Molecular Docking Studies for Protein-Targeted Drug Development in SARS-CoV-2

Author(s):  
Ahmad Dzulfikri Nurhan ◽  
Maria Apriliani Gani ◽  
Saipul Maulana ◽  
Siswandono Siswandono ◽  
Chrismawan Ardianto ◽  
...  

Background: The SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection has resulted in a global pandemic and emergency. Currently, there is no therapeutic agent that has been proven to be effective and selective to deal with this pandemic. Objective: In this study, we explored and screened 401 compounds-related viruses that may inhibit one or more of the three protein targets in SARS-CoV-2 (3CL protease, RdRp, and spike glycoprotein) using in-silico approach. Methods: Lipinski's rule of five was used as an initial screening for these compounds. Ligand preparation was carried out using JChem software and Schrödinger's LigPrep module, while protein elucidation used AutoDockTools-1.5.6. Molecular docking was analyzed using AutoDockVina. Results: A total of five compounds-related viruses were obtained from each SARS-CoV-2 protein with ideal and potential binding energy as a candidate for target protein inhibitor on SARS-CoV-2. At the protein 3CL protease imatinib, TAK-981, lopinavir, mefloquine, and sitagliptin were found to be potential inhibitors of this protein. In the protein RdRp tetrandrine, relacatib, AZD7986, imatinib, and TAK-981 revealed potential as an inhibitor of this protein. At the protein spike, glycoprotein AZD7986, selinexor, imatinib, lopinavir, and ciclesonide, were found to have potential as inhibitors of these proteins. All these compounds have better binding energy than the three comparator drugs (remdesivir, chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine). Conclusion: We have obtained several compounds-related viruses with reliable binding energies to the SARS-CoV-2 proteins and potentially better than the three comparator drugs. Furthermore, this research will pave the way for accelerating the development of Covid-19 drugs.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria ◽  
Zahid Khan

AbstractComputational approaches have emerging role for designing potential inhibitors against topoisomerase 2 for treatment of cancer. TOP2A plays a key role in DNA replication before cell division and thus facilitates the growth of cells. This function of TOP2A can be suppressed by targeting with potential inhibitors in cancer cells to stop the uncontrolled cell division. Among potential inhibitors cryptolepine is more selective and has the ability to intercalate into DNA, effectively block TOP2A and cease cell division in cancer cells. However, cryptolepine is non-specific and have low affinity, therefore, a combinatorial library was designed and virtually screened for identification of its derivatives with greater TOP2A binding affinities.A combinatorial library of 31114 derivatives of cryptolepine was formed and the library was virtually screened by molecular docking to predict the molecular interactions between cryptolepine derivatives and TOP2A taking cryptolepine as standard. The overall screening and docking approach explored all the binding poses of cryptolepine for TOP2A to calculate binding energy. The compounds are given database number 8618, 907, 147, 16755, and 8186 scored lowest binding energies of −9.88kcal/mol, −9.76kcal/mol, −9.75kcal/mol, −9.73kcal/mol, and −9.72kcal/mol respectively and highest binding affinity while cryptolepine binding energy is −6.09kcal/mol. The good binding interactions of the derivatives showed that they can be used as potent TOP2A inhibitors and act as more effective anticancer agents than cryptolepine itself. The interactions of derivatives with different amino acid residues were also observed. A comprehensive understanding of the interactions of proposed derivatives with TOP2A helped for searching more novel and potent drug-like molecules for anticancer therapy. This Computational study suggests useful references to understand inhibition mechanisms that will help in the modification of TOP2A inhibitors.


Author(s):  
SHAILENDRA SANJAY SURYAWANSHI ◽  
POOJA BHAVAKANA JAYANNACHE ◽  
RAJKUMAR SANJAY PATIL ◽  
PALLED MS ◽  
ALEGAON SG

Objectives: The objective of the study was to screen and assess the selected bioactive bioflavonoids in medicinal plants as potential coronaviruses (CoV) main protease (Mpro) inhibitors using molecular docking studies. Methods: We have investigated several bioflavonoids which include apigenin, galangin, glycitein, luteolin, morin, naringin, resveratrol, and rutin. Nelfinavir and lopinavir were used as standard antiviral drugs for comparison. Mpro was docked with selected compounds using PyRx 0.8 and docking was analyzed by PyRx 0.8 and Biovia Discovery Studio 2019. Results: The binding energies obtained from the docking of 6LU7 with native ligand, nelfinavir, lopinavir, apigenin, galangin, glycitein, luteolin, morin, naringin, resveratrol, and rutin were found to be −7.4, −8.3, −8.0, −7.8, −7.3, −7, −7.4, −7.6, −7.8, −6.9, and −9 kcal/mol, respectively. Conclusion: From the binding energy calculations, we can conclude that nelfinavir and lopinavir may represent potential treatment options and apigenin, galangin, glycitein, luteolin, morin, naringin, resveratrol, and rutin found to possess the best inhibitors of CoV disease-19 main protease.


