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1.
Molecules ; 28(19)2023 Oct 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37836772

ABSTRACT

Antibiotic resistance is a global threat to public health, and the search for new antibacterial therapies is a current research priority. The aim of this in silico study was to test nine new fluoroquinolones previously designed with potential leishmanicidal activity against Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi, all of which are considered by the World Health Organization to resistant pathogens of global concern, through molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using wild-type (WT) and mutant-type (MT) DNA gyrases as biological targets. Our results showed that compound 9FQ had the best binding energy with the active site of E. coli in both molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Compound 9FQ interacted with residues of quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) in GyrA and GyrB chains, which are important to enzyme activity and through which it could block DNA replication. In addition to compound 9FQ, compound 1FQ also showed a good affinity for DNA gyrase. Thus, these newly designed molecules could have antibacterial activity against Gram-negative microorganisms. These findings represent a promising starting point for further investigation through in vitro assays, which can validate the hypothesis and potentially facilitate the development of novel antibiotic drugs.


Subject(s)
Fluoroquinolones , Quinolones , Fluoroquinolones/pharmacology , Fluoroquinolones/chemistry , Escherichia coli/metabolism , Molecular Docking Simulation , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Quinolones/chemistry , DNA Gyrase/chemistry , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Microbial Sensitivity Tests
2.
J Biomol Struct Dyn ; 40(10): 4488-4495, 2022 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33356922

ABSTRACT

The outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, continues to affect millions of people around the world. The absence of a globally distributed effective treatment makes the exploration of new mechanisms of action a key step to address this situation. Stabilization of non-native Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs) of the nucleocapsid protein of MERS-CoV has been reported as a valid strategy to inhibit viral replication. In this study, the applicability of this unexplored mechanism of action against SARS-CoV-2 is analyzed. During our research, we were able to find three inducible interfaces of SARS-CoV-2 N protein NTD, compare them to the previously reported MERS-CoV stabilized dimers, and identify those residues that are responsible for their formation. A drug discovery protocol implemented consisting of docking, molecular dynamics and MM-GBSA enabled us to find several compounds that might be able to exploit this mechanism of action. In addition, a common catechin skeleton was found among many of these molecules, which might be useful for further drug design. We consider that our findings could motivate future research in the fields of drug discovery and design towards the exploitation of this previously unexplored mechanism of action against COVID-19.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins , Drug Discovery , Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/metabolism , Humans , Molecular Docking Simulation , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Nucleocapsid Proteins , Phosphoproteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Phosphoproteins/metabolism , Protease Inhibitors , Protein Interaction Mapping , SARS-CoV-2/drug effects , Virus Replication
3.
Drug Discov Today ; 27(2): 664-674, 2022 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34856395

ABSTRACT

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is a 125-kDa cytoplasmic protein kinase that is implicated in several cellular functions. This protein is an attractive molecular target for cancer therapy because a wide variety of studies have demonstrated associations between the activation or elevated expression of FAK and tumor progression, invasion, and drug resistance in malignant tumors. Here, we review the strategies used to inhibit FAK activity in solid tumors. We also include an overview of the preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) and clinical studies on FAK inhibitors.


Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Protein Kinase Inhibitors , Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism , Humans , Neoplasms/metabolism , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
4.
ChemMedChem ; 17(4): e202100520, 2022 02 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34750978

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this work was to screen the anticancer activity and mechanisms of action of Cu(II)-acylhydrazone complex [Cu(HL)(H2 O)](NO3 )⋅H2 O, (CuHL), to find a potential novel agent for breast chemotherapies. Cytotoxicity studies on MCF7 cells demonstrated that CuHL has stronger anticancer properties than cisplatin over breast cancer cell models. Computational simulations showed that CuHL could interact in the minor groove of the DNA dodecamer, inducing a significant genotoxic effect on both cancer cells from 0.5 to 1 µM. In this sense, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that the compound could interact with 20S proteasome subunits. Also, cell proteasome experiments using breast cancer cells revealed that the complex can inhibit proteasomal activity. Moreover, CuHL induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells at very low micromolar concentrations (0.5-2.5 µM) and displayed relevant anticancer activity over spheroids derived from MCF7 cells. Ultimately, CuHL diminished the number of mammospheres formed, disturbing their morphology and size.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Coordination Complexes/pharmacology , Copper/pharmacology , Hydrazones/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Apoptosis/drug effects , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Coordination Complexes/chemical synthesis , Coordination Complexes/chemistry , Copper/chemistry , Crystallography, X-Ray , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Humans , Hydrazones/chemistry , Models, Molecular , Molecular Structure , Structure-Activity Relationship , Tumor Cells, Cultured
5.
J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem ; 36(1): 2118-2127, 2021 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34607524

