In vitro inhibition potency of malononitrile derivatives on the activity of two pentose phosphate pathway enzymes: accompanied by molecular docking evaluation.

Many disorders, including cancer and malaria, could be targeted via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), whose products are key in biosynthetic reactions in cells. The goal of this study was to find new PPP inhibitors. The inhibition effects of malononitrile derivatives on Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) were analyzed through in vitro experiments. Besides, molecular docking studies were performed to predict the interactions having role in inhibition of compounds. K i constants of derivatives were found between 4.24 ± 0.46-69.63 ± 7.75 µM for G6PD and 1.91 ± 0.12-95.07 ± 11.08 µM for 6PGD. Derivatives indicated non-competitive inhibition on both enzymes except for compound 4. The findings of the molecular docking studies revealed that free-binding energy estimations agreed with in vitro data. The structure of these malononitrile derivatives may guide for drug discovery in targeting the PPP.

Methyl benzoate derivatives as inhibitors of pentose phosphate pathway, which promotes cancer progression and drug resistance: An in silico study supported by in vitro results.

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), whose products are vital in biosynthetic events, is targeted in the treatment of many diseases such as cancer and malaria. The objective of this study was to identify new PPP inhibitors. The inhibition effects of methyl 4-amino benzoates on glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) were analyzed through in vitro experiments and molecular docking studies were used to estimate inhibition mechanisms. IC50 values of compounds were found between 100.8 and 430.8 µM for G6PD and 206 and 693.2 µM for 6PGD. Molecular docking analysis showed that compound 1 was found the most effective inhibitor against hG6PD and compound 4 had the highest inhibitory potency against h6PGD with the estimated binding energy of -6.71 and -7.61 kcal/mol, respectively. In conclusion, it was determined that in vitro and in silico outcomes of the study were highly correlated with each other. The structure of these benzoates may aid in the development of drugs that target the PPP.