Molecules

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12 pages, 3026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Computational Binding Study Hints at Ecdysone 20-Mono-Oxygenase as the Hitherto Unknown Target for Ring C-Seco Limonoid-Type Insecticides

by Ramsés E. Ramírez, Ricardo E. Buendia-Corona, Ivonne Pérez-Xochipa and Thomas Scior

Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071628 - 5 Apr 2024

Viewed by 487

Abstract

The insecticidal property of ring C-seco limonoids has been discovered empirically and the target protein identified, but, to date, the molecular mechanism of action has not been described at the atomic scale. We elucidate on computational grounds whether nine C-seco limonoids present sufficiently [...] Read more.

The insecticidal property of ring C-seco limonoids has been discovered empirically and the target protein identified, but, to date, the molecular mechanism of action has not been described at the atomic scale. We elucidate on computational grounds whether nine C-seco limonoids present sufficiently high affinity to bind specifically with the putative target enzyme of the insects (ecdysone 20-monooxygenase). To this end, 3D models of ligands and the receptor target were generated and their interaction energies estimated by docking simulations. As a proof of concept, the tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl propenamide derivative QHC is the reference ligand bound to aldosterone synthase in the complex with PDB entry 4ZGX. It served as the 3D template for target modeling via homology. QHC was successfully docked back to its crystal pose in a one-digit nanomolar range. The reported experimental binding affinities span over the nanomolar to lower micromolar range. All nine limonoids were found with strong affinities in the range of −9 < ΔG < −13 kcal/mol. The molt hormone ecdysone showed a comparable ΔG energy of −12 kcal/mol, whereas −11 kcal/mol was the back docking result for the liganded crystal 4ZGX. In conclusion, the nine C-seco limonoids were strong binders on theoretical grounds in an activity range between a ten-fold lower to a ten-fold higher concentration level than insecticide ecdysone with its known target receptor. The comparable or even stronger binding hints at ecdysone 20-monooxygenase as their target biomolecule. Our assumption, however, is in need of future experimental confirmation before conclusions with certainty can be drawn about the true molecular mechanism of action for the C-seco limonoids under scrutiny. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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20 pages, 27249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ligand-Based Design of Novel Quinoline Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents: An In-Silico Virtual Screening Approach

by Khaoula Mkhayar, Ossama Daoui, Rachid Haloui, Kaouakeb Elkhattabi, Abdelmoula Elabbouchi, Samir Chtita, Abdelouahid Samadi and Souad Elkhattabi

Molecules 2024, 29(2), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020426 - 15 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 936

Abstract

In this study, using the Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) approach, the structure-activity relationship of 33 small quinoline-based compounds with biological anti-gastric cancer activity in vitro was analyzed in 3D space. Once the 3D geometric and energy structure of the target chemical library [...] Read more.

In this study, using the Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) approach, the structure-activity relationship of 33 small quinoline-based compounds with biological anti-gastric cancer activity in vitro was analyzed in 3D space. Once the 3D geometric and energy structure of the target chemical library has been optimized and their steric and electrostatic molecular field descriptions computed, the ideal 3D-QSAR model is generated and matched using the Partial Least Squares regression (PLS) algorithm. The accuracy, statistical precision, and predictive power of the developed 3D-QSAR model were confirmed by a range of internal and external validations, which were interpreted by robust correlation coefficients (

R_{T r a i n}^{2} = 0.931

;

Q_{c v}^{2} = 0.625

;

R_{T e s t}^{2} = 0.875

). After carefully analyzing the contour maps produced by the trained 3D-QSAR model, it was discovered that certain structural characteristics are beneficial for enhancing the anti-gastric cancer properties of Quinoline derivatives. Based on this information, a total of five new quinoline compounds were developed, with their biological activity improved and their drug-like bioavailability measured using POM calculations. To further explore the potential of these compounds, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed in an aqueous environment for 100 nanoseconds, specifically targeting serine/threonine protein kinase. Overall, the new findings of this study can serve as a starting point for further experiments with a view to the identification and design of a potential next-generation drug for target therapy against cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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24 pages, 13201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Marine-Derived Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of Hsp90 for Anticancer and Antimicrobial Drug Development: A Comprehensive In Silico Study

by Mebarka Ouassaf, Lotfi Bourougaa, Samiah Hamad Al-Mijalli, Emad M. Abdallah, Ajmal R. Bhat and Sarkar M. A. Kawsar

Molecules 2023, 28(24), 8074; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28248074 - 13 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1477

Abstract

Marine compounds constitute a diverse and invaluable resource for the discovery of bioactive substances with promising applications in the pharmaceutical development of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. In this study, a comprehensive methodology was employed, encompassing pharmacophore modeling, virtual screening, in silico ADMET assessment [...] Read more.