ABSTRACT

New C-glycosides and α,ß-unsaturated ketones incorporating the 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl (vanillin) moiety as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms have been investigated. The inhibition profile of these compounds is presented against four human CA (hCA) isozymes, comprising hCAs I and II (cytosolic, ubiquitous enzymes) and hCAs IX and XII (tumour associated isozymes). Docking analysis of the inhibitors within the active sites of these enzymes has been performed and is discussed, showing that the observed selectivity could be explained in terms of an alternative pocket out of the CA active site where some of these compounds may bind. Several derivatives were identified as selective inhibitors of the tumour-associated hCA IX and XII. Their discovery might be a step in the strategy for finding an effective non-sulfonamide CA inhibitor useful in therapy/diagnosis of hypoxic tumours or other pathologies in which CA isoforms are involved.


Subject(s)
Benzaldehydes/pharmacology , Carbonic Anhydrase IX/antagonists & inhibitors , Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Carbonic Anhydrases/metabolism , Drug Design , Antigens, Neoplasm/metabolism , Benzaldehydes/chemical synthesis , Benzaldehydes/chemistry , Binding Sites/drug effects , Carbonic Anhydrase IX/metabolism , Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors/chemistry , Crystallography, X-Ray , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Humans , Molecular Docking Simulation , Molecular Structure , Structure-Activity Relationship
6.
Dalton Trans ; 50(28): 9812-9826, 2021 Jul 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34190268

ABSTRACT

We report here the synthesis, crystal structure, characterization and anticancer activity of a copper(ii)-hydrazone complex, [Cu(MeBHoVa)(H2O)2](NO3) (for short, CuHL), against human breast cancer cells on monolayer (2D) and spheroids/mammospheres (3D). The solid-state molecular structure of the complex has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The conformational space was searched and geometries were optimized both in the gas phase and including solvent effects by computational methods based on DFT. The compound has been characterized in the solid state and in solution by spectroscopic (FTIR, Raman, UV-vis) methods. The results were compared with those obtained for the hydrazone ligand and complemented with DFT calculations. Cell viability assays on MCF7 (IC50(CuHL) = 1.7 ± 0.1 µM, IC50(CDDP) = 42.0 ± 3.2 µM) and MDA-MB-231 (IC50(CuHL) = 1.6 ± 0.1 µM, IC50(CDDP) = 131.0 ± 18 µM) demonstrated that the complex displays higher antitumor activity than cisplatin (CDDP) on 2D and 3D human breast cancer cell models. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed that CuHL could interacts with DNA, inducing a significant genotoxic effect on both breast cancer cells from 0.5 to 1 µM. On the other hand, CuHL increases the ROS production and induces cell programmed death on breast cancer cells at very low micromolar concentrations (0.5-1.0 µM). Moreover, the compound decreased the amount of breast CSCs on MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells reducing the percentage of CD44+/CD24-/low cells from 0.5 to 1.5 µM. In addition, CuHL overcame CDDP with an IC50 value 65-fold lower against breast multicellular spheroids ((IC50(CuHL) = 2.2 ± 0.3 µM, IC50(CDDP) = 125 ± 4.5 µM)). Finally, CuHL reduced mammosphere formation capacity, hence affecting the size and number of mammospheres and showing that the complex exhibits antitumor properties on monolayer (2D) and spheroids (3D) derived from human breast cancer cells.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Coordination Complexes/pharmacology , Copper/pharmacology , Hydrazones/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cell Survival/drug effects , Coordination Complexes/chemistry , Copper/chemistry , DNA Damage , Female , Humans , Hydrazones/chemistry , Ligands , Molecular Docking Simulation , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Mutagens/chemistry , Mutagens/pharmacology , Neoplastic Stem Cells/drug effects , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Spheroids, Cellular/drug effects
7.
Biochimie ; 186: 43-50, 2021 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33865903

ABSTRACT

Metal ions and metal complexes are important components of nucleic acid biochemistry, participating both in regulation of gene expression and as therapeutic agents. Three new transition metal complexes of copper(II), zinc(II) and oxidovanadium(IV) with a ligand derived from o-vanillin and thiophene were previously synthesized and their antitumor properties were studied in our laboratory. To elucidate some molecular mechanisms tending to explain the cytotoxic effects observed over tumor cells, we investigated the interaction of these complexes with DNA by gel electrophoresis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations. Our spectroscopy and computational results have shown that all of them were able to bind to DNA, Cu(II) complex is located in the minor groove while Zn(II) and oxidovanadium(IV) complexes act as major groove binding molecules. Interestingly, only the Cu(II) complex caused double-strand DNA nicks, consistent with its higher cytotoxic activities previously observed in tumor cell lines. We propose that the DNA-complex interaction destabilize the molecule either disrupting the phosphodiester bonds or impairing DNA replication, giving those complexes strong antitumor potential.


