scholarly journals Conceptual DFT as a Novel Chemoinformatics Tool for Studying the Chemical Reactivity Properties of the Amatoxin Family of Fungal Peptides

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1133-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Flores-Holguín ◽  
Juan Frau ◽  
Daniel Glossman-Mitnik

AbstractThe chemical structures and molecular reactivities of the Amatoxin group of fungi-derived peptides have been determined by means of the consideration of a model chemistry that has been previously validated as well-behaved for our purposes. The reactivity descriptors were calculated on the basis of a methodological framework built around the concepts that are the outcome of the so called Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT). This procedure in connection with the different Fukui functions allowed to identify the chemically active regions within the molecules. By considering a simple protocol designed by our research group for the estimation of the pKa of peptides through the information coming from the chemical hardness, these property has been established for the different molecular systems explored in this research. The information reported through this work could be of interest for medicinal chemistry researchers in using this knowledge for the design of new medicines based on the studied peptides or as a help for the understanding of the toxicity mechanisms exerted by them.

Computation ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Flores-Holguín ◽  
Juan Frau ◽  
Daniel Glossman-Mitnik

A methodology based on concepts that arose from Density Functional Theory (CDFT) was chosen for the calculation of global and local reactivity descriptors of the Seragamide family of marine anticancer peptides. Determination of active sites for the molecules was achieved by resorting to some descriptors within Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT) such as Fukui functions. The pKas of the six studied peptides were established using a proposed relationship between this property and calculated chemical hardness. The drug likenesses and bioactivity properties of the peptides considered in this study were obtained by resorting to a homology model by comparison with the bioactivity of related molecules in their interaction with different receptors. With the object of analyzing the concept of drug repurposing, a study of potential AGE-inhibition abilities of Seragamides peptides was pursued by comparison with well-known drugs that are already available as pharmaceuticals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 857-873
Author(s):  
Kornelia Czaja ◽  
Jacek Kujawski ◽  
Radosław Kujawski ◽  
Marek K. Bernard

AbstractUsing the density functional theory (DFT) formalism, we have investigated the properties of some arylsulphonyl indazole derivatives that we studied previously for their biological activity and susceptibility to interactions of azoles. This study includes the following physicochemical properties of these derivatives: electronegativity and polarisability (Mulliken charges, adjusted charge partitioning, and iterative-adjusted charge partitioning approaches); free energy of solvation (solvation model based on density model and M062X functional); highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)–lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gap together with the corresponding condensed Fukui functions, time-dependent DFT along with the UV spectra simulations using B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP, MPW1PW91, and WB97XD functionals, as well as linear response polarisable continuum model; and estimation of global chemical reactivity descriptors, particularly the chemical hardness factor. The charges on pyrrolic and pyridinic nitrogen (the latter one in the quinolone ring of compound 8, as well as condensed Fukui functions) reveal a significant role of these atoms in potential interactions of azole ligand–protein binding pocket. The lowest negative value of free energy of solvation can be attributed to carbazole 6, whereas pyrazole 7 has the least negative value of this energy. Moreover, the HOMO–LUMO gap and chemical hardness show that carbazole 6 and indole 5 exist as soft molecules, while fused pyrazole 7 has hard character.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (18) ◽  
pp. 3312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Flores-Holguín ◽  
Juan Frau ◽  
Daniel Glossman-Mitnik

A well-behaved model chemistry previously validated for the study of the chemical reactivity of peptides was considered for the calculation of the molecular properties and structures of the Papuamide family of marine peptides. A methodology based on Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT) was chosen for the determination of the reactivity descriptors. The molecular active sites were associated with the active regions of the molecules related to the nucleophilic and electrophilic Parr functions. Finally, the drug-likenesses and the bioactivity scores for the Papuamide peptides were predicted through a homology methodology relating them with the calculated reactivity descriptors, while other properties such as the pKas were determined following a methodology developed by our group.


