin 1 receptor (OX1R) is a G-protein coupled receptor that regulates a variety of physiological processes through interactions with the neuropeptides orexin A and B. Selective OX1R antagonists exhibit therapeutic effects in preclinical models of several behavioral disorders, including drug seeking and overeating. However, currently there are no selective OX1R antagonists approved for clinical use, fueling demand for novel compounds that act at this target. In this study, we meticulously curated a dataset comprising over 1300 OX1R ligands using a stringent filter and criteria cascade. Subsequently, we developed highly predictive quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models employing the optimized hyper-parameters for the random forest machine learning algorithm and twelve 2D molecular descriptors selected by recursive feature elimination with a 5-fold cross-validation process. The predictive capacity of the QSAR model was further assessed using an external test set and enrichment study, confirming its high predictivity. The practical applicability of our final QSAR model was demonstrated through virtual screening of the DrugBank database. This revealed two FDA-approved drugs (isavuconazole and cabozantinib) as potential OX1R ligands, confirmed by radiolabeled OX1R binding assays. To our best knowledge, this study represents the first report of highly predictive QSAR models on a large comprehensive dataset of diverse OX1R ligands, which should prove useful for the discovery and design of new compounds targeting this receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Y. Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, West Windsor, NJ, USA
| | - Shayna L. O’Connor
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - William J. Welsh
- Department of Pharmacology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Morgan H. James
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, USA
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Vo HHN, Phung THT, Chung KL, Vu TY. Precise cuts for tailoring chromene-phenyl COX inhibitors with Ligand Designer. J Mol Graph Model 2024; 129:108747. [PMID: 38447296 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2024.108747] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 (COX-1/2) are enzymes renowned for inducing inflammatory responses through the production of prostaglandins. Thus, the development of COX inhibitors has been a promising approach for identifying compounds with anti-inflammatory potential. In this study, we designed 27 new compounds (1-27) based on the structure of a previously known COX inhibitor, using the Ligand Designer tool. Our aim was to improve the affinity of the compounds with COX enzymes by inducing interactions with residue Arg120 while retaining the good π-π stacking interactions of the chromene-phenyl scaffold. Through screening based on ligand-binding free energy defined by molecular docking simulations and MM/GBSA technique, compounds 9 and 10 were identified as having the highest ability to inhibit COX proteins. The binding affinities of the two compounds with COX-1/2 were superior to those of the original NAI10 compound and the reference drug indomethacin. Our virtual screening suggests that compounds 9 and 10 have a strong ability to inhibit COX-1/2 and thus could be promising candidates for further anti-inflammatory drug studies. In essence, our study underscores the pivotal role of the N-aryl iminocoumarin scaffold in shaping the future landscape of novel anti-inflammatory drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thu Huong Thi Phung
- NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Khanh Linh Chung
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Thien Y Vu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
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Zhou Y, Chen SJ. Advances in machine-learning approaches to RNA-targeted drug design. Artif Intell Chem 2024; 2:100053. [PMID: 38434217 PMCID: PMC10904028 DOI: 10.1016/j.aichem.2024.100053] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
RNA molecules play multifaceted functional and regulatory roles within cells and have garnered significant attention in recent years as promising therapeutic targets. With remarkable successes achieved by artificial intelligence (AI) in different fields such as computer vision and natural language processing, there is a growing imperative to harness AI's potential in computer-aided drug design (CADD) to discover novel drug compounds that target RNA. Although machine-learning (ML) approaches have been widely adopted in the discovery of small molecules targeting proteins, the application of ML approaches to model interactions between RNA and small molecule is still in its infancy. Compared to protein-targeted drug discovery, the major challenges in ML-based RNA-targeted drug discovery stem from the scarcity of available data resources. With the growing interest and the development of curated databases focusing on interactions between RNA and small molecule, the field anticipates a rapid growth and the opening of a new avenue for disease treatment. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of recent advancements in computationally modeling RNA-small molecule interactions within the context of RNA-targeted drug discovery, with a particular emphasis on methodologies employing ML techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhe Zhou
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7010, USA
| | - Shi-Jie Chen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Data Sciences and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7010, USA
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Yuan Z, Zhang M, Chang L, Chen X, Ruan S, Shi S, Zhang Y, Zhu L, Li H, Li S. Discovery of a novel SHP2 allosteric inhibitor using virtual screening, FMO calculation, and molecular dynamic simulation. J Mol Model 2024; 30:131. [PMID: 38613643 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-024-05935-y] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT SHP2 is a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase to remove tyrosine phosphorylation. Functionally, SHP2 is an essential bridge to connect numerous oncogenic cell-signaling cascades including RAS-ERK, PI3K-AKT, JAK-STAT, and PD-1/PD-L1 pathways. This study aims to discover novel and potent SHP2 inhibitors using a hierarchical structure-based virtual screening strategy that combines molecular docking and the fragment molecular orbital method (FMO) for calculating binding affinity (referred to as the Dock-FMO protocol). For the SHP2 target, the FMO method prediction has a high correlation between the binding affinity of the protein-ligand interaction and experimental values (R2 = 0.55), demonstrating a significant advantage over the MM/PBSA (R2 = 0.02) and MM/GBSA (R2 = 0.15) methods. Therefore, we employed Dock-FMO virtual screening of ChemDiv database of ∼2,990,000 compounds to identify a novel SHP2 allosteric inhibitor bearing hydroxyimino acetamide scaffold. Experimental validation demonstrated that the new compound (E)-2-(hydroxyimino)-2-phenyl-N-(piperidin-4-ylmethyl)acetamide (7188-0011) effectively inhibited SHP2 in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis revealed the binding stability of compound 7188-0011 and the SHP2 protein, along with the key interacting residues in the allosteric binding site. Overall, our work has identified a novel and promising allosteric inhibitor that targets SHP2, providing a new starting point for further optimization to develop more potent inhibitors. METHODS All the molecular docking studies were employed to identify potential leads with Maestro v10.1. The protein-ligand binding affinities of potential leads were further predicted by FMO calculations at MP2/6-31G* level using GAMESS v2020 system. MD simulations were carried out with AmberTools18 by applying the FF14SB force field. MD trajectories were analyzed using VMD v1.9.3. MM/GB(PB)SA binding free energy analysis was carried out with the mmpbsa.py tool of AmberTools18. The docking and MD simulation results were visualized through PyMOL v2.5.0.
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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, China
| | - Manzhan Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - 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, China
| | - 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, China
| | - Shanshan Ruan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanshan Shi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiqing Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - 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, China.
| | - 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, China.
- 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, China.
- Innovation Center for AI and Drug Discovery, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
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Aghahasani R, Shiri F, Kamaladiny H, Haddadi F, Pirhadi S. Hit discovery of potential CDK8 inhibitors and analysis of amino acid mutations for cancer therapy through computer-aided drug discovery. BMC Chem 2024; 18:73. [PMID: 38615023 PMCID: PMC11016228 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-024-01175-6] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) has emerged as a promising target for inhibiting cancer cell function, intensifying efforts towards the development of CDK8 inhibitors as potential cancer therapeutics. Mutations in CDK8, a protein kinase, are also implicated as a primary factor associated with tumor formation. In this study, we identified potential inhibitors through virtual screening for CDK8 and single amino acid mutations in CDK8, namely D173A (Aspartate 173 mutate to Alanine), D189N (Aspartate 189 mutate to Asparagine), T196A (Threonine 196 mutate to Alanine) and T196D (Threonine 196 mutate to Aspartate). Four databases (CHEMBEL, ZINC, MCULE, and MolPort) containing 65,209,131 molecules have been searched to identify new inhibitors for CDK8 and its single mutations. In the first step, structure-based pharmacophore modeling in the Pharmit server was used to select the compounds to know the inhibitors. Then molecules with better predicted drug-like molecule properties were selected. The final filter used to select more effective inhibitors among the previously selected molecules was molecular docking. Finally, 13 hits for CDK8, 11 hits for D173A, 11 hits for D189N, 15 hits for T196A, and 12 hits for T196D were considered potential inhibitors. A majority of the virtual screening hits exhibited satisfactorily predict pharmacokinetic characteristics and toxicity properties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Somayeh Pirhadi
- Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Shi K, Wang W, Sun J, Jiang C, Hao J. A rapid one-step affinity purification of C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1720:464801. [PMID: 38479154 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.464801] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The high-purity phycocyanin has a high commercial value. Most current purification methods of C-phycocyanin involve multiple steps, which are complicated and time-consuming. To solve the problem, this research was studied, and an efficient affinity chromatography purification for C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis was developed. Through molecular docking simulation, virtual screening of ligands was performed, and ursolic acid was identified as the specific affinity ligand, which coupled to Affi-Gel 102 gel via 1-ethyl (3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-carbodiimide, hydrochloride as coupling agent. With this customized and synthesized resin, a high-efficiency one-step purification procedure for C-phycocyanin was developed and optimized, the purity was determined to be 4.53, and the yield was 69 %. This one-step purification protocol provides a new approach for purifying other phycobilin proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Shi
- College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Byproducts, National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Byproducts, National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jingjing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Byproducts, National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Chengcheng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Byproducts, National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jianhua Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Byproducts, National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resource, Lianyungang 222005, China.
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Zhang H, Lu C, Yao Q, Jiao Q. In silico study to identify novel NEK7 inhibitors from natural sources by a combination strategy. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-024-10838-4. [PMID: 38598164 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10838-4] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Cancer poses a significant global health challenge and significantly contributes to mortality. NEK7, related to the NIMA protein kinase family, plays a crucial role in spindle assembly and cell division. The dysregulation of NEK7 is closely linked to the onset and progression of various cancers, especially colon and breast cancer, making it a promising target for cancer therapy. Nevertheless, the shortage of high-quality NEK7 inhibitors highlights the need for new therapeutic strategies. In this study, we utilized a multidisciplinary approach, including virtual screening, molecular docking, pharmacokinetics, molecular dynamics simulations (MDs), and MM/PBSA calculations, to evaluate natural compounds as NEK7 inhibitors comprehensively. Through various docking strategies, we identified three natural compounds: (-)-balanol, digallic acid, and scutellarin. Molecular docking revealed significant interactions at residues such as GLU112 and ALA114, with docking scores of -15.054, -13.059, and -11.547 kcal/mol, respectively, highlighting their potential as NEK7 inhibitors. MDs confirmed the stability of these compounds at the NEK7-binding site. Hydrogen bond analysis during simulations revealed consistent interactions, supporting their strong binding capacity. MM/PBSA analysis identified other crucial amino acids contributing to binding affinity, including ILE20, VAL28, ILE75, LEU93, ALA94, LYS143, PHE148, LEU160, and THR161, crucial for stabilizing the complex. This research demonstrated that these compounds exceeded dabrafenib in binding energy, according to MM/PBSA calculations, underscoring their effectiveness as NEK7 inhibitors. ADME/T predictions showed lower oral toxicity for these compounds, suggesting their potential for further development. This study highlights the promise of these natural compounds as bases for creating more potent derivatives with significant biological activities, paving the way for future experimental validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Chenhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qilong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qingcai Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Cieślak M, Danel T, Krzysztyńska-Kuleta O, Kalinowska-Tłuścik J. Machine learning accelerates pharmacophore-based virtual screening of MAO inhibitors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8228. [PMID: 38589405 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58122-7] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, an efficient and robust virtual screening procedure is crucial in the drug discovery process, especially when performed on large and chemically diverse databases. Virtual screening methods, like molecular docking and classic QSAR models, are limited in their ability to handle vast numbers of compounds and to learn from scarce data, respectively. In this study, we introduce a universal methodology that uses a machine learning-based approach to predict docking scores without the need for time-consuming molecular docking procedures. The developed protocol yielded 1000 times faster binding energy predictions than classical docking-based screening. The proposed predictive model learns from docking results, allowing users to choose their preferred docking software without relying on insufficient and incoherent experimental activity data. The methodology described employs multiple types of molecular fingerprints and descriptors to construct an ensemble model that further reduces prediction errors and is capable of delivering highly precise docking score values for monoamine oxidase ligands, enabling faster identification of promising compounds. An extensive pharmacophore-constrained screening of the ZINC database resulted in a selection of 24 compounds that were synthesized and evaluated for their biological activity. A preliminary screen discovered weak inhibitors of MAO-A with a percentage efficiency index close to a known drug at the lowest tested concentration. The approach presented here can be successfully applied to other biological targets as target-specific knowledge is not incorporated at the screening phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Cieślak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387, Kraków, Małopolska, Poland.
