scholarly journals System among the corticosteroids: specificity and molecular dynamics

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (66) ◽  
pp. 43-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Brookes ◽  
Mario D. Galigniana ◽  
Anthony H. Harker ◽  
A. Marshall Stoneham ◽  
Gavin P. Vinson
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Conformational Mobility ◽  
Receptor Interactions ◽  
Biological Specificity ◽  
Glucocorticoid Action

Understanding how structural features determine specific biological activities has often proved elusive. With over 161 000 steroid structures described, an algorithm able to predict activity from structural attributes would provide manifest benefits. Molecular simulations of a range of 35 corticosteroids show striking correlations between conformational mobility and biological specificity. Thus steroid ring A is important for glucocorticoid action, and is rigid in the most specific (and potent) examples, such as dexamethasone. By contrast, ring C conformation is important for the mineralocorticoids, and is rigid in aldosterone. Other steroids that are less specific, or have mixed functions, or none at all, are more flexible. One unexpected example is 11-deoxycorticosterone, which the methods predict (and our activity studies confirm) is not only a specific mineralocorticoid, but also has significant glucocorticoid activity. These methods may guide the design of new corticosteroid agonists and antagonists. They will also have application in other examples of ligand–receptor interactions.

Split the Charge Difference in Two! a Rule of Thumb for Adding Proper Amounts of Ions in MD Simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matías R. Machado ◽  
Sergio Pantano
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Ionic Strength ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Md Simulations ◽  
Good Practices ◽  
Rule Of Thumb ◽  
Ionic Concentrations

<p> Despite the relevance of properly setting ionic concentrations in Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, methods or practical rules to set ionic strength are scarce and rarely documented. Based on a recently proposed thermodynamics method we provide an accurate rule of thumb to define the electrolytic content in simulation boxes. Extending the use of good practices in setting up MD systems is promptly needed to ensure reproducibility and consistency in molecular simulations.</p>

Single Heterocyclic Compounds as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: From Past to Present

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 908-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su-Min Wu ◽  
Xiao-Yang Qiu ◽  
Shu-Juan Liu ◽  
Juan Sun
Keyword(s):  
Monoamine Oxidase ◽  
Heterocyclic Compounds ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
The Past ◽  
Structure Activity ◽  
Receptor Interactions ◽  
Heterocyclic Derivatives ◽  
Inhibitory Activities ◽  
Leading Compounds ◽  
Heterocyclic Moiety

Inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAO) have shown therapeutic values in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases such as depression, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Heterocyclic compounds exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities and vital leading compounds for the development of chemical drugs. Herein, we focus on the synthesis and screening of novel single heterocyclic derivatives with MAO inhibitory activities during the past decade. This review covers recent pharmacological advancements of single heterocyclic moiety along with structure- activity relationship to provide better correlation among different structures and their receptor interactions.

scholarly journals Sphingolipids of Asteroidea and Holothuroidea: Structures and Biological Activities

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 330
Author(s):  
Timofey V. Malyarenko ◽  
Alla A. Kicha ◽  
Valentin A. Stonik ◽  
Natalia V. Ivanchina
Keyword(s):  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Complete Information ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Marine Organisms ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
The Past ◽  
Complex Lipids ◽  
Complex Sphingolipids

Sphingolipids are complex lipids widespread in nature as structural components of biomembranes. Commonly, the sphingolipids of marine organisms differ from those of terrestrial animals and plants. The gangliosides are the most complex sphingolipids characteristic of vertebrates that have been found in only the Echinodermata (echinoderms) phylum of invertebrates. Sphingolipids of the representatives of the Asteroidea and Holothuroidea classes are the most studied among all echinoderms. In this review, we have summarized the data on sphingolipids of these two classes of marine invertebrates over the past two decades. Recently established structures, properties, and peculiarities of biogenesis of ceramides, cerebrosides, and gangliosides from starfishes and holothurians are discussed. The purpose of this review is to provide the most complete information on the chemical structures, structural features, and biological activities of sphingolipids of the Asteroidea and Holothuroidea classes.