Marine compounds constitute a diverse and invaluable resource for the discovery of bioactive substances with promising applications in the pharmaceutical development of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. In this study, a comprehensive methodology was employed, encompassing pharmacophore modeling, virtual screening, in silico ADMET assessment (encompassing aspects of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity), and molecular dynamics simulations. These methods were applied to identify new inhibitors targeting the Hsp90 protein (heat shock protein 90), commencing with a diverse assembly of compounds sourced from marine origins. During the virtual screening phase, an extensive exploration was conducted on a dataset comprising 31,488 compounds sourced from the CMNPD database, characterized by a wide array of molecular structures. The principal objective was the development of structure-based pharmacophore models, a valuable approach when the pool of known ligands is limited. The pharmacophore model DDRRR was successfully constructed within the active sites of the Hsp90 crystal structure. Subsequent docking studies led to the identification of six compounds (CMNPD 22591, 9335, 10015, 360799, 15115, and 20988) demonstrating substantial binding affinities, each with values below −8.3 kcal/mol. In the realm of in silico ADMET predictions, five of these compounds exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations and total binding energy calculations using MM-PBSA indicated that these marine-derived compounds formed exceptionally stable complexes with the Hsp90 receptor over a 100-nanosecond simulation period. These findings underscore the considerable potential of these novel marine compounds as promising candidates for anticancer and antimicrobial drug development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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19 pages, 4528 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Silico Design of Natural Inhibitors of ApoE4 from the Plant Moringa oleifera: Molecular Docking and Ab Initio Fragment Molecular Orbital Calculations

by Divya Shaji, Yoshinobu Nagura, Haruna Sabishiro, Ryo Suzuki and Noriyuki Kurita

Molecules 2023, 28(24), 8035; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28248035 - 11 Dec 2023

Viewed by 928

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurological disease, and its signs and symptoms appear slowly over time. Although current Alzheimer’s disease treatments can alleviate symptoms, they cannot prevent the disease from progressing. To accurately diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease, it is therefore necessary to [...] Read more.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurological disease, and its signs and symptoms appear slowly over time. Although current Alzheimer’s disease treatments can alleviate symptoms, they cannot prevent the disease from progressing. To accurately diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease, it is therefore necessary to establish effective methods for diagnosis. Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), the most frequent genetic risk factor for AD, is expressed in more than half of patients with AD, making it an attractive target for AD therapy. We used molecular docking simulations, classical molecular mechanics optimizations, and ab initio fragment molecular orbital (FMO) calculations to investigate the specific interactions between ApoE4 and the naturally occurring compounds found in the plant Moringa Oleifera. According to the FMO calculations, quercetin had the highest binding affinity to ApoE4 among the sixteen compounds because its hydroxyl groups generated strong hydrogen bonds with the ApoE4 residues Trp11, Asp12, Arg15, and Asp130. As a result, we proposed various quercetin derivatives by introducing a hydroxyl group into quercetin and studied their ApoE4 binding properties. The FMO data clearly showed that adding a hydroxyl group to quercetin improved its binding capacity to ApoE4. Furthermore, ApoE4 Trp11, Asp12, Arg15, and Asp130 residues were discovered to be required for significant interactions between ApoE4 and quercetin derivatives. They had a higher ApoE4 binding affinity than our previously proposed epicatechin derivatives. Accordingly, the current results evaluated using the ab initio FMO method will be useful for designing potent ApoE4 inhibitors that can be used as a candidate agent for AD treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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19 pages, 4983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Silico Screening of Natural Flavonoids against 3-Chymotrypsin-like Protease of SARS-CoV-2 Using Machine Learning and Molecular Modeling

by Lianjin Cai, Fengyang Han, Beihong Ji, Xibing He, Luxuan Wang, Taoyu Niu, Jingchen Zhai and Junmei Wang

Molecules 2023, 28(24), 8034; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28248034 - 10 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1230

Abstract

The “Long-COVID syndrome” has posed significant challenges due to a lack of validated therapeutic options. We developed a novel multi-step virtual screening strategy to reliably identify inhibitors against 3-chymotrypsin-like protease of SARS-CoV-2 from abundant flavonoids, which represents a promising source of antiviral and [...] Read more.