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Prof. S. Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348, Kraków, Małopolska, Poland.
- Computational Chemistry Department, Selvita, Bobrzynskiego 14, 30-348, Kraków, Małopolska, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Danel
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387, Kraków, Małopolska, Poland
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Jagiellonian University, Prof. S. Łojasiewicza 6, 30-348, Kraków, Małopolska, Poland
| | - Olga Krzysztyńska-Kuleta
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Selvita, Bobrzynskiego 14, 30-348, Kraków, Małopolska, Poland
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Tan X, Qu S, Wang G, Zhang G, Liu T, Ling F, Wang G. Structure-based discovery of potent myosin inhibitors to guide antiparasite drug development. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 269:116338. [PMID: 38522112 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116338] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Monogenea, a prevalent parasite in aquaculture, poses significant threats to the industry, leading to substantial losses. Current preventive measures have proven insufficient, necessitating the development of novel and effective anti-parasitic drugs. In this investigation, we obtained the full-length myosin cDNA sequence by analyzing three-generation transcriptome data, revealing a 5817-base sequence encoding 1938 amino acids. Subsequently, we modeled and analyzed the characteristics of the secondary and tertiary of myosin, pinpointing the crucial functional region within the motor domain (amino acids 1-768). The prokaryotic expression of this domain yielded a protein of 87.44 kDa, confirmed as myosin by Western Blotting. Molecular docking identified ASN439 as the key amino acid residue involved in arctigenin and myosin binding, a result corroborated by site-directed mutagenesis, affirming the active cavity of this interaction. Chalcone and shikonin were chosen from a virtual sieve of molecular library of natural drugs based on the active cavity. Chalcone and shikonin exhibited EC50 values of 1.085 mg/L and 0.371 mg/L, respectively, with corresponding IC50 values for myosin of 0.44 mM and 0.14 mM. Given its superior activity and structure, shikonin was selected for further optimization of drug molecule design, culminating in the discovery of 1,4-naphthoquinone as a potent antiparasitic agent. This compound demonstrated an EC50 of 0.047 mg/L, LC50 of 0.23 mg/L, and a TI index of 4.893. These findings collectively highlight the potential of shikonin and 1,4-naphthoquinone as alternative compounds to control Gyrodactylus infections. Further optimization of medicinal chemistry holds promise for the development of more potent 1,4-naphthoquinone analogues, offering prospects for future anthelmintic control through combinatorial or replacement strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoping Tan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Shenye Qu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Guangshuo Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Gengrong Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Tianqiang Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Fei Ling
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
| | - Gaoxue Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
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Dou X, Huo T, Liu Y, Pang Z, Su L, Zhao X, Peng X, Liu Z, Zhang L, Jiao N. Discovery of novel and selective farnesoid X receptor antagonists through structure-based virtual screening, preliminary structure-activity relationship study, and biological evaluation. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 269:116323. [PMID: 38547735 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116323] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acids receptor and plays a crucial role in regulating bile acids, lipids, and glucose metabolism. Previous research suggests that inhibiting FXR activation can be beneficial in reducing cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, offering potential treatment options for metabolic syndrome with lipid disorders. Herein, we report p-acetylaminobenzene sulfonate derivatives as a novel scaffold of FXR antagonists by multistage screening. Among these derivatives, compound F44-A13 exhibited a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 1.1 μM. Furthermore, compound F44-A13 demonstrated effective inhibition of FXR activation in cellular assays and exhibited high selectivity over eleven other nuclear receptors. Besides, compound F44-A13 significantly suppressed the regulation of FXR target genes Shp, Besp, and Cyp7a1, while reducing cholesterol levels in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Pharmacological studies conducted on C57BL/6 mice further confirmed that compound F44-A13 had beneficial effects in reducing cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C levels. These findings highlight that F44-A13 is a highly selective FXR antagonist that might serve as a useful molecule for further FXR studies as well as the development of FXR antagonists for the potential treatment of metabolic diseases with lipid disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Tongyu Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yameng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China; Changping Laboratory, Yard 28, Science Park Road, Changping District, Beijing, China
| | - Zichen Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lingyu Su
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xinyi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xing Peng
- Changping Laboratory, Yard 28, Science Park Road, Changping District, Beijing, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zhenming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Liangren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ning Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China; Changping Laboratory, Yard 28, Science Park Road, Changping District, Beijing, China.
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12
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Malik N, Agnihotri S, Dhiman P. Filtration of Natural Derivatives as MAO Inhibitors by Virtual Screening: A Potential Lead for Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cent Nerv Syst Agents Med Chem 2024; 24:CNSAMC-EPUB-139574. [PMID: 38584543 DOI: 10.2174/0118715249284642240326045923] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
AIM The purpose of the current study was to explore the virtual library for the screening against Monoamine oxidase (MAO) isoforms. An in-house library of natural based ligands was docked within the active sites of MAO isoforms and their in vitro study was also conducted. OBJECTIVE The prime objective of the current study was to screen and validate the natural-based derivatives for MAO inhibitory action with the least adverse effects and get molecular aspects about further structural modifications on the most active leads. BACKGROUND The importance of MAOs in controlling the activity of the central nervous system has been extensively studied. Our goal in this work is to identify a prospective natural lead molecule that has a stronger affinity for the MAO enzyme in order to produce a more effective natural candidate for a neurological agent. RESULTS In order to get insight into how different categories of natural compounds interact with the targeted protein, we virtually screened the numerous natural compound categories in the current study. Rhamnetin, quercetin, piperine, eugenol, and umbelliferone showed the highest dock scores in the case of MAO-B, with scores of -10.57, -9.938, -9.445, and 7.821, respectively. For MAO-A, umbelliferone, curcumin, caffeic acid, and quercetin, the corresponding dock scores were -8.001, -7.941, -7.357, and -6.658. Additionally, an in vitro MAO inhibitory experiment was utilized to assess the top-ranked compounds with the best docking scores. The most potent Human Monoamine oxidase (hMAO-A) inhibitor, with an IC50 of 10.98±0.006 M and a selectivity index (SI) of 0.607, was discovered to be the compound umbelliferone. Rhamnetin, the lead chemical, has demonstrated hMAO-B activity with a value of 10.32±0.044 M (SI value of 3.096). CONCLUSION These natural potential ligands have been found remarkable to the standard compounds against MAO-A and MAO-B, and they could be used as a lead chemical in the development of novel therapeutic candidates. The in silico screening results and in vitro hMAO inhibitory efficacy exhibited strong correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelam Malik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panipat Institute of Engineering & Technology (PIET), Samalkha, Haryana 132102, India
| | - Supriya Agnihotri
- Chandigarh College of Pharmacy, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran 140307, Punjab, India
| | - Priyanka Dhiman
- Chandigarh College of Pharmacy, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran 140307, Punjab, India
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Mokgopa KP, Lobb KA, Tshiwawa T. A Computational Study of Green Tea Extracts and their Derivatives as Potential Inhibitors for Squalene Monooxygenase. Med Chem 2024; 20:MC-EPUB-139581. [PMID: 38584555 DOI: 10.2174/0115734064280290240211170037] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND According to the World Health Organisation, cardiovascular complications have been recognized as the leading course of death between 2000 and 2019. Cardiovascular complications are caused by excess LDL cholesterol in the body or arteries that can build up to form a plaque. There are drugs currently in clinical use called statins that target HMGCoA reductase. However, these drugs result in several side effects. This work investigated using computational approaches to lower cholesterol by investigating green tea extracts as an inhibitors for squalene monooxygenase (the second-rate-controlling step in cholesterol synthesis). METHODS Pharmacophore modeling was done to identify possible pharmacophoric sites based on the pIC50 values. The best hypothesis generated by pharmacophore modeling was further validated by atom-based 3D QSAR, where 70% of the data set was treated as the training set. Prior molecular docking ADMET studies were done to investigate the physiochemical properties of these molecules. Glide docking was performed, followed by molecular dynamics to evaluate the protein conformational changes. RESULTS Pharmacophore results suggest that the best molecules to interact with the biological target should have at least one hydrogen acceptor (A5), two hydrogen donors (D9 and D10), and two benzene rings (R14 and R15) for green tea polyphenols and theasinensin A. ADMET result shows that all molecules in this class have low oral adsorption. Molecular docking results showed that some green tea polyphenols have good binding affinities, with most of these structures having a docking score of less than -10 kcal/mol. Molecular dynamics further illustrated that the best-docked ligands perfectly stay within the active site over a 100 ns simulation. CONCLUSION The results obtained from this study suggest that green tea polyphenols have the potential for inhibition of squalene monooxygenase, except for theasinensin A.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin A Lobb
- Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140, South Africa
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Vázquez J, García R, Llinares P, Luque FJ, Herrero E. On the relevance of query definition in the performance of 3D ligand-based virtual screening. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2024; 38:18. [PMID: 38573547 PMCID: PMC10995064 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-024-00561-5] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Ligand-based virtual screening (LBVS) methods are widely used to explore the vast chemical space in the search of novel compounds resorting to a variety of properties encoded in 1D, 2D or 3D descriptors. The success of 3D-LBVS is affected by the overlay of molecular pairs, thus making selection of the template compound, search of accessible conformational space and choice of the query conformation to be potential factors that modulate the successful retrieval of actives. This study examines the impact of adopting different choices for the query conformation of the template, paying also attention to the influence exerted by the structural similarity between templates and actives. The analysis is performed using PharmScreen, a 3D LBVS tool that relies on similarity measurements of the hydrophobic/philic pattern of molecules, and Phase Shape, which is based on the alignment of atom triplets followed by refinement of the volume overlap. The study is performed for the original DUD-E+ database and a Morgan Fingerprint filtered version (denoted DUD-E+-Diverse; available in https://github.com/Pharmacelera/Query-models-to-3DLBVS ), which was prepared to minimize the 2D resemblance between template and actives. Although in most cases the query conformation exhibits a mild influence on the overall performance, a critical analysis is made to disclose factors, such as the content of structural features between template and actives and the induction of conformational strain in the template, that underlie the drastic impact of the query definition in the recovery of actives for certain targets. The findings of this research also provide valuable guidance for assisting the selection of the query definition in 3D LBVS campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Vázquez
- Pharmacelera, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), C/ Baldiri Reixac 4-8, Barcelona, 08028, Spain.
- Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l'Alimentació i Gastronomia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Institut de Química Teòrica I Computacional (IQTC-UB), Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Prat de la Riba 171 , Santa Coloma de Gramenet, -08921, Spain.
| | - Ricardo García
- Pharmacelera, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), C/ Baldiri Reixac 4-8, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Paula Llinares
- Pharmacelera, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), C/ Baldiri Reixac 4-8, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l'Alimentació i Gastronomia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Institut de Química Teòrica I Computacional (IQTC-UB), Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Prat de la Riba 171 , Santa Coloma de Gramenet, -08921, Spain
| | - F Javier Luque
- Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l'Alimentació i Gastronomia, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Institut de Química Teòrica I Computacional (IQTC-UB), Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Prat de la Riba 171 , Santa Coloma de Gramenet, -08921, Spain
| | - Enric Herrero
- Pharmacelera, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), C/ Baldiri Reixac 4-8, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
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Niu Y, Gu Y, Zhang J, Sun B, Wu L, Mao X, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Li K, Zhang Y. Characteristics of saltiness-enhancing peptides derived from yeast proteins and elucidation of their mechanism of action by molecular docking. Food Chem 2024; 449:139216. [PMID: 38604031 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139216] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify saltiness-enhancing peptides from yeast protein and elucidate their mechanisms by molecular docking. Yeast protein hydrolysates with optimal saltiness-enhancing effects were prepared under conditions determined using an orthogonal test. Ten saltiness-enhancing peptide candidates were screened using an integrated virtual screening strategy. Sensory evaluation demonstrated that these peptides exhibited diverse taste characteristics (detection thresholds: 0.13-0.50 mmol/L). Peptides NKF, LGLR, WDL, NMKF, FDSL and FDGK synergistically or additively enhanced the saltiness of a 0.30% NaCl solution. Molecular docking revealed that these peptides predominantly interacted with TMC4 by hydrogen bonding, with hydrophilic amino acids from both peptides and TMC4 playing a pivotal role in their binding. Furthermore, Leu217, Gln377, Glu378, Pro474 and Cys475 were postulated as the key binding sites of TMC4. These findings establish a robust theoretical foundation for salt reduction strategies in food and provide novel insights into the potential applications of yeast proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Niu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Yuxiang Gu
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Jingcheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Baoguo Sun
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Lina Wu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Xiangzhao Mao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Zunying Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ku Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yuyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
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Wang T, Tong J, Zhang X, Wang Z, Xu L, Pan P, Hou T. Structure-based virtual screening of novel USP5 inhibitors targeting the zinc finger ubiquitin-binding domain. Comput Biol Med 2024; 174:108397. [PMID: 38603896 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108397] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The equilibrium of cellular protein levels is pivotal for maintaining normal physiological functions. USP5 belongs to the deubiquitination enzyme (DUBs) family, controlling protein degradation and preserving cellular protein homeostasis. Aberrant expression of USP5 is implicated in a variety of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory diseases. In this paper, a multi-level virtual screening (VS) approach was employed to target the zinc finger ubiquitin-binding domain (ZnF-UBD) of USP5, leading to the identification of a highly promising candidate compound 0456-0049. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were then employed to assess the stability of complex binding and predict hotspot residues in interactions. The results indicated that the candidate stably binds to the ZnF-UBD of USP5 through crucial interactions with residues ARG221, TRP209, GLY220, ASN207, TYR261, TYR259, and MET266. Binding free energy calculations, along with umbrella sampling (US) simulations, underscored a superior binding affinity of the candidate relative to known inhibitors. Moreover, US simulations revealed conformational changes of USP5 during ligand dissociation. These insights provide a valuable foundation for the development of novel inhibitors targeting USP5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhao Wang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Jianbo Tong
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China.
| | - Xing Zhang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, PR China; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, PR China
| | - Zhe Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Lei Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, 213001, PR China
| | - Peichen Pan
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, PR China.
| | - Tingjun Hou
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, PR China.
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Zhu J, Meng H, Li X, Jia L, Xu L, Cai Y, Chen Y, Jin J, Yu L. Optimization of virtual screening against phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta: Integration of common feature pharmacophore and multicomplex-based molecular docking. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 109:108011. [PMID: 38198965 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2023.108011] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Extensive research has accumulated which suggests that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta (PI3Kδ) is closely related to the occurrence and development of various human diseases, making PI3Kδ a highly promising drug target. However, PI3Kδ exhibits high homology with other members of the PI3K family, which poses significant challenges to the development of PI3Kδ inhibitors. Therefore, in the present study, a hybrid virtual screening (VS) approach based on a ligand-based pharmacophore model and multicomplex-based molecular docking was developed to find novel PI3Kδ inhibitors. 13 crystal structures of the human PI3Kδ-inhibitor complex were collected to establish models. The inhibitors were extracted from the crystal structures to generate the common feature pharmacophore. The crystallographic protein structures were used to construct a naïve Bayesian classification model that integrates molecular docking based on multiple PI3Kδ conformations. Subsequently, three VS protocols involving sequential or parallel molecular docking and pharmacophore approaches were employed. External predictions demonstrated that the protocol combining molecular docking and pharmacophore resulted in a significant improvement in the enrichment of active PI3Kδ inhibitors. Finally, the optimal VS method was utilized for virtual screening against a large chemical database, and some potential hit compounds were identified. We hope that the developed VS strategy will provide valuable guidance for the discovery of novel PI3Kδ inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Zhu
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Huiqin Meng
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Xintong Li
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Lei Jia
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213001, China
| | - Yanfei Cai
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yun Chen
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jian Jin
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Li Yu
- School of Inspection and Testing Certification, Changzhou Vocational Institute of Engineering, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China.
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Garisetti V, Dhanabalan AK, Dasararaju G. Discovery of potential TAAR1 agonist targeting neurological and psychiatric disorders: An in silico approach. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:130528. [PMID: 38431013 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130528] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a G-protein-coupled receptor which is primarily expressed in the brain. It is activated by trace amines which play a role in regulating neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. TAAR1 agonists have potential applications in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia. In this study, we have used a structure-based virtual screening approach to identify potential TAAR1 agonist(s). We have modelled the structure of TAAR1 and predicted the binding pocket. Further, molecular docking of a few well-known antipsychotic drugs was carried out with TAAR1 model, which showed key interactions with the binding pocket. From screening a library of 5 million compounds from the Enamine REAL Database using structure-based virtual screening method, we shortlisted 12 compounds which showed good docking score, glide energy and interactions with the key residues. One lead compound (Z31378290) was finally selected. The lead compound showed promising binding affinity and stable interactions with TAAR1 during molecular dynamics simulations and demonstrated better van der Waals and binding energy than the known agonist, ulotaront. Our findings suggest that the lead compound may serve as a potential TAAR1 agonist, offering a promising avenue for the development of new therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasavi Garisetti
- Centre of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600025, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anantha Krishnan Dhanabalan
- Centre of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600025, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Gayathri Dasararaju
- Centre of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600025, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Liu H, Chen P, Hu B, Wang S, Wang H, Luan J, Wang J, Lin B, Cheng M. FaissMolLib: An efficient and easy deployable tool for ligand-based virtual screening. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 110:108057. [PMID: 38581840 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108057] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Virtual screening-based molecular similarity and fingerprint are crucial in drug design, target prediction, and ADMET prediction, aiding in identifying potential hits and optimizing lead compounds. However, challenges such as lack of comprehensive open-source molecular fingerprint databases and efficient search methods for virtual screening are prevalent. To address these issues, we introduce FaissMolLib, an open-source virtual screening tool that integrates 2.8 million compounds from ChEMBL and ZINC databases. Notably, FaissMolLib employs the highly efficient Faiss search algorithm, outperforming the Tanimoto algorithm in identifying similar molecules with its tighter clustering in scatter plots and lower mean, standard deviation, and variance in key molecular properties. This feature enables FaissMolLib to screen 2.8 million compounds in just 0.05 seconds, offering researchers an efficient, easily deployable solution for virtual screening on laptops and building unique compound databases. This significant advancement holds great potential for accelerating drug discovery efforts and enhancing chemical data analysis. FaissMolLib is freely available at http://liuhaihan.gnway.cc:80. The code and dataset of FaissMolLib are freely available at https://github.com/Superhaihan/FiassMolLib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Design and New Drug Discovery of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Peiying Chen
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Design and New Drug Discovery of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Baichun Hu
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Design and New Drug Discovery of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Shizun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Design and New Drug Discovery of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanxun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Design and New Drug Discovery of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiasi Luan
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Design and New Drug Discovery of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Devices, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Design and New Drug Discovery of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bin Lin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Design and New Drug Discovery of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China.