Author(s):  
Nevim San ◽  
Murat Kılıç ◽  
Zekiye Çınar

AbstractThe kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation reactions of twelve ortho/para mono-substituted phenols containing electron-donating or -withdrawing groups have been investigated experimentally. With the intention of determining the most suitable DFT reactivity descriptors, geometry optimizations of the compounds have been performed with the Density Functional Theory DFT at B3LYP/6-31G* level. In order to take the effect of solvent water into account, the calculations have been repeated for the optimized structures by using COSMO as the solvation model. Chemical hardness, softness, electronegativities, Fukui functions, local hardness and softness, local electrophilicities and softness differences for all phenol molecules have been calculated. Correlations between the apparent initial first-order rate constants determined in the experiments and the calculated DFT reactivity descriptors have been examined. Results show that the reactions investigated are electrophilic in nature. The local softness and softness differences correlate well with the reaction rates indicating that soft-soft interactions dominate in the photocatalytic degradation reactions of phenols.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (08) ◽  
pp. 1750076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Morales-Bayuelo

Currently, there is increasing interest in the potential of malaria inhibitors in Plasmodium falciparum activity. In this work, is propose a possible alternative to classifying 154 antimalarials, with P. falciparum activity. These antimalarials were synthesized by the Chibale’s group ( http://www.kellychibaleresearch.uct.ac.za/ ), with the goal of finding new insights on the binding pocket of the protein kinase PfPK5, PfPK7, PfCDPK1, PfCDPK4, PfMAP1, and PfPK6 of the malaria parasite. However, there is only information about crystallography of PfPK5 and PfPK7. The protein kinases PfCDPK1, PfCDPK4, PfMAP1, and PfPK6 were modeled using molecular homology. The validation used shows that our homology models can be an alternative for the protein kinases from P. falciparum, unknown today. The antimalarials were classified by taking into account the interactions in the hinge zone. These ligands bind to the kinase through the formation of one of two hydrogen bonds, with the backbone residues of the hinge region connecting the kinase N- and C-terminal loops. These interactions were supported by a reactivity chemistry analysis, using global chemical reactivity descriptors such as chemical potential, hardness, softness, electrophilicity, and the Fukui functions as local reactivity descriptors, within the Density Functional Theory (DFT) context.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranita Pal ◽  
Pratim Kumar Chattaraj

The scientific community is engrossed in the thought of a probable solution to the future energy crisis keeping in mind a better environment-friendly alternative. Although there are many such alternatives, the green hydrogen energy has occupied most of the brilliant minds due to its abundance and numerous production resources. For the advancement of hydrogen economy, Government agencies are funding pertinent research projects. There is an avalanche of molecular systems which are studied by several chemists for storing atomic and molecular hydrogens. The present review on molecular hydrogen storage focuses on all-metal and nonmetal aromatic clusters. In addition to the effect of aromaticity on hydrogen trapping potential of different molecular moieties, the importance of using the conceptual density functional theory based reactivity descriptors is also highlighted. Investigations from our group have been revealing the fact that several aromatic metal clusters, metal doped nonmetal clusters as well as pure nonmetal clusters can serve as potential molecular hydrogen trapping agents. Reported systems include N4Li2, N6Ca2 clusters, Mgn, and Can (n = 8–10) cage-like moieties, B12N12 clathrate, transition metal doped ethylene complexes, M3+ (M = Li, Na) ions, E3-M2 (E = Be, Mg, Al; M = Li, Na, K) clusters, Li3Al4− ions, Li decorated star-like molecules, BxLiy (x = 3–6; y = 1, 2), Li-doped annular forms, Li-doped borazine derivatives, C12N12 clusters (N4C3H)6Li6 and associated 3-D functional material, cucurbiturils, lithium–phosphorus double-helices. Ni bound C12N12 moieties are also reported recently.


