scholarly journals Methods for Identifying Microbial Natural Product Compounds that Target Kinetoplastid RNA Structural Motifs by Homology and De Novo Modeled 18S rRNA

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4493
Author(s):  
Harrison Ndung’u Mwangi ◽  
Edward Kirwa Muge ◽  
Peter Waiganjo Wagacha ◽  
Albert Ndakala ◽  
Francis Jackim Mulaa

The development of novel anti-infectives against Kinetoplastids pathogens targeting proteins is a big problem occasioned by the antigenic variation in these parasites. This is also a global concern due to the zoonosis of these parasites, as they infect both humans and animals. Therefore, we need not only to create novel antibiotics, but also to speed up the development pipeline for these antibiotics. This may be achieved by using novel drug targets for Kinetoplastids drug discovery. In this study, we focused our attention on motifs of rRNA molecules that have been created using homology modeling. The RNA is the most ambiguous biopolymer in the kinetoplatid, which carries many different functions. For instance, tRNAs, rRNAs, and mRNAs are essential for gene expression both in the pro-and eukaryotes. However, all these types of RNAs have sequences with unique 3D structures that are specific for kinetoplastids only and can be used to shut down essential biochemical processes in kinetoplastids only. All these features make RNA very potent targets for antibacterial drug development. Here, we combine in silico methods combined with both computational biology and structure prediction tools to address our hypothesis. In this study, we outline a systematic approach for identifying kinetoplastid rRNA-ligand interactions and, more specifically, techniques that can be used to identify small molecules that target particular RNA. The high-resolution optimized model structures of these kineoplastids were generated using RNA 123, where all the stereochemical conflicts were solved and energies minimized to attain the best biological qualities. The high-resolution optimized model’s structures of these kinetoplastids were generated using RNA 123 where all the stereochemical conflicts were solved and energies minimized to attain the best biological qualities. These models were further analyzed to give their docking assessment reliability. Docking strategies, virtual screening, and fishing approaches successfully recognized novel and myriad macromolecular targets for the myxobacterial natural products with high binding affinities to exploit the unmet therapeutic needs. We demonstrate a sensible exploitation of virtual screening strategies to 18S rRNA using natural products interfaced with classical maximization of their efficacy in phamacognosy strategies that are well established. Integration of these virtual screening strategies in natural products chemistry and biochemistry research will spur the development of potential interventions to these tropical neglected diseases.

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2095326
Author(s):  
Jai-Sing Yang ◽  
Jo-Hua Chiang ◽  
Shih‑Chang Tsai ◽  
Yuan-Man Hsu ◽  
Da-Tian Bau ◽  
...  

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV) is becoming increasingly serious. In March 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated remdesivir for compassionate use to treat COVID-19. Thus, the development of novel antiviral agents, antibodies, and vaccines against COVID-19 is an urgent research subject. Many laboratories and research organizations are actively investing in the development of new compounds for COVID-19. Through in silico high-throughput virtual screening, we have recently identified compounds from the compound library of Natural Products Research Laboratories (NPRL) that can bind to COVID-19 3Lpro polyprotein and block COVID-19 3Lpro activity through in silico high-throughput virtual screening. Curcuminoid derivatives (including NPRL334, NPRL339, NPRL342, NPRL346, NPRL407, NPRL415, NPRL420, NPRL472, and NPRL473) display strong binding affinity to COVID-19 3Lpro polyprotein. The binding site of curcuminoid derivatives to COVID-19 3Lpro polyprotein is the same as that of the FDA-approved human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitor (lopinavir) to COVID-19 3Lpro polyprotein. The binding affinity of curcuminoid derivatives to COVID-19 3Lpro is stronger than that of lopinavir and curcumin. Among curcuminoid derivatives, NPRL-334 revealed the strongest binding affinity to COVID-19 3Lpro polyprotein and is speculated to have an anti-COVID-19 effect. In vitro and in vivo ongoing experiments are currently underway to confirm the present findings. This study sheds light on the drug design for COVID-19 3Lpro polyprotein. Basing on lead compound development, we provide new insights on inhibiting COVID-19 attachment to cells, reducing COVID-19 infection rate and drug side effects, and increasing therapeutic success rate.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 275
Author(s):  
Hwangseo Park ◽  
Jinwon Jeon ◽  
Kewon Kim ◽  
Soyeon Choi ◽  
Sungwoo Hong