The “Long-COVID syndrome” has posed significant challenges due to a lack of validated therapeutic options. We developed a novel multi-step virtual screening strategy to reliably identify inhibitors against 3-chymotrypsin-like protease of SARS-CoV-2 from abundant flavonoids, which represents a promising source of antiviral and immune-boosting nutrients. We identified 57 interacting residues as contributors to the protein-ligand binding pocket. Their energy interaction profiles constituted the input features for Machine Learning (ML) models. The consensus of 25 classifiers trained using various ML algorithms attained 93.9% accuracy and a 6.4% false-positive-rate. The consensus of 10 regression models for binding energy prediction also achieved a low root-mean-square error of 1.18 kcal/mol. We screened out 120 flavonoid hits first and retained 50 drug-like hits after predefined ADMET filtering to ensure bioavailability and safety profiles. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations prioritized nine bioactive flavonoids as promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents exhibiting both high structural stability (root-mean-square deviation < 5 Å for 218 ns) and low MM/PBSA binding free energy (<−6 kcal/mol). Among them, KB-2 (PubChem-CID, 14630497) and 9-O-Methylglyceofuran (PubChem-CID, 44257401) displayed excellent binding affinity and desirable pharmacokinetic capabilities. These compounds have great potential to serve as oral nutraceuticals with therapeutic and prophylactic properties as care strategies for patients with long-COVID syndrome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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15 pages, 2372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Potential Modulators of a Pathogenic G Protein-Gated Inwardly Rectifying K⁺ Channel 4 Mutant: In Silico Investigation in the Context of Drug Discovery for Hypertension

by Eleni Pitsillou, Alexander N. O. Logothetis, Julia J. Liang, Assam El-Osta, Andrew Hung, Asmaa S. AbuMaziad and Tom C. Karagiannis

Molecules 2023, 28(24), 7946; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28247946 - 5 Dec 2023

Viewed by 932

Abstract

Genetic abnormalities have been associated with primary aldosteronism, a major cause of secondary hypertension. This includes mutations in the KCNJ5 gene, which encodes G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K⁺ channel 4 (GIRK4). For example, the substitution of glycine with glutamic acid gives rise [...] Read more.

Genetic abnormalities have been associated with primary aldosteronism, a major cause of secondary hypertension. This includes mutations in the KCNJ5 gene, which encodes G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K⁺ channel 4 (GIRK4). For example, the substitution of glycine with glutamic acid gives rise to the pathogenic GIRK4^G151E mutation, which alters channel selectivity, making it more permeable to Na⁺ and Ca²⁺. While tertiapin and tertiapin-Q are well-known peptide inhibitors of the GIRK4^WT channel, clinically, there is a need for the development of selective modulators of mutated channels, including GIRK4^G151E. Using in silico methods, including homology modeling, protein–peptide docking, ligand-binding site prediction, and molecular docking, we aimed to explore potential modulators of GIRK4^WT and GIRK4^G151E. Firstly, protein–peptide docking was performed to characterize the binding site of tertiapin and its derivative to the GIRK4 channels. In accordance with previous studies, the peptide inhibitors preferentially bind to the GIRK4^WT channel selectivity filter compared to GIRK4^G151E. A ligand-binding site analysis was subsequently performed, resulting in the identification of two potential regions of interest: the central cavity and G-loop gate. Utilizing curated chemical libraries, we screened over 700 small molecules against the central cavity of the GIRK4 channels. Flavonoids, including luteolin-7-O-rutinoside and rutin, and the macrolides rapamycin and troleandomycin bound strongly to the GIRK4 channels. Similarly, xanthophylls, particularly luteoxanthin, bound to the central cavity with a strong preference towards the mutated GIRK4^G151E channel compared to GIRK4^WT. Overall, our findings suggest potential lead compounds for further investigation, particularly luteoxanthin, that may selectively modulate GIRK4 channels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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22 pages, 4046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Silico Modeling and Structural Analysis of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitors for Enhanced Therapeutic Design

by Shuvam Sar, Soumya Mitra, Parthasarathi Panda, Subhash C. Mandal, Nilanjan Ghosh, Amit Kumar Halder and Maria Natalia D. S. Cordeiro