Author(s):  
Norma Flores-Holguín ◽  
Juan Frau ◽  
Daniel Glossman-Mitnik

This work presents the results of a computational study of the chemical reactivity and bioactivity properties of the members of the Theopapuamides A-D family of marine peptides by making use of our own proposed methodology named Computational Peptidology (CP) that has been successfully considered in previous studies of this kind of molecular systems. CP allowed for the determination of the global and local descriptors that come from Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT) that can give an idea of the chemical reactivity properties of the marine natural products under study which are already known to be related to their bioactivity. At the same time, the validity of the procedure based on the adoption of the KID (Koopmans in DFT) technique as well as the MN12SX/Def2TZVP/H2O model chemistry has been successfully verified. Together with several Chemoinformatic tools that can be used for the improvement of process of Virtual Screening, some additional properties of these marine peptides were identified related to their ability to behave as useful drugs. With the further object of analyzing their bioactivity some parameters of usefulness for future QSAR studies, their predicted biological targets and the the ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) parameters related to the Theopapuamides A-D pharmacokinetics are also reported.


Author(s):  
Norma Flores-Holguín ◽  
Juan Frau ◽  
Daniel Glossman-Mitnik

A methodology based on the concepts that arise from Density Functional Theory named Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT) was chosen for the calculation of some global and local reactivity descriptors of the Discodermins A-H family of marine peptides through the consideration of the KID (Koopmans in DFT) technique that was successfully used in previous studies of this kind of molecular systems. The determination of active sites of the studied molecules for different kind of reactivities was achieved by resorting to some CDFT-based descriptors like the Fukui functions as well as the Parr functions derived from Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT). A few properties identified with their ability to behave as a drug and the bioactivity of the peptides considered in this examination were acquired by depending on a homology model by studying the correlation with the known bioactivity of related molecules in their interaction with various biological receptors. With the further object of analyzing their bioactivity some parameters of usefulness for future QSAR studies, their predicted biological targets and the the ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) parameters related to the Discodermins A-H pharmacokinetics are also reported.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Norma Flores-Holguín ◽  
Juan Frau ◽  
Daniel Glossman-Mitnik

Five density functionals, CAM-B3LYP, LC-ωHPBE, MN12SX, N12SX, and ωB97XD, in connection with the Def2TZVP basis set were assessed together with the SMD solvation model for the calculation of the molecular properties, chemical reactivities, and solubilities of some pigments derived from astaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, fucoxanthin, myxol, siphonaxanthin, siphonein, and zeaxanthin marine carotenoids in the presence of different solvents (hexane, methanol, ethanol, and water). All the chemical reactivity descriptors for the systems were calculated via conceptual density functional theory (CDFT). Finally, the potential bioavailability and druggability as well as the bioactivity scores for the marine carotenoid pigments were predicted through different methodologies already reported in the literature, which have been previously validated during the study of other natural products obtained from marine sources.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (03) ◽  
pp. 1750019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Ramirez-Balderrama ◽  
Erasmo Orrantia-Borunda ◽  
Norma Flores-Holguin

Carbodiimides have been widely used for different purposes, such as an intermediary to form peptides bonds and esters, which have generated industrial, organic and biological applications. Diisoproylcarbodiimide (DIC), (3-(dimethylamino) propyl)ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) and N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) are the most common carbodiimides, however, there exist other carbodiimides that are not normally used. Twelve carbodiimides including the above mentioned were chosen to study their chemical reactivity as well as their nucleophilic and electrophilic attack sites. Geometry optimization in gas and solution phases was obtained using Density Functional Theory (DFT) through B3LYP with 6-31G(d) and 6-311[Formula: see text]G(d,p) level. Global and local reactivity descriptors were calculated and analyzed such as chemical hardness, ionization potential, electron affinity, Fukui functions, dual descriptor and hypersoftness. The results obtained for geometrical parameters do not have significant differences for gas and solution phase. The introduction of diffuse functions has great impact in electron affinity, modifying notably the values of reactivity descriptors, but didn’t show qualitative differences, since the results found for both basis set calculations show that Cyanamide or CD1 is the most stable and CD11 present greater reactivity of all studied molecules. Also, the hypersoftness results obtained with 6-31G(d) are in agreement with the general affirmation that carbodiimides are easily attacked by nucleophiles and electrophiles in the central carbon–nitrogen double bond.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document