Background: the proviral insertion site of Moloney murine leukemia (PIM) 1 kinase has served as a therapeutic target for various human cancers due to the enhancement of cell proliferation and the inhibition of apoptosis. Methods: to identify effective PIM1 kinase inhibitors, structure-based virtual screening of natural products of plant origin and de novo design were carried out using the protein–ligand binding free energy function improved by introducing an adequate dehydration energy term. Results: as a consequence of subsequent enzyme inhibition assays, four classes of PIM1 kinase inhibitors were discovered, with the biochemical potency ranging from low-micromolar to sub-micromolar levels. The results of extensive docking simulations showed that the inhibitory activity stemmed from the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds in combination with hydrophobic interactions in the ATP-binding site. Optimization of the biochemical potency by chemical modifications of the 2-benzylidenebenzofuran-3(2H)-one scaffold led to the discovery of several nanomolar inhibitors with antiproliferative activities against human breast cancer cell lines. Conclusions: these new PIM1 kinase inhibitors are anticipated to serve as a new starting point for the development of anticancer medicine.


MedChemComm ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1289-1292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Merk ◽  
Francesca Grisoni ◽  
Lukas Friedrich ◽  
Elena Gelzinyte ◽  
Gisbert Schneider

The concept of virtual screening and automated de novo design has been corroborated as a viable strategy for scaffold hopping from bioactive natural products to isofunctional, synthetically accessible mimetics.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 321-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan A. Bisceglia ◽  
Maria C. Mollo ◽  
Nadia Gruber ◽  
Liliana R. Orelli

Neglected diseases due to the parasitic protozoa Leishmania and Trypanosoma (kinetoplastids) affect millions of people worldwide, and the lack of suitable treatments has promoted an ongoing drug discovery effort to identify novel nontoxic and cost-effective chemotherapies. Polyamines are ubiquitous small organic molecules that play key roles in kinetoplastid parasites metabolism, redox homeostasis and in the normal progression of cell cycles, which differ from those found in the mammalian host. These features make polyamines attractive in terms of antiparasitic drug development. The present work provides a comprehensive insight on the use of polyamine derivatives and related nitrogen compounds in the chemotherapy of kinetoplastid diseases. The amount of literature on this subject is considerable, and a classification considering drug targets and chemical structures were made. Polyamines, aminoalcohols and basic heterocycles designed to target the relevant parasitic enzyme trypanothione reductase are discussed in the first section, followed by compounds directed to less common targets, like parasite SOD and the aminopurine P2 transporter. Finally, the third section comprises nitrogen compounds structurally derived from antimalaric agents. References on the chemical synthesis of the selected compounds are reported together with their in vivo and/or in vitro IC50 values, and structureactivity relationships within each group are analyzed. Some favourable structural features were identified from the SAR analyses comprising protonable sites, hydrophobic groups and optimum distances between them. The importance of certain pharmacophoric groups or amino acid residues in the bioactivity of polyamine derived compounds is also discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khac-Minh Thai ◽  
Trieu-Du Ngo ◽  
Thien-Vy Phan ◽  
Thanh-Dao Tran ◽  
Ngoc-Vinh Nguyen ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Pérez-Sianes ◽  
Horacio Pérez-Sánchez ◽  
Fernando Díaz

Background: Automated compound testing is currently the de facto standard method for drug screening, but it has not brought the great increase in the number of new drugs that was expected. Computer- aided compounds search, known as Virtual Screening, has shown the benefits to this field as a complement or even alternative to the robotic drug discovery. There are different methods and approaches to address this problem and most of them are often included in one of the main screening strategies. Machine learning, however, has established itself as a virtual screening methodology in its own right and it may grow in popularity with the new trends on artificial intelligence. Objective: This paper will attempt to provide a comprehensive and structured review that collects the most important proposals made so far in this area of research. Particular attention is given to some recent developments carried out in the machine learning field: the deep learning approach, which is pointed out as a future key player in the virtual screening landscape.


Author(s):  
Pragya Nayak ◽  
Monica Kachroo

: A series of new heteroaryl thiazolidine-4-one derivatives were designed and subjected to in-silico prioritization using various virtual screening strategies. Two series of thiazolidinone derivatives were synthesized and screened for their in-vitro antitubercular, anticancer, antileishmanial and antibacterial (Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pneumonia; Escherichia coli; Pseudomonas aeruginosa) activities. The compounds with electronegative substitutions exhibited positive antitubercular activity, the derivatives possessing a methyl substitution exhibited good inhibitory response against breast cancer cell line MCF-7 while the compounds possessing a hydrogen bond acceptor site like hydroxyl and methoxy substitution in their structures exhibited good in-vitro antileishmanial activity. Some compounds exhibited potent activity against gram positive bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa as compared to the standards. Altogether, the designed compounds exhibited good in-vitro anti-infective potential which was in good agreement with the in-silico predictions and they can be developed as important lead molecules for anti-infective and chemotherapeutic drug research.


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