Molecules 2023, 28(17), 6379; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176379 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 993

Abstract

Human soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), a dual-functioning homodimeric enzyme with hydrolase and phosphatase activities, is known for its pivotal role in the hydrolysis of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. Inhibitors targeting sEH have shown promising potential in the treatment of various life-threatening diseases. In this study, [...] Read more.

Human soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), a dual-functioning homodimeric enzyme with hydrolase and phosphatase activities, is known for its pivotal role in the hydrolysis of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. Inhibitors targeting sEH have shown promising potential in the treatment of various life-threatening diseases. In this study, we employed a range of in silico modeling approaches to investigate a diverse dataset of structurally distinct sEH inhibitors. Our primary aim was to develop predictive and validated models while gaining insights into the structural requirements necessary for achieving higher inhibitory potential. To accomplish this, we initially calculated molecular descriptors using nine different descriptor-calculating tools, coupled with stochastic and non-stochastic feature selection strategies, to identify the most statistically significant linear 2D-QSAR model. The resulting model highlighted the critical roles played by topological characteristics, 2D pharmacophore features, and specific physicochemical properties in enhancing inhibitory potential. In addition to conventional 2D-QSAR modeling, we implemented the Transformer-CNN methodology to develop QSAR models, enabling us to obtain structural interpretations based on the Layer-wise Relevance Propagation (LRP) algorithm. Moreover, a comprehensive 3D-QSAR analysis provided additional insights into the structural requirements of these compounds as potent sEH inhibitors. To validate the findings from the QSAR modeling studies, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using selected compounds from the dataset. The simulation results offered crucial insights into receptor–ligand interactions, supporting the predictions obtained from the QSAR models. Collectively, our work serves as an essential guideline for the rational design of novel sEH inhibitors with enhanced therapeutic potential. Importantly, all the in silico studies were performed using open-access tools to ensure reproducibility and accessibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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17 pages, 3804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Plastic-Related Compounds on Transcriptome-Wide Gene Expression on CYP2C19-Overexpressing HepG2 Cells

by Matteo Rosellini, Alicia Schulze, Ejlal A. Omer, Nadeen T. Ali, Federico Marini, Jan-Heiner Küpper and Thomas Efferth

Molecules 2023, 28(16), 5952; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28165952 - 8 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1243

Abstract

In recent years, plastic and especially microplastic in the oceans have caused huge problems to marine flora and fauna. Recently, such particles have also been detected in blood, breast milk, and placenta, underlining their ability to enter the human body, presumably via the [...] Read more.

In recent years, plastic and especially microplastic in the oceans have caused huge problems to marine flora and fauna. Recently, such particles have also been detected in blood, breast milk, and placenta, underlining their ability to enter the human body, presumably via the food chain and other yet-unknown mechanisms. In addition, plastic contains plasticizers, antioxidants, or lubricants, whose impact on human health is also under investigation. At the cellular level, the most important enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotic compounds are the cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs). Despite their extensive characterization in the maintenance of cellular balance, their interactions with plastic and related products are unexplored. In this study, the possible interactions between several plastic-related compounds and one of the most important cytochromes, CYP2C19, were analyzed. By applying virtual compound screening and molecular docking to more than 1000 commercially available plastic-related compounds, we identified candidates that are likely to interact with this protein. A growth inhibition assay confirmed their cytotoxic activity on a CYP2C19-transfected hepatic cell line. Subsequently, we studied the effect of the selected compounds on the transcriptome-wide gene expression level by conducting RNA sequencing. Three candidate molecules were identified, i.e., 2,2′-methylene bis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol), 1,1-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) ethane, and 2,2′-methylene bis(6-cyclohexyl-4-methylphenol)), which bound with a high affinity to CYP2C19 in silico. They exerted a profound cytotoxicity in vitro and interacted with several metabolic pathways, of which the ‘cholesterol biosynthesis process’ was the most affected. In addition, other affected pathways involved mitosis, DNA replication, and inflammation, suggesting an increase in hepatotoxicity. These results indicate that plastic-related compounds could damage the liver by affecting several molecular pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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17 pages, 3239 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ligand-Based Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamic Simulations of New β-Estrogen Receptor Activators with Potential for Pharmacological Obesity Treatment

