Heterocyclic Substitutions Greatly Improve Affinity and Stability of Folic Acid towards FRα. an In Silico Insight

Folate receptor alpha (FRα) is known as a biological marker for many cancers due to its overexpression in cancerous epithelial tissue. The folic acid (FA) binding affinity to the FRα active site provides a basis for designing more specific targets for FRα. Heterocyclic rings have been shown to interact with many receptors and are important to the metabolism and biological processes within the body. Nineteen FA analogs with substitution with various heterocyclic rings were designed to have higher affinity toward FRα. Molecular docking was used to study the binding affinity of designed analogs compared to FA, methotrexate (MTX), and pemetrexed (PTX). Out of 19 FA analogs, analogs with a tetrazole ring (FOL03) and benzothiophene ring (FOL08) showed the most negative binding energy and were able to interact with ASP81 and SER174 through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with amino acids of the active site. Hence, 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out for FOL03, FOL08 compared to FA, MTX, and PTX. The root mean square deviation (RMSD) and root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) of FOL03 and FOL08 showed an apparent convergence similar to that of FA, and both of them entered the binding pocket (active site) from the pteridine part, while the glutamic part was stuck at the FRα pocket entrance during the MD simulations. Molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface accessible (MM-PBSA) and H-bond analysis revealed that FOL03 and FOL08 created more negative free binding and electrostatic energy compared to FA and PTX, and both formed stronger H-bond interactions with ASP81 than FA with excellent H-bond profiles that led them to become bound tightly in the pocket. In addition, pocket volume calculations showed that the volumes of active site for FOL03 and FOL08 inside the FRα pocket were smaller than the FA–FRα system, indicating strong interactions between the protein active site residues with these new FA analogs compared to FA during the MD simulations.     

HIV-1蛋白酶与抑制剂作用的结合自由能计算

HIV-1蛋白酶是治疗艾滋病的重要靶标酶之一. 采用分子动力学模拟, 运用MM-PBSA方法计算了HIV-1蛋白酶与三个抑制剂BE4, BE5和BE6的结合自由能, 结果表明抑制剂P₁/ 位置的苄基上双氟原子的不同位置对结合自由能产生不同的影响. 通过能量分解的方法考察了HIV-1蛋白酶的主要残基与三个抑制剂间的相互作用与识别, 结果表明三个抑制剂以相同的作用模式与HIV-1蛋白酶结合, 计算结果与实验结果基本吻合.     

抑制剂8CA与脂肪细胞脂肪酸结合蛋白(A-FABP)结合模式的分子动力学研究

摘要：脂肪细胞脂肪酸结合蛋白A-FABP(Adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein)是治疗脂质调节生物过程相关疾病的重要靶标. 分子动力学模拟和MM-PBSA方法被采用研究抑制剂8CA与A-FABP结合模式. 研究结果表明静电相互作用和范德华作用驱动了抑制剂8CA与A-FABP的结合。基于残基的能量分解表明抑制剂8CA与R126间的极性相互作用为抑制剂与A-FABP的结合提供了重要贡献. 该残基与8CA的相互作用较好地稳定了抑制剂与A-FABP复合物的稳定性. 我们期望这个研究能为治疗炎症、动脉硬化和代谢病药物设计提供一定的理论指导。     

分子动力学模拟和自由能计算研究孕酮和孕酮受体蛋白的结合模式

孕酮在确立和维持妊娠中起到了关键的作用. 为了研究孕酮和孕酮受体蛋白的结合模式,进行了3.5纳秒的分子动力学模拟,用 MM-PBSA\GBSA方法计算了结合自由能. 自由能分解和丙氨酸扫描两种方法说明,残基 Leu718, Met756, Met759, Phe778 和 Tyr890 对于结合抑制剂作用明显,这些残基的主要作用能是范德瓦尔斯作用能. 这一研究结果可以指导孕酮受体蛋白抑制剂的优化     

分子动力学研究抑制剂pDI6W与MDM2的相互作用机制

p53-MDM2相互作用已经成为治疗癌症药物设计的重要靶标.本文采用分子动力学模拟和MM-PBSA(molecular mechanics-Possion-Boltzmann surface area)方法计算了肽类抑制剂pD16W与MDM2的结合自由能,结果证明范德华作用是pD16W与MDM2结合的主要力量.相关矩阵的计算结果表明pD16W的结合主要诱导了MDM2内部的反相关运动.基于成对残基的自由能分解计算不仅证明pD16W的5个残基Phe19′,Trp22′,Trp23′,Leu26′和Thr27′能够与MDM2产生较强的相互作用,而且确认了CH-π,CH-CH和π-πc相互作用驱动了pD16W在MDM2疏水裂缝中的结合.这为抗癌药物的设计提供了理论上的指导.     