Subject(s)
Copper/chemistry , DNA/chemistry , Molecular Docking Simulation , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Vanadates/chemistry , Zinc/chemistry , Schiff Bases
8.
Metallomics ; 12(12): 1931-1940, 2020 12 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33107537

ABSTRACT

The study of novel mechanisms of action of vanadium compounds is critical to elucidating the role and importance of these kinds of compounds as antitumor and antimetastatic agents. This work deals with in silico and in vitro studies of one clioquinol oxidovanadium(iv) complex [VO(clioquinol)2], VO(CQ)2, and its regulation of FAK. In particular, we focus on elucidating the relationship of the FAK inhibition, MMP activity and antimetastatic effects of the complex in human bone cancer cells.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Bone Neoplasms/drug therapy , Clioquinol/pharmacology , Osteosarcoma/drug therapy , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Vanadium/pharmacology , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Bone Neoplasms/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Clioquinol/analogs & derivatives , Focal Adhesion Kinase 1/antagonists & inhibitors , Focal Adhesion Kinase 1/metabolism , Humans , Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism , Molecular Docking Simulation , Osteosarcoma/metabolism , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Vanadium/chemistry
9.
Heliyon ; 5(8): e02238, 2019 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31440594

ABSTRACT

Survivin protein is a metalloprotein member of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins family, involved in the regulation of programmed cell death. Due to the recent development of antitumor therapies having survivin as molecular target, several strategies to interfere with the expression or function of survivin have emerged. This work describes the discovery of a new potential inhibitor of survivin function using a computer-aided drug design approach. Structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamic simulations were carried out to select two compounds as possible inhibitors. According to the binding energy, possible ligand localization is in a cavity, close to dimerization interface. Next, cell-based assays were performed on three cell lines: two with tumor phenotype and over-expression of survivin, and another with normal phenotype and low expression of survivin. One of the selected compounds shows a selectively antitumor effect on panel cell lines suggesting that the compound effect could be correlated with the survivin expression.

10.
Bioorg Med Chem ; 24(4): 768-78, 2016 Feb 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26810832

ABSTRACT

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is part of an extended family of proteins that together control aspects of cell growth and development, and thus a validated target for drug discovery. We explore in this work the suitability of a molecular dynamics-based end-point binding free energy protocol to estimate the relative affinities of a virtual combinatorial library designed around the EGFR model inhibitor 6{1} as a tool to guide chemical synthesis toward the most promising compounds. To investigate the validity of this approach, selected analogs including some with better and worse predicted affinities relative to 6{1} were synthesized, and their biological activity determined. To understand the binding determinants of the different analogs, hydrogen bonding and van der Waals contributions, and water molecule bridging in the EGFR-analog complexes were analyzed. The experimental validation was in good qualitative agreement with our theoretical calculations, while also a 6-dibromophenyl-substituted compound with enhanced inhibitory effect on EGFR compared to the reference ligand was obtained.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis , Drug Design , ErbB Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Pyrimidines/chemical synthesis , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Binding Sites , Enzyme Assays , ErbB Receptors/chemistry , Humans , Ligands , Molecular Docking Simulation , Protein Binding , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Protein Structure, Secondary , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Pyrimidines/pharmacology , Recombinant Proteins/chemistry , Structure-Activity Relationship , Thermodynamics
11.
Chem Biol Interact ; 229: 64-72, 2015 Mar 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25641192

ABSTRACT

It has been reported that various metal coordination compounds have improved some biological properties. A high activity of acid phosphatase (AcP) is associated to several diseases (osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, prostate cancer, among others) and makes it a target for the development of new potential inhibitors. Anti-thyroid agents have disadvantageous side effects and the scarcity of medicines in this area motivated many researchers to synthesize new ones. Several copper(II) complexes have shown antifungal activities. In this work we presented for a first time the inhibition of AcP and the anti-thyroid activity produced by methimazole-Cu(II) complexes. Cu-Met ([Cu(MeimzH)2(H2O)2](NO3)2·H2O) produces a weak inhibition action while Cu-Met-phen ([Cu(MeimzH)2(phen)(H2O)2]Cl2) shows a strong inhibition effect (IC50 = 300 µM) being more effective than the reported behavior of vanadium complexes. Cu-Met-phen also presented a fairly good anti-thyroid activity with a formation constant value, Kc=1.02 × 10(10)M(-1) being 10(6) times more active than methimazole (Kc = 4.16 × 10(4)M(-1)) in opposition to Cu-Met which presented activity (Kc=9.54 × 10(3)M(-1)) but in a lesser extent than that of the free ligand. None of the complexes show antifungal activity except Cu-phen (MIC = 11.71 µgmL(-1) on Candidaalbicans) which was tested for comparison. Besides, albumin interaction experiments denoted high affinity toward the complexes and the calculated binding constants indicate reversible binding to the protein.