by Domingo Méndez-Álvarez, Maria F. Torres-Rojas, Edgar E. Lara-Ramirez, Laurence A. Marchat and Gildardo Rivera

Molecules 2023, 28(11), 4389; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28114389 - 27 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1782

Abstract

Obesity is a pandemic and a serious health problem in developed and undeveloped countries. Activation of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) has been shown to promote weight loss without modifying caloric intake, making it an attractive target for developing new drugs against obesity. This [...] Read more.

Obesity is a pandemic and a serious health problem in developed and undeveloped countries. Activation of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) has been shown to promote weight loss without modifying caloric intake, making it an attractive target for developing new drugs against obesity. This work aimed to predict new small molecules as potential ERβ activators. A ligand-based virtual screening of the ZINC15, PubChem, and Molport databases by substructure and similarity was carried out using the three-dimensional organization of known ligands as a reference. A molecular docking screening of FDA-approved drugs was also conducted as a repositioning strategy. Finally, selected compounds were evaluated by molecular dynamic simulations. Compounds 1 (−24.27 ± 0.34 kcal/mol), 2 (−23.33 ± 0.3 kcal/mol), and 6 (−29.55 ± 0.51 kcal/mol) showed the best stability on the active site in complex with ERβ with an RMSD < 3.3 Å. RMSF analysis showed that these compounds do not affect the fluctuation of the Cα of ERβ nor the compactness according to the radius of gyration. Finally, an in silico evaluation of ADMET showed they are safe molecules. These results suggest that new ERβ ligands could be promising molecules for obesity control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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14 pages, 10968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Silico and In Vitro Assessment of Carbonyl Reductase 1 Inhibition Using ASP9521—A Potent Aldo-Keto Reductase 1C3 Inhibitor with the Potential to Support Anticancer Therapy Using Anthracycline Antibiotics

by Marek Jamrozik, Kamil Piska, Adam Bucki, Paulina Koczurkiewicz-Adamczyk, Michał Sapa, Benedykt Władyka, Elżbieta Pękala and Marcin Kołaczkowski

Molecules 2023, 28(9), 3767; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28093767 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1724

Abstract

Anthracycline antibiotics (ANT) are among the most widely used anticancer drugs. Unfortunately, their use is limited due to the development of drug resistance and cardiotoxicity. ANT metabolism, performed mainly by two enzymes—aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) and carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1)—is one of the [...] Read more.

Anthracycline antibiotics (ANT) are among the most widely used anticancer drugs. Unfortunately, their use is limited due to the development of drug resistance and cardiotoxicity. ANT metabolism, performed mainly by two enzymes—aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) and carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1)—is one of the proposed mechanisms generated by the described effects. In this study, we evaluated the CBR1 inhibitory properties of ASP9521, a compound already known as potent AKR1C3 inhibitor. First, we assessed the possibility of ASP9521 binding to the CBR1 catalytic site using molecular docking and molecular dynamics. The research revealed a potential binding mode of ASP9521. Moderate inhibitory activity against CBR1 was observed in studies with recombinant enzymes. Finally, we examined whether ASP9521 can improve the cytotoxic activity of daunorubicin against human lung carcinoma cell line A549 and assessed the cardioprotective properties of ASP9521 in a rat cardiomyocytes model (H9c2) against doxorubicin- and daunorubicin-induced toxicity. The addition of ASP9521 ameliorated the cytotoxic activity of daunorubicin and protected rat cardiomyocytes from the cytotoxic effect of both applied drugs. Considering the favorable bioavailability and safety profile of ASP9521, the obtained results encourage further research. Inhibition of both AKR1C3 and CBR1 may be a promising method of overcoming ANT resistance and cardiotoxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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16 pages, 8786 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Plastic-Related Compounds on P-Glycoprotein and Breast Cancer Resistance Protein In Vitro

by Matteo Rosellini, Petri Turunen and Thomas Efferth

Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2710; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062710 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2227

Abstract

Plastic in oceans degrades to microplastics and nanoplastics, causing various problems for marine fauna and flora. Recently, microplastic has been detected in blood, breast milk and placenta, underlining their ability to enter the human body with still unknown effects. In addition, plastic contains [...] Read more.