β-环糊精和甾类化合物的分子动力学模拟

运用分子动力学(molecular dynamics, MD)和MM-PBSA (molecular mechanics/Poisson Boltzmann surface area)相结合的方法预测了β-环糊精(cyclodextrin, CD)和甾类客体分子包结模式. 通过重原子均方根偏差(root mean square deviation, RMSD)分析可得, 两种包结模式下客体分子都可以和β-CD形成稳定的包结. 在MD轨迹采样基础上, 采用高效MM-PBSA方法计算了两种包结模式下的包结自由能. 计算结果显示, β-CD和三个甾类客体分子包结的主要驱动力为范德华相互作用, 而溶剂化能和熵变则不利于体系的包结. 进一步分析平均构象和包结自由能发现, 对于波尼松龙, D-up (D-ring up orientation)取向为优势包结模式; 而乙炔雌二醇和雌三醇的优势包结模式均为A-up (A-ring up orientation)取向. 通过比较β-CD和三个客体分子的理论包结自由能, 预测包结稳定性的次序为乙炔雌二醇＞雌三醇＞波尼松龙, 和实验结果相一致.     

分子动力学研究抑制剂APV与HIV-1蛋白酶的作用机制

采用分子动力学模拟和结合自由能计算研究了抑制剂APV与HIV-1蛋白酶的作用机制. 研究结果表明范德瓦尔斯作用主控了APV与HIV-1蛋白酶的结合. 采用基于残基的自由能分解方法计算了抑制剂-残基相互作用,结果表明9个残基Gly27、Ile32、Val47、Ile50、Ile84、Ala28′、Gly49′、Ile50′和Arg87′与APV产生了大于1.0 kcal/mol的强相互作用,而且证明CH-π,CH-O相互作用和极性作用是其结合的主要形式. 期待该结果可以为以HIV-1蛋白酶为靶标的抗艾滋病药物设计提供理论上的指导.     

Binding interactions of EDCs to human estrogen-related receptor gamma deciphered by multiple molecular dynamics and energy calculations

Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) analogs, classified as environmental endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), have been extensively employed as potent insecticides that can cause endocrine system disruption. However, the precise dynamic structural characteristics and interactions between human estrogen-related receptor gamma (hERRγ) and DDT analogs are not yet fully understood. In this study, we comprehensively investigate the impact of these EDCs (DDT, dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane (DDD), 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol (DDOH), O,P′-DDT (2,4′-DDT), 4,4′-dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP), and 4-hydrotamoxifen (4-OHT) on the structural changes of hERRγ and their interaction mechanisms by employing multiple molecular dynamics (MD) simulations coupled with MM-PBSA and SIE approaches. The consequence manifested that overall structures of these six complexes did not transform markedly, but these compounds can affect the local hERRγ structure, leading to essential changes in interactions with pivotal residues nearby L268, V313, L309, Y326, and F435. And van der Waals interactions are the key to how these EDCs interact with hERRγ. These outcomes contribute to our comprehension the risks of DDT analogues to human health.     

Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists: prediction of their binding affinity through a molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area approach

A group of agonists for the alpha7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) was investigated, and their free energies of binding DeltaG(bind) were calculated by applying the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) approach. This method, based on molecular dynamics simulations of fully solvated protein-ligand complexes, allowed us to estimate the contribution of both polar and nonpolar terms as well as the entropy to the overall free energy of binding. The calculated results were in a good agreement with the experimentally determined DeltaG(bind) values, thereby pointing to the MM-PBSA protocol as a valuable computational tool for the rational design of specific agents targeting the neuronal alpha7 nAChR subtypes.     

Why does β-secretase zymogen possess catalytic activity? Molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulation studies

Beta-secretase is a potential target for inhibitory drugs against Alzheimer's disease as it cleaves amyloid precursor protein (APP) to form insoluble amyloid plaques and vascular deposits in the brain. Beta-secretase is matured from its precursor protein, called beta-secretase zymogen, which, different from most of other zymogens, is also partially active in cleaving APP. Hence, it is important to study on the mechanism of the zymogen's activation process. This study was to model the 3-D structure of the zymogen, followed by intensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to identify the most probable 3-D model and to study the dynamic structural behavior of the zymogen for understanding the effects of pro-segment on the function of the enzyme. The results revealed that the dropping in catalytic activity of the beta-secretase zymogen could be attributed to the occupation of the entrance of the catalytic site of the zymogen by its pro-segment. On the other hand, the partial catalytic activity of the zymogen could be explained by high fluctuation of the pro-segment in comparison with that of other zymogens, resulting in the occasionally exposure of the catalytic site for access its substrate APP. Indeed, steered MD (SMD) simulation revealed a weak pulling force at quasi-equilibrium state for the pro-segment of the zymogen leaving from the entrance, indicating that this swinging process could take place spontaneously. Furthermore, MM-PBSA calculation revealed a small change of free energy of 10.56 kal/mol between the initial and final states of the process of pro-segment swung outside the binding pocket of beta-secretase zymogen. These results not only account for the partial catalytic activity of beta-secretase zymogen, but also provide useful clues for discovering new potent ligands, as new type of drug leads for curing Alzheimer's disease, to prevent the pro-segment of the zymogen from leaving its catalytic site.