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery of Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Drug Design and New Drug Discovery of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Li H, Sun M, Lei F, Liu J, Chen X, Li Y, Wang Y, Lu J, Yu D, Gao Y, Xu J, Chen H, Li M, Yi Z, He X, Chen L. Methyl rosmarinate is an allosteric inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 3 CL protease as a potential candidate against SARS-cov-2 infection. Antiviral Res 2024; 224:105841. [PMID: 38408645 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105841] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been ongoing for more than three years and urgently needs to be addressed. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions have played an important role in the clinical treatment of patients with COVID-19 in China. However, it is difficult to uncover the potential molecular mechanisms of the active ingredients in these TCM prescriptions. In this paper, we developed a new approach by integrating the experimental assay, virtual screening, and the experimental verification, exploring the rapid discovery of active ingredients from TCM prescriptions. To achieve this goal, 4 TCM prescriptions in clinical use for different indications were selected to find the antiviral active ingredients in TCMs. The 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), an important target for fighting COVID-19, was utilized to determine the inhibitory activity of the TCM prescriptions and single herb. It was found that 10 single herbs had better inhibitory activity than other herbs by using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) - based enzymatic assay of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. The ingredients contained in 10 herbs were thus virtually screened and the predicted active ingredients were experimentally validated. Thus, such a research strategy firstly removed many single herbs with no inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro at the very beginning by FRET-based assay, making our subsequent virtual screening more effective. Finally, 4 active components were found to have stronger inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, and their inhibitory mechanism was subsequently investigated. Among of them, methyl rosmarinate as an allosteric inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro was confirmed and its ability to inhibit viral replication was demonstrated by the SARS-CoV-2 replicon system. To validate the binding mode via docking, the mutation experiment, circular dichroism (CD), enzymatic inhibition and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay were performed, demonstrating that methyl rosmarinate bound to the allosteric site of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. In conclusion, this paper provides the new ideas for the rapid discovery of active ingredients in TCM prescriptions based on a specific target, and methyl rosmarinate has the potential to be developed as an antiviral therapeutic candidate against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongtao Li
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Meng Sun
- Department of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Fuzhi Lei
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinfeng Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Xixiang Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yaqi Li
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China; Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China; Peptide and small Molecule Drug R&D Plateform, Furong Laboratory, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, Hunan, China; DP Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Wang
- The National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Peptide Drug Development, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China; Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China; Peptide and small Molecule Drug R&D Plateform, Furong Laboratory, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, Hunan, China
| | - Jiani Lu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Danmei Yu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yueqiu Gao
- Department of Hepatopathy, Shuguang Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Shuguang Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Institute of Infectious Diseases of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, China
| | - Jianrong Xu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hongzhuan Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Man Li
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunity, Shuguang Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhigang Yi
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiao He
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China; New York University-East China Normal University Center for Computational Chemistry, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Lili Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 725 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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21
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Mosa FES, Alqahtani MA, El-Ghiaty MA, Barakat K, El-Kadi AOS. Identifying novel aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) modulators from clinically approved drugs: In silico screening and In vitro validation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 754:109958. [PMID: 38499054 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2024.109958] [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: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) functions as a vital ligand-activated transcription factor, governing both physiological and pathophysiological processes. Notably, it responds to xenobiotics, leading to a diverse array of outcomes. In the context of drug repurposing, we present here a combined approach of utilizing structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations. This approach aims to identify potential AhR modulators from Drugbank repository of clinically approved drugs. By focusing on the AhR PAS-B binding pocket, our screening protocol included binding affinities calculations, complex stability, and interactions within the binding site as a filtering method. Comprehensive evaluations of all DrugBank small molecule database revealed ten promising hits. This included flibanserin, butoconazole, luliconazole, naftifine, triclabendazole, rosiglitazone, empagliflozin, benperidol, nebivolol, and zucapsaicin. Each exhibiting diverse binding behaviors and remarkably very low binding free energy. Experimental studies further illuminated their modulation of AhR signaling, and showing that they are consistently reducing AhR activity, except for luliconazole, which intriguingly enhances the AhR activity. This work demonstrates the possibility of using computational modelling as a quick screening tool to predict new AhR modulators from extensive drug libraries. Importantly, these findings hold immense therapeutic potential for addressing AhR-associated disorders. Consequently, it offers compelling prospects for innovative interventions through drug repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farag E S Mosa
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mohammed A Alqahtani
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mahmoud A El-Ghiaty
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Khaled Barakat
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Ayman O S El-Kadi
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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22
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Yu F, Wu X, Chen W, Yan F, Li W. Computer-assisted discovery and evaluation of potential ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta 2 inhibitors. Comput Biol Med 2024; 172:108204. [PMID: 38484695 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108204] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
S6K2 is an important protein in mTOR signaling pathway and cancer. To identify potential S6K2 inhibitors for mTOR pathway treatment, a virtual screening of 1,575,957 active molecules was performed using PLANET, AutoDock GPU, and AutoDock Vina, with their classification abilities compared. The MM/PB(GB)SA method was used to identify four compounds with the strongest binding energies. These compounds were further investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to understand the properties of the S6K2/ligand complex. Due to a lack of available 3D structures of S6K2, OmegaFold served as a reliable 3D predictive model with higher evaluation scores in SAVES v6.0 than AlphaFold, AlphaFold2, and RoseTTAFold2. The 150 ns MD simulation revealed that the S6K2 structure in aqueous solvation experienced compression during conformational relaxation and encountered potential energy traps of about 19.6 kJ mol-1. The virtual screening results indicated that Lys75 and Lys99 in S6K2 are key binding sites in the binding cavity. Additionally, MD simulations revealed that the ligands remained attached to the activation cavity of S6K2. Among the compounds, compound 1 induced restrictive dissociation of S6K2 in the presence of a flexible region, compound 8 achieved strong stability through hydrogen bonding with Lys99, compound 9 caused S6K2 tightening, and the binding of compound 16 was heavily influenced by hydrophobic interactions. This study suggests that these four potential inhibitors with different mechanisms of action could provide potential therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
| | - Xiaochuan Wu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - WeiSong Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, China
| | - Fugui Yan
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
| | - Wen Li
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease of Zhejiang Province, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China.
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23
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Alabbas AB. Targeting XGHPRT enzyme to manage Helicobacter pylori induced gastric cancer: A multi-pronged machine learning, artificial intelligence and biophysics-based study. Saudi J Biol Sci 2024; 31:103960. [PMID: 38404541 PMCID: PMC10891342 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2024.103960] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori infects the stomach mucosa of over half of the global population and can lead to gastric cancer. This pathogen has demonstrated resistance to many frequently prescribed antibiotics, thereby underscoring the pressing need to identify novel therapeutic targets. The inhibition or disruption of nucleic acid biosynthesis constitutes a promising avenue for either restraining or eradicating bacterial proliferation. The synthesis of RNA and DNA precursors (6-oxopurine nucleoside monophosphates) is catalyzed by the XGHPRT enzyme. In this study, using machine learning, artificial intelligence and biophysics-based software, CHEMBRIDGE-10000196, CHEMBRIDGE-10000295, and CHEMBRIDGE-10000955 were predicted as promising binders to the XGHPRT with a binding score of -14.20, -13.64, and -12.08 kcal/mol, respectively, compared to a control guanosine-5'-monophosphate exhibiting a docking score of -10.52 kcal/mol. These agents formed strong interactions with Met33, Arg34, Ala57, Asp92, Ser93, and Gly94 at short distance. The docked complexes of the lead compounds exhibited stable dynamics during the simulation time with no global changes noticed. The docked complexes demonstrate a significantly stable MM-GBSA and MM-PBSA net binding energy of -60.1 and -61.18 kcal/mol for the CHEMBRIDGE-10000196 complex. The MM-GBSA net energy value of the CHEMBRIDGE-10000295 complex and the CHEMBRIDGE-10000955 complex is -71.17 and -65.29 kcal/mol, respectively. The CHEMBRIDGE-10000295 and CHEMBRIDGE-10000955 complexes displayed a net value of -71.91 and -63.49 kcal/mol, respectively, as per the MM-PBSA. The major driving intermolecular interactions for the docked complexes were found to be the electrostatic and van der Waals. The three filtered molecules hold potential for experimental evaluation of their potency against the XGHPRT enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alhumaidi B. Alabbas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia
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24
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Sarwar MF, Waseem QUA, Awan MF, Ali S, Ahmad A, Malook SU, Ali Q. In-silico characterization of LSDV132 protein divulged its BCL-2-like nature. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27657. [PMID: 38510042 PMCID: PMC10951589 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27657] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) belongs to Poxviridae family. This virus possesses various proteins which impart potential functions to it including assembly of newly synthesized viruses in the replication cycle and forming their structure. LSDV132 protein is also one of such proteins. Its key characteristics were unknown because, no any relevant study was reported about it. This study aimed to investigate its characteristic features and essential functions using several bioinformatics techniques. These analyses included physiochemical characterization and exploring the crucial functional and structural perspectives. Upon analysis of the physiochemical properties, the instability index was computed to be 30.89% which proposed LSDV132 protein to be a stable protein. Afterwards, the phosphorylation sites were explored. Several sites were found in this regard which led to the hypothesis that it might be involved in the regulation of apoptosis and cell signaling, among other cellular processes. Furthermore, the KEGG analysis and the analysis of protein family classification confirmed that the LSDV132 protein possessed Poxvirus-BCL-2-like motifs, indicating that it might be responsible in modulating the apoptosis of host cells. This crucial finding suggested that the protein under study possessed BCL-2-like features. Proceeding this very important finding, the molecular docking analysis was performed. In this context, various viral BCL-2 inhibitors were retrieved from the ChEMBL database for docking purpose. The docking results revealed that pelcitoclax exhibited best docking scores i.e., -9.1841 kcal/mol, among all of the other docked complexes. This fact signified that this compound might serve as an inhibitor of LSDV132 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Farhan Sarwar
- Department of Biotechnology, Knowledge Unit of Science, University of Management and Technology (UMT) Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Qurat ul Ain Waseem
- Department of Biotechnology, Knowledge Unit of Science, University of Management and Technology (UMT) Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Mudassar Fareed Awan
- Department of Biotechnology, Knowledge Unit of Science, University of Management and Technology (UMT) Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Sajed Ali
- Department of Biotechnology, Knowledge Unit of Science, University of Management and Technology (UMT) Sialkot, Pakistan
| | - Ajaz Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, 11451 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saif ul Malook
- Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida, USA
| | - Qurban Ali
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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25
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Vemula D, Mohanty S, Bhandari V. Repurposing of Food and Drug Admnistration (FDA) approved library to identify a potential inhibitor of trypanothione synthetase for developing an antileishmanial agent. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27602. [PMID: 38509977 PMCID: PMC10951594 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27602] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the top 10 neglected tropical diseases. Globally, it impacts more than 12 million individuals. In light of the absence of a safer, affordable treatment for the Leishmaniasis, along with therapeutic failures and drug resistance, novel therapeutic strategies are necessary to discover new drugs. Treatment would benefit by concentrating on the precise targets that are crucial for the parasite to survive. A target that aids in the organism's survival under oxidative stress is trypanothione synthetase (TyS), which is a component of the trypanothione pathway in Leishmania spp. To find potential TyS inhibitors for the purpose of discovering novel antileishmanial drugs, we used a virtual screening strategy. Using the Glide module of Schrodinger-suite 2023, an FDA-approved library containing 2000 drugs from the ZINC-15 database was screened against the TyS. Dostinex, raloxifene, and formoterol showed good docking scores of -10.568 kcal/mol, -10.446 kcal/mol, and -56.21 kcal/mol, as well as good binding energies of -70.41 kcal/mol, -56.21 kcal/mol, and -64.15 kcal/mol respectively. The stability of the ligand-protein complexes was assessed further with the help of Desmond to execute a 100-ns molecular dynamics simulation. The Prime module was utilised to perform post-MM/GBSA analysis on these three molecules along with the toxicity profiling using Protox II web server. This study suggests that dostinex, formoterol, and raloxifene may act as effective inhibitors of the TyS receptor which could be used as novel antileishmanial agents for the therapeutic applications. Thorough preclinical studies are necessary to confirm the identified compounds chemotherapeutic qualities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vasundhra Bhandari
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, India
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26
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Shtaiwi A, Khan SU, Khedraoui M, Alaraj M, Samadi A, Chtita S. A comprehensive computational study to explore promising natural bioactive compounds targeting glycosyltransferase MurG in Escherichia coli for potential drug development. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7098. [PMID: 38532068 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57702-x] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptidoglycan is a carbohydrate with a cross-linked structure that protects the cytoplasmic membrane of bacterial cells from damage. The mechanism of peptidoglycan biosynthesis involves the main synthesizing enzyme glycosyltransferase MurG, which is known as a potential target for antibiotic therapy. Many MurG inhibitors have been recognized as MurG targets, but high toxicity and drug-resistant Escherichia coli strains remain the most important problems for further development. In addition, the discovery of selective MurG inhibitors has been limited to the synthesis of peptidoglycan-mimicking compounds. The present study employed drug discovery, such as virtual screening using molecular docking, drug likeness ADMET proprieties predictions, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, to identify potential natural products (NPs) for Escherichia coli. We conducted a screening of 30,926 NPs from the NPASS database. Subsequently, 20 of these compounds successfully passed the potency, pharmacokinetic, ADMET screening assays, and their validation was further confirmed through molecular docking. The best three hits and the standard were chosen for further MD simulations up to 400 ns and energy calculations to investigate the stability of the NPs-MurG complexes. The analyses of MD simulations and total binding energies suggested the higher stability of NPC272174. The potential compounds can be further explored in vivo and in vitro for promising novel antibacterial drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amneh Shtaiwi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Middle East University, Queen Alia Airport Street, Amman, P.O. Box No. 11610, Jordan.