Plastic in oceans degrades to microplastics and nanoplastics, causing various problems for marine fauna and flora. Recently, microplastic has been detected in blood, breast milk and placenta, underlining their ability to enter the human body with still unknown effects. In addition, plastic contains other compounds such as plasticizers, antioxidants or lubricants, whose impact on human health is also elusive. On the cellular level, two transporters involved in cell protection and detoxification of xenobiotic compounds are the ABC-transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp, MDR1, ABCB1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP, ABCG2). Despite the great importance of these proteins to maintain the correct cellular balance, their interaction with plastic and related products is evasive. In this study, the possible interaction between different plastic-related compounds and these two transporters was investigated. Applying virtual compound screening and molecular docking of more than 1000 commercially available plastic compounds, we identified candidates most probably interacting with these two transporters. Cytotoxicity and uptake assays confirmed their toxic interaction on P-glycoprotein-overexpressing CEM/ADR5000 and BCRP-overexpressing MDA-MD-231-BCRP cell lines. To specifically visualize the results obtained on the P-glycoprotein inhibitor 2,2’-methylenebis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol), we performed live cell time-lapse microscopy. Confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to understand the behavior of the molecule and the consequences that it has on the uptake of the well-known substrate doxorubicin and, in comparison, with the known inhibitor verapamil. Based on the results, we provide evidence that the compound in question is an inhibitor of the P-glycoprotein. Moreover, it is also possible that 2,2’-methylenebis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol), together with three other compounds, may also inhibit the breast cancer resistance protein. This discovery implies that plastic-related compounds can not only harm the human body but can also inhibit detoxifying efflux pumps, which increases their toxic potential as these transporters lose their physiological functions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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18 pages, 14749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Silico Mining of Natural Products Atlas (NPAtlas) Database for Identifying Effective Bcl-2 Inhibitors: Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics, and Pharmacokinetics Characteristics

by Nahlah Makki Almansour, Khaled S. Allemailem, Abeer Abas Abd El Aty, Ekram Ismail Fagiree Ismail and Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim

Molecules 2023, 28(2), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020783 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2431

Abstract

The Bcl-2 protein has a vital function in controlling the programmed cell doom of mitochondria. If programmed cell death signals are obstructed, an imbalance between cell survival and death will occur, which is a significant reason for cancer. Therefore, the Bcl-2 protein was [...] Read more.

The Bcl-2 protein has a vital function in controlling the programmed cell doom of mitochondria. If programmed cell death signals are obstructed, an imbalance between cell survival and death will occur, which is a significant reason for cancer. Therefore, the Bcl-2 protein was identified as a possible therapeutic target for carcinoma treatment. Herein, the Natural Products Atlas (NPAtlas) compounds were virtually screened, seeking potent inhibitors towards the Bcl-2 protein. The performance of AutoDock Vina software to predict the docking score and pose of the investigated compounds was first validated according to the available experimental data. Based on the validated AutoDock Vina parameters, the NPAtlas database was filtered against the Bcl-2 protein. The natural compounds with docking scores less than that of the venetoclax (calc. −10.6 kcal/mol) were submitted to MD simulations, followed by MM-GBSA binding energy calculations. According to MM-GBSA//200 ns MD simulations, saquayamycin F (NPA002200) demonstrated promising binding affinity with a ΔG_binding value of −53.9 kcal/mol towards the Bcl-2 protein when compared to venetoclax (ΔG_binding = −50.6 kcal/mol). The energetical and structural analyses showed a great constancy of the saquayamycin F inside the Bcl-2 protein active site. Moreover, the ADMET and drug-likeness features of the saquayamycin F were anticipated, indicating its good oral bioavailability. According to in silico computations, saquayamycin F is proposed to be used as a therapeutic agent against the wild-type Bcl-2 protein and warrants further experimental assays. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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18 pages, 6563 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Silico Identification of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Medicinal Plants Using Cheminformatics and Machine Learning

by Jihao Liang, Yang Zheng, Xin Tong, Naixue Yang and Shaoxing Dai

Molecules 2023, 28(1), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010208 - 26 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2540