Exploring secondary interactions and the role of temperature in moisture-contaminated polymer networks through molecular simulations

Soft Matter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 2942-2956
Author(s):  
Rishabh D. Guha ◽  
Ogheneovo Idolor ◽  
Katherine Berkowitz ◽  
Melissa Pasquinelli ◽  
Landon R. Grace
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Temperature Variation ◽  
Polymer Networks ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Secondary Interactions ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Secondary Bonding

We investigated the effect of temperature variation on the secondary bonding interactions between absorbed moisture and epoxies with different morphologies using molecular dynamics simulations.

Mechanistic analysis of light-driven overcrowded alkene-based molecular motors by multiscale molecular simulations

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (14) ◽  
pp. 8525-8540
Author(s):  
Mudong Feng ◽  
Michael K. Gilson
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Excited State ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Molecular Motors ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Molecular Simulations ◽  
Mechanistic Analysis ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Shed Light

Ground-state and excited-state molecular dynamics simulations shed light on the rotation mechanism of small, light-driven molecular motors and predict motor performance. How fast can they rotate; how much torque and power can they generate?

Structural features and functional domains of amassin-1, a cell-binding olfactomedin protein

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 552-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Hillier ◽  
Victor D. Vacquier
Keyword(s):  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Body Cavity ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Coiled Coils ◽  
Cell Binding ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Dependent Cell ◽  
A Cell

Amassin-1 mediates a rapid cell adhesion that tightly adheres sea urchin coelomocytes (body cavity immunocytes) together. Three major structural regions exist in amassin-1: a short β region, 3 coiled coils, and an olfactomedin domain. Amassin-1 contains 8 disulfide-bonded cysteines that, upon reduction, render it inactive. Truncated forms of recombinant amassin-1 were expressed and purified from Pichia pastoris and their disulfide bonding and biological activities investigated. Expressed alone, the olfactomedin domain contained 2 intramolecular disulfide bonds, existed in a monomeric state, and inhibited amassin-1-mediated clotting of coelomocytes by a calcium-dependent cell-binding activity. The N-terminal β region, containing 3 cysteines, was not required for clotting activity. The coiled coils may dimerize amassin-1 in a parallel orientation through a homodimerizing disulfide bond. Neither amassin-1 fragments that were disulfide-linked as dimers or that were engineered to exist as dimers induced coelomocytes clotting. Clotting required higher multimeric states of amassin-1, possibly tetramers, which occurred through the N-terminal β region and (or) the first segment of coiled coils.

Cluster, Surface and Bulk Properties of ZnCd Binary Alloys: Molecular-Dynamics Simulations

2005 ◽  
Vol 502 ◽  
pp. 51-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sakir Erkoc
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Density Functional ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Bulk Materials ◽  
Bulk Properties ◽  
Atom Clusters ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Mixed Clusters ◽  
Stable Structures

The structural and electronic properties of isolated neutral ZnmCdn clusters for m+n £ 3 have been investigated by performing density functional theory calculations at B3LYP level. The optimum geometries, vibrational frequencies, electronic structures, and the possible dissosiation channels of the clusters considered have been obtained. An empirical many-body potential energy function (PEF), which comprices two- and three-body atomic interactions, has been developed to investigate the structural features and energetics of ZnmCdn (m+n=3,4) microclusters. The most stable structures were found to be triangular for the three-atom clusters and tetrahedral for the four-atom clusters. On the other hand, the structural features and energetics of Znn-mCdm (n=7,8) microclusters, and Zn50, Cd50, Zn25Cd25, Zn12Cd38, and Zn38Cd12 nanoparticles have been investigated by performing molecular-dynamics computer simulations using the developed PEF. The most stable structures were found to be compact and three-dimensional for all elemental and mixed clusters. An interesting structural feature of the mixed clusters is that Zn and Cd atoms do not mix in mixed clusters, they come together almost without mixing. Surface and bulk properties of Zn, Cd, and ZnCd systems have been investigated too by performing molecular-dynamics simulations using the developed PEF. Surface reconstruction and multilayer relaxation on clean surfaces, adatom on surface, substitutional atom on surface and bulk materials, and vacancy on surface and bulk materials have been studied extensively.

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