Subject(s)
Acid Phosphatase/antagonists & inhibitors , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Antithyroid Agents/pharmacology , Coordination Complexes/pharmacology , Copper/pharmacology , Methimazole/pharmacology , Serum Albumin, Bovine/metabolism , Acid Phosphatase/metabolism , Animals , Antifungal Agents/chemistry , Antithyroid Agents/chemistry , Candida/drug effects , Candidiasis/drug therapy , Cattle , Coordination Complexes/chemistry , Copper/chemistry , Humans , Methimazole/chemistry , Protein Conformation/drug effects , Serum Albumin, Bovine/chemistry
12.
J Chem Phys ; 138(3): 035101, 2013 Jan 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23343304

ABSTRACT

The pKa, the negative logarithm of the acid dissociation equilibrium constant, of the carboxylic acid groups of unconjugated bilirubin in water is a discussed issue because there are quite different experimental values reported. Using quantum mechanical calculations we have studied the conformational behavior of unconjugated bilirubin species (in gas phase and in solution modeled implicitly and explicitly) to provide evidence that may clarify pKa values because of its pathophysiological relevance. Our results show that rotation of carboxylate group, which is not restricted, settles it in a suitable place to establish stronger interactions that stabilizes the monoanion and the dianion to be properly solvated, demonstrating that the rationalization used to justify the high pKa values of unconjugated bilirubin is inappropriate. Furthermore, low unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) pKa values were estimated from a linear regression analysis.


Subject(s)
Bilirubin/chemistry , Quantum Theory , Anions/chemistry , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
13.
Carbohydr Res ; 361: 182-8, 2012 Nov 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23026713

ABSTRACT

The conformational behavior of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-ß-D-mannopyranosyl methanesulfonamide has been investigated from a combined theoretical and experimental point of view. The study of the conformational space of the glycosyl sulfonamide revealed that the ß anomer is thermodynamically more stable than the α one. This fact suggests that the synthesis reaction could take place mainly under thermodynamic control as the main experimental product is the ß-anomeric form of the sulfonamide. Several intramolecular hydrogen bonds were found in the stable conformers of the N-mannopyranosyl sulfonamide under study. A relationship was found to exist between them and the relative stability of the conformers. A detailed analysis of geometrical parameters shed light into the nature of the solid state structure of the novel 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-ß-D-mannopyranosyl methanesulfonamide in terms of exo- and endo-anomeric effects and antiperiplanar relationships. NBO calculations confirmed those findings. Calculated (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts support previous findings concerning configuration and conformation assignments of the title sulfonamide. Finally, an explanation of the stereochemical outcome of sulfonamidoglycosylations, was given in terms of exo- and endo-anomeric effects and steric factors.


Subject(s)
Carbohydrates/chemistry , Mannosides/chemistry , Sulfonamides/chemistry , Acetylation , Carbohydrate Conformation , Carbohydrates/chemical synthesis , Glycosylation , Hydrogen Bonding , Mannosides/chemical synthesis , Models, Molecular , Sulfonamides/chemical synthesis , Thermodynamics
14.
Carbohydr Res ; 346(3): 442-8, 2011 Feb 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21237448

ABSTRACT

The novel 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranosyl sulfamide, which exhibits selectivity for inhibiting isoform IX of carbonic anhydrase as overexpressed in many tumors, has been investigated from a combined theoretical and spectroscopic point of view. The conformational study of the compound shows that the α-anomeric form is more stable than the ß-anomeric form from a thermodynamic point of view after including solvent effects. This fact suggests that the synthesis reaction could take place mainly under thermodynamic control as the main experimental product is the α-anomeric form of the sulfamide. Calculated α/ß ratio is about 95:5, in excellent agreement with experimental data. Optimized geometries of the α-anomeric form agree quite well with crystallographic data. The inclusion of a solvent has negligible effects on the conformations. A detailed analysis of some geometric parameters shed light into the conformational behavior of the sulfamide in terms of both exo- and endo-anomeric effects and antiperiplanar relationships. Natural bond orbital calculations confirm those findings. Several intramolecular hydrogen bonds, characterized through the Atoms-in-Molecules theory, were found in the stable conformers. They, however, seem to play no relevant role in determining the relative stability of α conformers with respect to the ß ones. Calculated (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts support previous findings concerning configuration and conformation assignments of the title sulfamide. The IR spectrum of the compound is recorded and reported for the first time and the assignment of some of the most important bands is accomplished with the aid of calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies.


Subject(s)
Amino Sugars/chemistry , Antigens, Neoplasm/chemistry , Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors/chemistry , Carbonic Anhydrases/chemistry , Sulfonamides/chemistry , Carbonic Anhydrase IX , Drug Design , Humans , Molecular Conformation , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
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