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of COVID-19, is spreading rapidly and has caused hundreds of millions of infections and millions of deaths worldwide. Due to the lack of specific vaccines and effective treatments for COVID-19, there is an [...] Read more.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of COVID-19, is spreading rapidly and has caused hundreds of millions of infections and millions of deaths worldwide. Due to the lack of specific vaccines and effective treatments for COVID-19, there is an urgent need to identify effective drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a valuable resource for identifying novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs based on the important contribution of TCM and its potential benefits in COVID-19 treatment. Herein, we aimed to discover novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds and medicinal plants from TCM by establishing a prediction method of anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity using machine learning methods. We first constructed a benchmark dataset from anti-SARS-CoV-2 bioactivity data collected from the ChEMBL database. Then, we established random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) models that both achieved satisfactory predictive performance with AUC values of 0.90. By using this method, a total of 1011 active anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds were predicted from the TCMSP database. Among these compounds, six compounds with highly potent activity were confirmed in the anti-SARS-CoV-2 experiments. The molecular fingerprint similarity analysis revealed that only 24 of the 1011 compounds have high similarity to the FDA-approved antiviral drugs, indicating that most of the compounds were structurally novel. Based on the predicted anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds, we identified 74 anti-SARS-CoV-2 medicinal plants through enrichment analysis. The 74 plants are widely distributed in 68 genera and 43 families, 14 of which belong to antipyretic detoxicate plants. In summary, this study provided several medicinal plants with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, which offer an attractive starting point and a broader scope to mine for potentially novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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14 pages, 4458 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hepatoprotective Effect of Millettia dielsiana: In Vitro and In Silico Study

by Vu Thi Thu Le, Dao Viet Hung, Bui Minh Quy, Pham Thi Hong Minh and Do Tien Lam

Molecules 2022, 27(24), 8978; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248978 - 16 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1701

Abstract

In silico docking studies of 50 selected compounds from Millettia dielsiana Harms ex Diels (family Leguminosae) were docked into the binding pocket of the PI3K/mTOR protein. In there, compounds trans−3−O-p-hydroxycinnamoyl ursolic acid (1) and 5,7,4′−trihydroxyisoflavone 7−O− [...] Read more.

In silico docking studies of 50 selected compounds from Millettia dielsiana Harms ex Diels (family Leguminosae) were docked into the binding pocket of the PI3K/mTOR protein. In there, compounds trans−3−O-p-hydroxycinnamoyl ursolic acid (1) and 5,7,4′−trihydroxyisoflavone 7−O−β−D−apiofuranosyl−(1→6)−β−D−glucopyranoside (2) are predicted to be very promising inhibitors against PI3K/mTOR. They direct their cytotoxic activity against Hepatocellular carcinoma with binding affinity (BA) values, the pulling work spent to the co-crystallized ligand from the binding site of PI3K/mTOR (W and F_max), and the non-equilibrium binding free energy (∆G_neq^Jar) as BA values = −9.237 and −9.083 kcal/mol, W = 83.5 ± 10.6 kcal/mol with F_max = 336.2 ± 45.3 pN and 126.6 ± 21.7 kcal/mol with F_max = 430.3 ± 84.0 pN, and ∆G_neq^Jar = −69.86074 and −101.2317 kcal/mol, respectively. In molecular dynamic simulation, the RMSD value of the PI3K/mTOR complex with compounds (1 and 2) was in the range of 0.3 nm to the end of the simulation. Therefore, the compounds (1 and 2) are predicted to be very promising inhibitors against PI3K/mTOR. The crude extract, ethyl acetate fraction and compounds (1 and 2) from Millettia dielsiana exhibited moderate to potent in vitro cytotoxicity on Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line with IC₅₀ values of 81.2 µg/mL, 60.4 µg/mL, 23.1 μM, and 16.3 μM, respectively, and showed relatively potent to potent in vitro antioxidant activity on mouse hepatocytes with ED₅₀ values of 24.4 µg/mL, 19.3 µg/mL, 30.7 μM, and 20.5 μM, respectively. In conclusion, Millettia dielsiana and compounds (1 and 2) are predicted to have very promising cytotoxic activity against Hepatocellular carcinoma and have a hepatoprotective effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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15 pages, 2931 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis and In Silico Modeling of Methanesulfonyl-Piperazine-Based Dithiocarbamates as Potential Anticancer, Thrombolytic, and Hemolytic Structural Motifs