| | - Shafi Ullah Khan
- Interdisciplinary Research Unit for Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Baclesse Cancer Centre, Université de Caen Normandie Inserm Anticipe UMR 1086, Normandie Univ, Research Building, F‑14000 François 3 Avenue Général Harris, BP 45026, 14076, Cedex 05 Caen, France
- Centre François Baclesse, Avenue Général Harris, 14076, Caen Cedex, France
| | - Meriem Khedraoui
- Laboratory of Analytical and Molecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, Hassan II University of Casablanca, B. P 7955, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mohd Alaraj
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jerash, Jerash, Jordan
| | - Abdelouahid Samadi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, UAEU, P.O. Box No. 15551, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Samir Chtita
- Laboratory of Analytical and Molecular Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'Sik, Hassan II University of Casablanca, B. P 7955, Casablanca, Morocco
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27
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Boldini D, Ballabio D, Consonni V, Todeschini R, Grisoni F, Sieber SA. Effectiveness of molecular fingerprints for exploring the chemical space of natural products. J Cheminform 2024; 16:35. [PMID: 38528548 DOI: 10.1186/s13321-024-00830-3] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural products are a diverse class of compounds with promising biological properties, such as high potency and excellent selectivity. However, they have different structural motifs than typical drug-like compounds, e.g., a wider range of molecular weight, multiple stereocenters and higher fraction of sp3-hybridized carbons. This makes the encoding of natural products via molecular fingerprints difficult, thus restricting their use in cheminformatics studies. To tackle this issue, we explored over 30 years of research to systematically evaluate which molecular fingerprint provides the best performance on the natural product chemical space. We considered 20 molecular fingerprints from four different sources, which we then benchmarked on over 100,000 unique natural products from the COCONUT (COlleCtion of Open Natural prodUcTs) and CMNPD (Comprehensive Marine Natural Products Database) databases. Our analysis focused on the correlation between different fingerprints and their classification performance on 12 bioactivity prediction datasets. Our results show that different encodings can provide fundamentally different views of the natural product chemical space, leading to substantial differences in pairwise similarity and performance. While Extended Connectivity Fingerprints are the de-facto option to encoding drug-like compounds, other fingerprints resulted to match or outperform them for bioactivity prediction of natural products. These results highlight the need to evaluate multiple fingerprinting algorithms for optimal performance and suggest new areas of research. Finally, we provide an open-source Python package for computing all molecular fingerprints considered in the study, as well as data and scripts necessary to reproduce the results, at https://github.com/dahvida/NP_Fingerprints .
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Boldini
- TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), 85748, Garching bei München, Germany.
| | - Davide Ballabio
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza Della Scienza, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Viviana Consonni
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza Della Scienza, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Todeschini
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, P.zza Della Scienza, 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Grisoni
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Centre for Living Technologies, Alliance TU/e, WUR, UU, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Stephan A Sieber
- TUM School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), 85748, Garching bei München, Germany
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28
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Jangra J, Bajad NG, Singh R, Kumar A, Singh SK. Identification of novel potential cathepsin-B inhibitors through pharmacophore-based virtual screening, molecular docking, and dynamics simulation studies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-024-10821-z. [PMID: 38517648 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10821-z] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Cathepsin B is a cysteine protease lysosomal enzyme involved in several physiological functions. Overexpression of the enzyme enhances its proteolytic activity and causes the breakdown of amyloid precursor protein (APP) into neurotoxic amyloid β (Aβ), a characteristic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, inhibition of the enzyme is a crucial therapeutic aspect for treating the disease. Combined structure and ligand-based drug design strategies were employed in the current study to identify the novel potential cathepsin B inhibitors. Five different pharmacophore models were developed and used for the screening of the ZINC-15 database. The obtained hits were analyzed for the presence of duplicates, interfering PAINS moieties, and structural similarities based on Tanimoto's coefficient. The molecular docking study was performed to screen hits with better target binding affinity. The top seven hits were selected and were further evaluated based on their predicted ADME properties. The resulting best hits, ZINC827855702, ZINC123282431, and ZINC95386847, were finally subjected to molecular dynamics simulation studies to determine the stability of the protein-ligand complex during the run. ZINC123282431 was obtained as the virtual lead compound for cathepsin B inhibition and may be a promising novel anti-Alzheimer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jatin Jangra
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research Laboratory-I, Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Nilesh Gajanan Bajad
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research Laboratory-I, Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Ravi Singh
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research Laboratory-I, Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research Laboratory-I, Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Sushil Kumar Singh
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Research Laboratory-I, Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, 221005, India.
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Yuan H, Liu RD, Gao ZY, Zhong LT, Zhou YC, Tan JH, Huang ZS, Li Z, Chen SB. Targeting ATP-binding site of WRN Helicase: Identification of novel inhibitors through pocket analysis and Molecular Dynamics-Enhanced virtual screening. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024:129711. [PMID: 38521175 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2024.129711] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
WRN helicase is a critical protein involved in maintaining genomic stability, utilizing ATP hydrolysis to dissolve DNA secondary structures. It has been identified as a promising synthetic lethal target for microsatellite instable (MSI) cancers. However, few WRN helicase inhibitors have been discovered, and their potential binding sites remain unexplored. In this study, we analyzed potential binding sites for WRN inhibitors and focused on the ATP-binding site for screening new inhibitors. Through molecular dynamics-enhanced virtual screening, we identified two compounds, h6 and h15, which effectively inhibited WRN's helicase and ATPase activity in vitro. Importantly, these compounds selectively targeted WRN's ATPase activity, setting them apart from other non-homologous proteins with ATPase activity. In comparison to the homologous protein BLM, h6 exhibits some degree of selectivity towards WRN. We also investigated the binding mode of these compounds to WRN's ATP-binding sites. These findings offer a promising strategy for discovering new WRN inhibitors and present two novel scaffolds, which might be potential for the development of MSI cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yuan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Run-Duo Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhuo-Yu Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li-Ting Zhong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ying-Chen Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-Heng Tan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Shu Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhe Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuo-Bin Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Afzal M, Qais FA, Abduh NA, Christy M, Ayub R, Alarifi A. Identification of bioactive compounds of Zanthoxylum armatum as potential inhibitor of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2): Computational and virtual screening approaches. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27361. [PMID: 38495183 PMCID: PMC10943388 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27361] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
PKM2 (Pyruvate kinase M2) is the isoform of pyruvate kinase which is known to catalyse the last step of glycolysis that is responsible for energy production. This specific isoform is known to be highly expressed in certain cancerous conditions. Considering the role of this protein in various cancer conditions, we used PKM2 as a target protein to identify the potential compounds against this target. In this study, we have examined 96 compounds of Zanthoxylum armatum using an array of computational and in silico tools. The compounds were assessed for toxicity then their anticancer potential was predicted. The virtual screening was done with molecular docking followed by a detailed examination using molecular dynamics simulation. The majority of the compounds showed a higher probability of being antineoplastic. Based on toxicity, predicted anticancer potential, binding affinity, and binding site, three compounds (nevadensin, asarinin, and kaempferol) were selected as hit compounds. The binding energy of these compounds with PKM2 ranged from -7.7 to -8.3 kcal/mol and all hit compounds interact at the active site of the protein. The selected hit compounds formed a stable complex with PKM2 when simulated under physiological conditions. The dynamic analysis showed that these compounds remained attached to the active site till the completion of molecular simulation. MM-PBSA analysis showed that nevadensin exhibited a higher affinity towards PKM2 compared to asarinin and kaempferol. These compounds need to be assessed properties in vivo and in vitro to validate their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Afzal
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faizan Abul Qais
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, 202002, India
| | - Naaser A.Y. Abduh
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maria Christy
- Department of Energy Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Rashid Ayub
- Department of Science Technology and Innovation, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Alarifi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Piao L, Gao Y, Xu X, Su Y, Wang YD, Zhou J, Gao Y, Fang J, Li Q, Chang S, Kong R. Discovery of potent small molecule inhibitors of histone lysine methyltransferase NSDs. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116264. [PMID: 38412693 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116264] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor binding SET domain (NSD) proteins are a class of histone lysine methyltransferases and implicated in multiple cancer types with aberrant expression and involvement of cancer related signaling pathways. In this study, a series of small-molecule compounds including compound 2 and 3 are identified against the SET domain of NSDs through structure-based virtual screening. Our lead compound 3 exhibits potent inhibitory activities in vitro towards the NSD2-SET and NSD3-SET with an IC50 of 0.81 μM and 0.84 μM, respectively, and efficiently inhibits histone H3 lysine 36 dimethylation and decreases the expression of NSDs-targeted genes in non-small cell lung cancer cells at 100 nM. Compound 3 suppresses cell proliferation and reduces the clonogenicity in H460 and H1299 non-small cell lung cancer cells, and induces s-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These data establish our compounds as a valuable tool-kit for the study of the biological roles of NSDs in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianhua Piao
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Primary Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Changzhou, 213125, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China
| | - Yangyang Su
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China
| | | | - Jie Zhou
- Suzhou Medinoah Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215125, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Suzhou Medinoah Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215125, China
| | - Jin Fang
- Suzhou Medinoah Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215125, China
| | - Qihui Li
- Primary Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Changzhou, 213125, China
| | - Shan Chang
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China.
| | - Ren Kong
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213001, China.