by Freeha Hafeez, Ameer Fawad Zahoor, Azhar Rasul, Asim Mansha, Razia Noreen, Zohaib Raza, Kulsoom Ghulam Ali, Ali Irfan and Gamal A. El-Hiti

Molecules 2022, 27(15), 4776; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27154776 - 26 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1654

Abstract

Piperazine-based dithiocarbamates serve as important scaffolds for numerous pharmacologically active drugs. The current study investigates the design and synthesis of a series of dithiocarbamates with a piperazine unit as well as their biological activities. Under ultrasound conditions, the corresponding piperazine-1-carbodithioates 5a–5j [...] Read more.

Piperazine-based dithiocarbamates serve as important scaffolds for numerous pharmacologically active drugs. The current study investigates the design and synthesis of a series of dithiocarbamates with a piperazine unit as well as their biological activities. Under ultrasound conditions, the corresponding piperazine-1-carbodithioates 5a–5j were synthesized from monosubstituted piperazine 2 and N-phenylacetamides 4a–4j in the presence of sodium acetate and carbon disulfide in methanol. The structures of the newly synthesized piperazines were confirmed, and their anti-lung carcinoma effects were evaluated. A cytotoxic assay was performed to assess the hemolytic and thrombolytic potential of the synthesized piperazines 5a–5j. The types of substituents on the aryl ring were found to affect the anticancer activity of piperazines 5a–5j. Piperazines containing 2-chlorophenyl (5b; cell viability = 25.11 ± 2.49) and 2,4-dimethylphenyl (5i; cell viability = 25.31 ± 3.62) moieties demonstrated the most potent antiproliferative activity. On the other hand, piperazines containing 3,4-dichlorophenyl (5d; 0.1%) and 3,4-dimethylphenyl (5j; 0.1%) rings demonstrated the least cytotoxicity. The piperazine with the 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl moiety (5h; 60.2%) showed the best thrombolytic effect. To determine the mode of binding, in silico modeling of the most potent piperazine (i.e., 5b) was performed, and the results were in accordance with those of antiproliferation. It exhibits a similar binding affinity to PQ10 and an efficient conformational alignment with the lipophilic site of PDE10A conserved for PQ10A. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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14 pages, 8681 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Homology Modeling and Molecular Docking Approaches for the Proposal of Novel Insecticides against the African Malaria Mosquito (Anopheles gambiae)

by Luminita Crisan, Simona Funar-Timofei and Ana Borota

Molecules 2022, 27(12), 3846; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27123846 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2218

Abstract

Vector-borne infectious diseases are responsible for the deaths of over 700,000 people annually, than 400,000 of them resulting from malaria. The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is one of the dominant vector species of human malaria transmission. A significant issue of the conventional insecticides which [...] Read more.

Vector-borne infectious diseases are responsible for the deaths of over 700,000 people annually, than 400,000 of them resulting from malaria. The mosquito Anopheles gambiae is one of the dominant vector species of human malaria transmission. A significant issue of the conventional insecticides which target the arthropod borne infectious diseases is their induced resistance. To overcome this inconvenience, insecticides with new modes of action are required. One of the most promising targets for the development of new potential insecticides as evidenced by current studies is the D1-like dopamine receptor (DAR). To get a deeper understanding of the structural information of this receptor, the 3D homology model was built. The possible sites within the protein were identified and the most probable binding site was highlighted. The homology model along with a series of DAR antagonists with known activity against Anopheles gambiae larvae were used in docking experiments to gain insight into their intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, virtual screening of the natural compounds from the SPECS database led to the prediction of toxicity and environmental hazards for one potential new insecticide against the Anopheles gambiae mosquito. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Silico Methods Applied in Drug and Pesticide Discovery)

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