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Chen S, Liu Y, Wang Z, Qi C, Yu Y, Xu L, Hou T, Sheng R. Identification of 3-aryl-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-carboxamide derivatives and analogs as novel HIF-2α agonists through docking-based virtual screening and structural modification. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116227. [PMID: 38387335 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116227] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factor-2 (HIF-2) serves as the pivotal transcription factor in cellular responses to low oxygen levels, particularly concerning the regulation of erythropoietin (EPO) production. A docking-based virtual screening on crystal structures of HIF-2α inhibitors unexpectedly identified 3-phenyl-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-carboxamide derivative v19 as a hit of HIF-2α agonist. Further structural optimizations of compound v19 led to the discovery of a series of HIF-2α agonists with novel scaffolds. The most promising compounds 12g and 14d exhibited potent HIF-2α agonistic activities in vitro with EC50 values of 2.29 μM and 1.78 μM, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations have revealed their capacity to allosterically enhance HIF-2 dimerization, which shed light on their mechanism of action. Moreover, compound 14d demonstrated a favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, boasting an impressive oral bioavailability value of 68.71 %. These findings strongly suggest that compound 14d is an auspicious lead compound for the treatment of renal anemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yao Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chengcheng Qi
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yanzhen Yu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, 213001, China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Rong Sheng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Jinhua, 321036, China.
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Pourhajibagher M, Bahador A. Bioinformatics analysis of photoexcited natural flavonoid glycosides as the inhibitors for oropharyngeal HPV oncoproteins. AMB Express 2024; 14:29. [PMID: 38466452 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-024-01684-6] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The presence of oropharyngeal human papillomavirus (HPV)-18 E6 and E7 oncoproteins is highly significant in the progression of oropharyngeal cancer. Natural flavonoid compounds have potential as photosensitizers for light-activated antimicrobial therapy against HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. This study evaluated five natural flavonoid glycosides including Fisetin, Kaempferol, Morin, Myricetin, and Quercetin as photosensitizers against HPV-18 E6 and E7 oncoproteins using computational methods. After obtaining the amino acid sequences of HPV-18 E6 and E7, various tools were used to predict and verify their properties. The PubChem database was then examined to identify potential natural flavonoid glycosides, followed by predictions of their drug-likeness and ADMET properties. Subsequently, molecular docking was conducted to enhance the screening accuracy and to gain insights into the interactions between the natural compounds and the active sites of HPV-18 E6 and E7 oncoproteins. The protein structures of E6 and E7 were predicted and validated to be reliable. The results of molecular docking demonstrated that Kaempferol exhibited the highest binding affinity to both E6 and E7. All compounds satisfied Lipinski's rules of drug-likeness, except Myricetin. They showed high absorption, distribution volume and similar ADMET profiles with no toxicity. In summary, natural flavonoid glycosides, especially Kaempferol, show potential as photosensitizers for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy against HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer through inhibition of E6 and E7 oncoproteins. These findings provide insights into the development of novel therapeutic strategies based on antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Pourhajibagher
- Dental Research Center, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Bahador
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Fellowship in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, BioHealth Lab, Tehran, Iran.
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Alzamami A, Alturki NA, Khan K, Basharat Z, Mashraqi MM. Screening inhibitors against the Ef-Tu of Fusobacterium nucleatum: a docking, ADMET and PBPK assessment study. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-024-10815-x. [PMID: 38457020 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10815-x] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The oral pathogen Fusobacterium nucleatum has recently been associated with an elevated risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), endometrial metastasis, chemoresistance, inflammation, metastasis, and DNA damage, along with several other diseases. This study aimed to explore the disruption of protein machinery of F. nucleatum via inhibition of elongation factor thermo unstable (Ef-Tu) protein, through natural products. No study on Ef-Tu inhibition by natural products or in Fusobacterium spp. exists till todate. Ef-Tu is an abundant specialized drug target in bacteria that varies from human Ef-Tu. Elfamycins target Ef-Tu and hence, Enacyloxin IIa was used to generate pharmacophore for virtual screening of three natural product libraries, Natural Product Activity and Species Source (NPASS) (n = 30000 molecules), Tibetan medicinal plant database (n = 54 molecules) and African medicinal plant database (n > 6000 molecules). Peptaibol Septocylindrin B (NPC141050), Hirtusneanoside, and ZINC95486259 were prioritized from these libraries as potential therapeutic candidates. ADMET profiling was done for safety assessment, physiological-based pharmacokinetic modeling in human and mouse for getting insight into drug interaction with body tissues and molecular dynamics was used to assess stability of the best hit NPC141050 (Septocylindrin B). Based on the promising results, we propose further in vitro, in vivo and pharmacokinetic testing on the lead Septocylindrin B, for possible translation into therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Alzamami
- Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, 11961, Al-Quwayiyah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Norah A Alturki
- Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, 11433, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kanwal Khan
- Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Zarrin Basharat
- Alpha Genomics (Private) Limited, Islamabad, 45710, Pakistan.
| | - Mutaib M Mashraqi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, 61441, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
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de Oliveira Viana J, Sena Mendes M, Santos Castilho M, Olímpio de Moura R, Guimarães Barbosa E. Spiro-Acridine Compound as a Pteridine Reductase 1 Inhibitor: in silico Target Fishing and in vitro Studies. ChemMedChem 2024:e202300545. [PMID: 38445815 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300545] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Among the many neglected tropical diseases, leishmaniasis ranks second in mortality rate and prevalence. In a previous study, acridine derivatives were synthesized and tested for their antileishmanial activity against L. chagasi. The most active compound identified in that study (1) showed a single digit IC50 value against the parasite (1.10 μg/mL), but its macromolecular target remained unknown. Aiming to overcome this limitation, this work exploited inverse virtual screening to identify compound 1's putative molecular mechanism of action. In vitro assays confirmed that compound 1 binds to Leishmania chagasi pteridine reductase 1 (LcPTR1), with moderate affinity (Kd=33,1 μM), according to differential scanning fluorimetry assay. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm the stability of LcPTR1-compound 1 complex, supporting a competitive mechanism of action. Therefore, the workflow presented in this work successfully identified PTR1 as a macromolecular target for compound 1, allowing the designing of novel potent antileishmanial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssika de Oliveira Viana
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, University Campus I-Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, 59078-970
| | - Marina Sena Mendes
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, University Campus Ondina - Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110
| | - Marcelo Santos Castilho
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, University Campus Ondina - Ondina, Salvador, BA, 40170-110
| | - Ricardo Olímpio de Moura
- Department of Pharmacy, State University of Paraíba, University Campus I - Universitário, Campina, Grande - PB, 58429-500
| | - Euzébio Guimarães Barbosa
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, University Campus I-Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, 59078-970
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, University Campus I - Petrópolis, Natal, RN, 59012-570
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Pedroni L, Perugino F, Magnaghi F, Dall’Asta C, Galaverna G, Dellafiora L. Free fatty acid receptors beyond fatty acids: A computational journey to explore peptides as possible binders of GPR120. Curr Res Food Sci 2024; 8:100710. [PMID: 38496766 PMCID: PMC10940776 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2024.100710] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Free fatty acids receptors, with members among G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), are crucial for biological signaling, including the perception of the so called "fatty taste". In recent years, GPR120, a protein belonging to the GPCR family, drew attention as an interesting pharmacological target to cope with obesity, satiety and diabetes. Apart from long chain fatty acids, which are GPR120 natural agonists, other synthetic molecules were identified as agonists expanding the chemical space of GPR120's ligands. In this scenario, we unveiled peptides as possible GPR120 binders toward a better understanding of this multifaceted and relevant target. This study analyzed a virtual library collecting 531 441 low-polar hexapeptides, providing mechanistic insights on the GPR120 activation and further extending the possible chemical space of GPR120 agonists. The computational pipeline started with a narrow filtering of hexapeptides based on their chemical similarity with known GPR120 agonists. The best hits were tested through docking studies, molecular dynamics and umbrella sampling simulations, which pointed to G[I,L]FGGG as a promising GPR120 agonist sequence. The presence of both peptides in food-related proteins was thoroughly assessed, revealing they may occur in mushrooms, food-grade bacteria and rice. Simulations on the counterparts with D-amino acids were also performed. Umbrella sampling simulations described that GdIFGGG may have a better interaction compared to its all-L counterpart (-13 kCal/mol ΔG and -6 kCal/mol ΔG, respectively). Overall, we obtained a predictive model to better understand the underpinning mechanism of GPR120-hexapeptides interaction, hierarchizing novel potential agonist peptides for further analysis and describing promising food sources worth of further dedicated investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Pedroni
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Florinda Perugino
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Magnaghi
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Luca Dellafiora
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Das A, Rajkhowa S, Sinha S, Zaki MEA. Unveiling potential repurposed drug candidates for Plasmodium falciparum through in silico evaluation: A synergy of structure-based approaches, structure prediction, and molecular dynamics simulations. Comput Biol Chem 2024; 110:108048. [PMID: 38471353 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2024.108048] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The rise of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, rendering current treatments ineffective, has hindered efforts to eliminate malaria. To address this issue, the study employed a combination of Systems Biology approach and a structure-based pharmacophore method to identify a target against P. falciparum. Through text mining, 448 genes were extracted, and it was discovered that plasmepsins, found in the Plasmodium genus, play a crucial role in the parasite's survival. The metabolic pathways of these proteins were determined using the PlasmoDB genomic database and recreated using CellDesigner 4.4.2. To identify a potent target, Plasmepsin V (PF13_0133) was selected and examined for protein-protein interactions (PPIs) using the STRING Database. Topological analysis and global-based methods identified PF13_0133 as having the highest centrality. Moreover, the static protein knockout PPIs demonstrated the essentiality of PF13_0133 in the modeled network. Due to the unavailability of the protein's crystal structure, it was modeled and subjected to a molecular dynamics simulation study. The structure-based pharmacophore modeling utilized the modeled PF13_0133 (PfPMV), generating 10 pharmacophore hypotheses with a library of active and inactive compounds against PfPMV. Through virtual screening, two potential candidates, hesperidin and rutin, were identified as potential drugs which may be repurposed as potential anti-malarial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhichandan Das
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam 786004, India
| | - Sanchaita Rajkhowa
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam 786004, India.
| | - Subrata Sinha
- Department of Computational Sciences, Brainware University, Barasat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700125, India
| | - Magdi E A Zaki
- Department of Chemistry, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Hu S, Liu W, Gan Y, Yang X, Wang Y, Wei X, Chen M, Zhang D, Ke B. Identification of (4-chlorophenyl)(5-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-b]furan-3-yl)methanone as novel COX-2 inhibitor with analgesic profile. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024; 100:129631. [PMID: 38307442 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2024.129631] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a serious problem that affects billions of people worldwide, but current analgesic drugs limit their use in chronic pain management due to their respective side effects. As a first-line clinical drug for chronic pain, COX-2 selective inhibitors can relieve mild to moderate pain, but they also have some problems. The most prominent one is that their analgesic intensity is not enough, and they cannot well meet the treatment needs of chronic pain. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop COX-2 inhibitors with stronger analgesic intensity. In this article, we used virtual screening method to screen out the structurally novel COX-2 inhibitor for chronic pain management, and conducted a preliminary study on its mechanism of action using molecular dynamics simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilong Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Wencheng Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Gan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xi Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanfang Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xing Wei
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Meiyuan Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Bowen Ke
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
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Kirchoff KE, Wellnitz J, Hochuli JE, Maxfield T, Popov KI, Gomez S, Tropsha A. Utilizing Low-Dimensional Molecular Embeddings for Rapid Chemical Similarity Search. Adv Inf Retr 2024; 14609:34-49. [PMID: 38585224 PMCID: PMC10998712 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-56060-6_3] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Nearest neighbor-based similarity searching is a common task in chemistry, with notable use cases in drug discovery. Yet, some of the most commonly used approaches for this task still leverage a brute-force approach. In practice this can be computationally costly and overly time-consuming, due in part to the sheer size of modern chemical databases. Previous computational advancements for this task have generally relied on improvements to hardware or dataset-specific tricks that lack generalizability. Approaches that leverage lower-complexity searching algorithms remain relatively underexplored. However, many of these algorithms are approximate solutions and/or struggle with typical high-dimensional chemical embeddings. Here we evaluate whether a combination of low-dimensional chemical embeddings and a k-d tree data structure can achieve fast nearest neighbor queries while maintaining performance on standard chemical similarity search benchmarks. We examine different dimensionality reductions of standard chemical embeddings as well as a learned, structurally-aware embedding-SmallSA-for this task. With this framework, searches on over one billion chemicals execute in less than a second on a single CPU core, five orders of magnitude faster than the brute-force approach. We also demonstrate that SmallSA achieves competitive performance on chemical similarity benchmarks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shawn Gomez
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC Chapel Hill and NCSU
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Shen T, Li S, Wang XS, Wang D, Wu S, Xia J, Zhang L. Deep reinforcement learning enables better bias control in benchmark for virtual screening. Comput Biol Med 2024; 171:108165. [PMID: 38402838 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108165] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Virtual screening (VS) has been incorporated into the paradigm of modern drug discovery. This field is now undergoing a new wave of revolution driven by artificial intelligence and more specifically, machine learning (ML). In terms of those out-of-the-box datasets for model training or benchmarking, their data volume and applicability domain are limited. They are suffering from the biases constantly reported in the ML application. To address these issues, we present a novel benchmark named MUBDsyn. The utilization of synthetic decoys (i.e., presumed inactives) is the main feature of MUBDsyn, where deep reinforcement learning was leveraged for bias control during decoy generation. Then, we carried out extensive validations on this new benchmark. First, we confirmed that MUBDsyn was superior to the classical benchmarks in control of domain bias, artificial enrichment bias and analogue bias. Moreover, we found that the assessment of ML models based on MUBDsyn was less biased as revealed by the analysis of asymmetric validation embedding bias. In addition, MUBDsyn showed better setting of benchmarking challenge for deep learning models compared with NRLiSt-BDB. Overall, we have proven that MUBDsyn is the close-to-ideal benchmark for VS. The computational tool is publicly available for the easy extension of MUBDsyn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Shan Li
- College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China
| | - Xiang Simon Wang
- Artificial Intelligence and Drug Discovery Core Laboratory for District of Columbia Center for AIDS Research (DC CFAR), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Howard University, USA
| | - Dongmei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Song Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Jie Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Liangren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
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Bu Y, Sun C, Guo J, Zhu W, Li J, Li X, Zhang Y. Identification novel salt-enhancing peptides from largemouth bass and exploration their action mechanism with transmembrane channel-like 4 (TMC4) by molecular simulation. Food Chem 2024; 435:137614. [PMID: 37820400 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137614] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to screen and verify salt-enhancing peptides that can effectively reduce sodium consumption from Largemouth bass myosin through virtual hydrolysis, molecular simulation, and sensory evaluation. The human transmembrane channel-like 4 (TMC4) was constructed using Alphafold2, with 93.3 % of amino acids falling within allowed regions. A total of 19 peptides were predicted through virtual hydrolysis and screening. DAF, QIF, RPAL, and IPVM significantly enhanced the saltiness perception, and QIF exhibited the most pronounced effect in enhancing saltiness (P < 0.05). The residues Ala258, Ser546, Ser603, Phe259, Cys265, Glu539, Lys278 and Ser585 were identified as key binding sites. The TMC4-DAF complex achieved stability after 20, 000 ps, exhibiting an average RMSD value of 0.84 nm. DAF consistently displayed fluctuations at approximately 3.05 nm, and the number of hydrogen bonds varied between 3 and 5. These results suggested that Alphafold2 modelling can be used for predicting salt-enhancing peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Bu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University. National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121013, China; Engineering Research Centre of Fujian-Taiwan Special Marine Food Processing and Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
| | - Chaonan Sun
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University. National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121013, China
| | - Jiaqi Guo
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University. National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121013, China
| | - Wenhui Zhu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University. National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121013, China
| | - Jianrong Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University. National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121013, China
| | - Xuepeng Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University. National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural and Aquatic Products, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121013, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Engineering Research Centre of Fujian-Taiwan Special Marine Food Processing and Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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Vettorazzi M, Díaz I, Angelina E, Salido S, Gutierrez L, Alvarez SE, Cobo J, Enriz RD. Second generation of pyrimidin-quinolone hybrids obtained from virtual screening acting as sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitors and potential anticancer agents. Bioorg Chem 2024; 144:107112. [PMID: 38237390 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107112] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
We report here the virtual screening design, synthesis and activity of eight new inhibitors of SphK1. For this study we used a pre-trained Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) combined with docking calculations. This exploratory analysis proposed nine compounds from which eight displayed significant inhibitory effect against sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) demonstrating a high level of efficacy for this approach. Four of these compounds also displayed anticancer activity against different tumor cell lines, and three of them (5), (6) and (7) have shown a wide inhibitory action against many of the cancer cell line tested, with GI50 below 5 µM, being (5) the most promising with TGI below 10 µM for the half of cell lines. Our results suggest that the three most promising compounds reported here are the pyrimidine-quinolone hybrids (1) and (6) linked by p-aminophenylsulfanyl and o-aminophenol fragments respectively, and (8) without such aryl linker. We also performed an exhaustive study about the molecular interactions that stabilize the different ligands at the binding site of SphK1. This molecular modeling analysis was carried out by using combined techniques: docking calculations, MD simulations and QTAIM analysis. In this study we also included PF543, as reference compound, in order to better understand the molecular behavior of these ligands at the binding site of SphK1.These results provide useful information for the design of new inhibitors of SphK1 possessing these structural scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Vettorazzi
- Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Ejercito de los Andes 950, (5700) San Luis, Argentina; Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas (IMIBIO-SL), Ejercito de los Andes 950, (5700) San Luis, Argentina
| | - Iván Díaz
- Universidad de Jaén, Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Orgánica, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain
| | - Emilio Angelina
- Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Departamento de Química, Área de Química Física, Laboratorio de Estructura Molecular y Propiedades, Avda. Libertad 5460, 3400 Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Sofía Salido
- Universidad de Jaén, Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Orgánica, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain
| | - Lucas Gutierrez
- Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Ejercito de los Andes 950, (5700) San Luis, Argentina; Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas (IMIBIO-SL), Ejercito de los Andes 950, (5700) San Luis, Argentina
| | - Sergio E Alvarez
- Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Ejercito de los Andes 950, (5700) San Luis, Argentina; Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas (IMIBIO-SL), Ejercito de los Andes 950, (5700) San Luis, Argentina
| | - Justo Cobo
- Universidad de Jaén, Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Orgánica, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain.
| | - Ricardo D Enriz
- Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Ejercito de los Andes 950, (5700) San Luis, Argentina; Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas (IMIBIO-SL), Ejercito de los Andes 950, (5700) San Luis, Argentina.
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Li J, Chen X, Liu R, Liu X, Shu M. Engineering novel scaffolds for specific HDAC11 inhibitors against metabolic diseases exploiting deep learning, virtual screening, and molecular dynamics simulations. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 262:129810. [PMID: 38340912 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129810] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The prevalence of metabolic diseases is increasing at a frightening rate year by year. The burgeoning development of deep learning enables drug design to be more efficient, selective, and structurally novel. The critical relevance of Histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11) to the pathogenesis of several metabolic diseases makes it a promising drug target for curbing metabolic disorders. The present study aims to design new specific HDAC11 inhibitors for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Deep learning was performed to learn the properties of existing HDAC11 inhibitors and yield a novel compound library containing 23,122 molecules. Subsequently, the compound library was screened by ADMET properties, Lipinski & Veber rules, traditional machine classification models, and molecular docking, and 10 compounds were screened as candidate HDAC11 inhibitors. The stability of the 10 new molecules was further evaluated by deploying RMSD, RMSF, MM/GBSA, free energy landscape mapping, and PCA analysis in molecular dynamics simulations. As a result, ten compounds, Cpd_17556, Cpd_2184, Cpd_8907, Cpd_7771, Cpd_14959, Cpd_7108, Cpd_12383, Cpd_13153, Cpd_14500and Cpd_21811, were characterized as good HDAC11 inhibitors and are expected to be promising drug candidates for metabolic disorders, and further in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials to demonstrate in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Li
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China; Key Laboratory of Screening and activity evaluation of targeted drugs, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - XiaoDie Chen
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China; Key Laboratory of Screening and activity evaluation of targeted drugs, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Rong Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China; Key Laboratory of Screening and activity evaluation of targeted drugs, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Xingyu Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China; Key Laboratory of Screening and activity evaluation of targeted drugs, Chongqing 400054, China
| | - Mao Shu
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China; Key Laboratory of Screening and activity evaluation of targeted drugs, Chongqing 400054, China.
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Munikumar M, Pradeepkiran JA, Kumar MK, Banapuram S, Bhat Edurkala A. Comprehensive structural and functional analysis of hVEGFR1: Insights into phosphorylation, molecular interactions, and potential inhibitors through docking and dynamics simulations. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2024; 39:100795. [PMID: 38428067 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2024.100795] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 1 (VEGFR1), is an enzyme with tyrosine kinase activity that plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation. This receptor is of significant clinical importance as it is implicated in various cancers, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), where its dysregulation leads to uncontrolled cell growth through ligand-induced phosphorylation. While commercially available drugs target VEGFR1, their prolonged use often leads to drug resistance and the emergence of mutations in cancer patients. To address these challenges, researchers have identified the human tyrosine kinase (hTK) domain of VEGFR1 as a potential therapeutic marker for lung malignancies. The 3D crystal structure of the hTK domain, obtained from Protein Data Bank (PDB ID: 3HNG), has provided vital structural insights of hVEGFR1. This study has revealed variations within the hVEGFR1 tyrosine kinase domain, distinguishing between regions associated with phosphorylase kinase and transferase activities. We identified numerous potential phosphorylation sites within the TK domain, shedding light on the protein's regulation and signaling possible. Detailed molecular interaction analyses have elucidated the binding forces between lead molecules and hVEGFR1, including hydrogen bonds, electrostatic, hydrophobic, and π-sigma interactions. The stability observed during molecular dynamics simulations further underscores the biological relevance of these interactions. Furthermore, docked complexes has highlighted localized structural fluctuations, offering insight into potential allosteric effects and dynamic conformational changes induced by lead molecules. These findings not only provide a comprehensive characterization of hVEGFR1 but also pave the way for the development of targeted therapies. Eventually, this study has the potential in identifying drug to combat diseases associated with hVEGFR1 dysregulation, including cancer and angiogenesis-related disorders, contributing to effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manne Munikumar
- Clinical Division, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Jamai-Osmania (Post), Hyderabad, 500007, Telangana, India
| | | | | | - Swathi Banapuram
- Clinical Division & Animal Facility, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 500007, India
| | - Akshatha Bhat Edurkala
- Clinical Division & Animal Facility, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 500007, India
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Kumar H, Datusalia AK, Khatik GL. Virtual screening of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors through pharmacophore-based 3D-QSAR modeling, ADMET, molecular docking, and MD simulation studies. In Silico Pharmacol 2024; 12:13. [PMID: 38370859 PMCID: PMC10873251 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-024-00189-1] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia in elderly patients. The pathophysiology of AD includes various pathways, such as the degradation of acetylcholine, amyloid-beta deposition, neurofibrillary tangle formation, and neuroinflammation. Many studies showed that targeting acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) to improve acetylcholine can be an effective option to treat AD. In the current work, we employed a 3D QSAR-based approach to generate a pharmacophore to screen a chemical library of compounds that may inhibit AChE. Data from experimental studies were collected and used for the generation of pharmacophores. More than 1 million compounds were screened, and further drug-like properties were determined via in-silico ADMET studies. Techniques like molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were performed to analyze the binding of novel AChE inhibitors. A novel AChE inhibitor ligand-1 was identified as best with a docking score of -13.560 kcal/mol with RMSD of 1.71 Å during a 100 ns MD run. Further biological studies can give an insight into the potential of ligand-1 as a therapeutic agent for AD. Graphical Abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00189-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitesh Kumar
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Raebareli, New Transit Campus, Near CRPF Base Camp, Bijnor-Sisendi Road, Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226002 India
| | - Ashok Kumar Datusalia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Raebareli, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226002 India
| | - Gopal L. Khatik
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Raebareli, New Transit Campus, Near CRPF Base Camp, Bijnor-Sisendi Road, Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226002 India
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Tripathi T, Singh DB, Tripathi T. Computational resources and chemoinformatics for translational health research. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol 2024; 139:27-55. [PMID: 38448138 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2023.11.003] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The integration of computational resources and chemoinformatics has revolutionized translational health research. It has offered a powerful set of tools for accelerating drug discovery. This chapter overviews the computational resources and chemoinformatics methods used in translational health research. The resources and methods can be used to analyze large datasets, identify potential drug candidates, predict drug-target interactions, and optimize treatment regimens. These resources have the potential to transform the drug discovery process and foster personalized medicine research. We discuss insights into their various applications in translational health and emphasize the need for addressing challenges, promoting collaboration, and advancing the field to fully realize the potential of these tools in transforming healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tripti Tripathi
- Molecular and Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India
| | - Dev Bukhsh Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Siddharth University, Kapilvastu, Siddharth Nagar, India
| | - Timir Tripathi
- Molecular and Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India.
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Gu Y, Zhang J, Niu Y, Sun B, Liu Z, Mao X, Zhang Y. Virtual screening and characteristics of novel umami peptides from porcine type I collagen. Food Chem 2024; 434:137386. [PMID: 37716151 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137386] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to rapidly and precisely discover novel umami peptides from porcine type I collagen using virtual screening, sensory evaluation and molecular docking simulation. Porcine type I collagen was hydrolyzed in silico and six umami peptide candidates (CN, SM, CRD, GESMTDGF, MS, DGC) were shortlisted via umami taste, bioactivity, toxicity, allergenicity, solubility and stability predictions. The sensory evaluation confirmed that these peptides exhibited umami taste, with CRD, GESMTDGF and DGC displaying higher umami intensity and significant umami-enhancing effects in 0.35% sodium glutamate solution. Molecular docking predicted that Ser 276/384/385 of T1R1 and Asn68, Val277, Thr305, Ser306, Leu385 of T1R3 may also play critical roles in binding umami peptides. The umami taste of peptides may be perceived mainly through the formation of hydrogen bonds with the hydrophilic amino acids of T1R1/T1R3. This work provided a robust procedure and guidance to develop novel umami peptides from food byproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Gu
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Jingcheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Yajie Niu
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Baoguo Sun
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Zunying Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Xiangzhao Mao
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yuyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Flavor Science of China General Chamber of Commerce, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
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Fouad MA, Osman AA, Abdelhamid NM, Rashad MW, Nabawy AY, El Kerdawy AM. Discovery of dual kinase inhibitors targeting VEGFR2 and FAK: structure-based pharmacophore modeling, virtual screening, and molecular docking studies. BMC Chem 2024; 18:29. [PMID: 38347617 PMCID: PMC10863211 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-024-01130-5] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
VEGFR2 and FAK signaling pathways are interconnected and have synergistic effects on tumor angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis. Thus, instead of the conventional targeting of each of these proteins individually with a specific inhibitor, the present work aimed to discover novel dual inhibitors targeting both VEGFR2 and FAK exploiting their association. To this end, receptor-based pharmacophore modeling technique was opted to generate 3D pharmacophore models for VEGFR2 and FAK type II kinase inhibitors. The generated pharmacophore models were validated by assessing their ability to discriminate between active and decoy compounds in a pre-compiled test set of VEGFR2 and FAK active compounds and decoys. ZINCPharmer web tool was then used to screen the ZINC database purchasable subset using the validated pharmacophore models retrieving 42,616 hits for VEGFR2 and 28,475 hits for FAK. Subsequently, they were filtered using various filters leaving 13,023 and 6,832 survived compounds for VEGFR2 and FAK, respectively, with 124 common compounds. Based on molecular docking simulations, thirteen compounds were found to satisfy all necessary interactions with VEGFR2 and FAK kinase domains. Thus, they are predicted to have a possible dual VEGFR2/FAK inhibitory activity. Finally, SwissADME web tool showed that compound ZINC09875266 is not only promising in terms of binding pattern to our target kinases, but also in terms of pharmacokinetic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa A Fouad
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Newgiza, Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Alaa A Osman
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Newgiza, Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Noha M Abdelhamid
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Newgiza, Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mai W Rashad
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Newgiza, Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ashrakat Y Nabawy
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Newgiza, Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M El Kerdawy
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., Cairo, 11562, Egypt
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University (NGU), Newgiza, Km 22 Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo, Egypt
- School of Pharmacy, College of Health and Science, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK
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da Rocha MN, da Fonseca AM, Dantas ANM, Dos Santos HS, Marinho ES, Marinho GS. In Silico Study in MPO and Molecular Docking of the Synthetic Drynaran Analogues Against the Chronic Tinnitus: Modulation of the M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor. Mol Biotechnol 2024; 66:254-269. [PMID: 37079267 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00748-5] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Tinnitus is a syndrome that affects the human auditory system and is characterized by a perception of sounds in the absence of acoustic stimuli, or in total silence. Research indicates that muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), especially the M1 type, have a fundamental role in the alterations of auditory perceptions of tinnitus. Here, a series of computer-aided tools were used, from molecular surface analysis software to services available on the web for estimating pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The results infer that the low lipophilicity ligands, that is, the 1a-d alkyl furans, present the best pharmacokinetic profile, as compounds with an optimal alignment between permeability and clearance. However, only ligands 1a and 1b have properties that are safe for the central nervous system, the site of cholinergic modulation. These ligands showed similarity with compounds deposited in the European Molecular Biology Laboratory chemical (ChEMBL) database acting on the mAChRs M1 type, the target selected for the molecular docking test. The simulations suggest that the 1 g ligand can form the ligand-receptor complex with the best affinity energy order and that, together with the 1b ligand, they are competitive agonists in relation to the antagonist Tiotropium, in addition to acting in synergism with the drug Bromazepam in the treatment of chronic tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Nunes da Rocha
- Graduate Program in Natural Sciences, Center for Science and Technology, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
| | - Aluísio Marques da Fonseca
- Institute of Engineering and Sustainable Development, Academic Master in Sociobiodiversity and Sustainable Technologies, University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusofonia, Acarape, CE, Brazil
| | | | | | - Emmanuel Silva Marinho
- Graduate Program in Natural Sciences, Center for Science and Technology, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Group of Theoretical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, State University of Ceará, Limoeiro Do Norte, CE, Brazil
| | - Gabrielle Silva Marinho
- Group of Theoretical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, State University of Ceará, Limoeiro Do Norte, CE, Brazil
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Furkan M, Khan MS, Shahwan M, Hassan N, Yadav DK, Anwar S, Khan RH, Shamsi A. Identifying repurposed drugs as potential inhibitors of Apolipoprotein E: A bioinformatics approach to target complex diseases associated with lipid metabolism and neurodegeneration. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 259:129167. [PMID: 38176507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129167] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a pivotal contributor to lipid metabolism and neurodegenerative disorders, emerges as an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Within this study, we deployed an integrated in-silico strategy, harnessing structure-based virtual screening, to identify potential compounds from DrugBank database. Employing molecular docking, we unveil initial hits by evaluating their binding efficiency with ApoE. This first tier of screening narrows our focus to compounds that exhibit a strong propensity to bind with ApoE. Further, a detailed interaction analysis was carried out to explore the binding patterns of the selected hits towards the ApoE binding site. The selected compounds were then evaluated for the biological properties in PASS analysis, which showed anti-neurodegenerative properties. Building upon this foundation, we delve deeper, employing all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations extending over an extensive 500 ns. In particular, Ergotamine and Dihydroergocristine emerge as noteworthy candidates, binding to ApoE in a competitive mode. This intriguing binding behavior positions these compounds as potential candidates warranting further analysis in the pursuit of novel therapeutics targeting complex diseases associated with lipid metabolism and neurodegeneration. This approach holds the promise of catalyzing advancements in therapeutic intervention for complex disorders, thereby reporting a meaningful pace towards improved healthcare outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Furkan
- Department of Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Mohd Shahnawaz Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Moyad Shahwan
- Center for Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, United Arab Emirates; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Nageeb Hassan
- Center for Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, United Arab Emirates; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Dharmendra Kumar Yadav
- Gachon Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Saleha Anwar
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Rizwan Hasan Khan
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Anas Shamsi
- Center for Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, United Arab Emirates.
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