Author(s):  
SENTHIL PRABHU S ◽  
SATHISHKUMAR R ◽  
KIRUTHIKA B

Objective: At present, the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic is increasing global health concerns. This coronavirus outbreak is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2. Since, no specific antiviral for treatment against COVID-19, so identification of new therapeutics is an urgent need. The objective of this study is to the analysis of lichen compounds against main protease and spike protein targets of SARS-CoV-2 using in silico approach. Methods: A total of 108 lichen compounds were subjected to ADMET analysis and 14 compounds were selected based on the ADMET properties and Lipinski’s rule of five. Molecular docking was performed for screening of selected individual lichen metabolites against the main protease and spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 by Schrodinger Glide module software. Results: Among the lead compounds, fallacinol showed the highest binding energy value of −11.83 kcal/mol against spike protein, 4-O-Demethylbarbatic acid exhibited the highest dock score of −11.67 kcal/mol against main protease. Conclusion: This study finding suggests that lichen substances may be potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Patel ◽  
Malathi Rajendran ◽  
Suresh B Pakala ◽  
Ashish Shah ◽  
Harnisha Patel ◽  
...  

COVID-19, a new pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China. The novel corona virus SARS-CoV-2 and the 2002 SARS-CoV have 74 % identity and use similar mechanisms to gain entry into the cell. Both the viruses enter the host cell by binding of the viral spike glycoprotein to the host receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Targeting entry of the virus has a better advantage than inhibiting the later stages of the viral life cycle. Potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Spike proteins was determined using molecular docking studies. Curcumin, a naturally occurring phytochemical in Curcuma longa, is known to have broad pharmacological properties. In the present study, curcumin and its derivatives were docked, using Autodock 4.2, onto the 6CRV and 6M0J to study their capability to act as inhibitors of the spike protein and thereby, viral entry. The curcumin and its derivatives displayed binding energies, ΔG, ranging from -14.18 to -4.04 kcal/mol (6CRV) and -10.01 to -5.33 kcal/mol (6M0J). The least binding energy was seen in bis-desmethoxycurcumin with: ΔG = -14.18 kcal/mol (6CRV) and -10.01 kcal/mol (6M0J). A good binding energy, drug likeness and efficient pharmacokinetic parameters suggest the potential of curcumin and few of its derivatives as SARS-CoV-2 spike protein inhibitors.<br>


2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Fang Shen ◽  
Gan-Hong Chen ◽  
Shu-Hsien Lin ◽  
Gialih Lin

The kinetic studies and drug designs of butyrylcholinesterase play an important role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics. In this research, automated docking studies were performed to provide useful insights into butyrylcholinesterase inhibition binding modes with designed 4-acyloxy-biphenyl-4′-N-butylcarbamates (compounds 1–8). Moreover, several significant linear correlations between experimental and calculated docking results are observed. Among compounds 1–7, compound 3, which exhibits the strongest hydrophobicity and has four carbonyl hydrogen bindings, shows the highest binding affinity (Ki = 1.4 μmol/L) with a binding energy of −7.99 kcal/mol. The observed linear correlation of experimental and calculated inhibition constants (Ki) indicates that the molecular docking results are reliable. Moreover, a good linear correlation is observed between calculated binding energies and experimental pKi. The experimental Hansch hydrophobicity constants (π values) are also correlated with the docked binding energy. This study reveals important correlations between butyrylcholinesterase experimental and docking results that contribute to the kinetic based identification of antagonists for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, these docked models provide important insights into a potential series of 4,4′-biphenol-based inhibitors of butyrylcholinesterase.


Author(s):  
Tunga Kuhana A ◽  
◽  
Jason T. Kilembe ◽  
Aristote Matondo ◽  
Khamis M. Yussuf ◽  
...  

Year 2020 has been highly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The urgent need for a potent and effective drug for the treatment of this malignancy put pressure on researchers and scientists worldwide to develop a potential drug or a vaccine to resist SARS-CoV-2 virus. We report in this paper the assessment of the efficiency of thirty alkaloid compounds derived from African medicinal plants against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease through molecular docking and bioinformatics approaches. The results revealed four potential inhibitors (ligands 18, 21, 23 and 24) with 12.26 kcal/mol being the highest binding energy. Additionally, in silico drug-likeness and ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity) properties for the four ligands showed a good predicted therapeutic profile of druggability, and fully obey the Lipinski's rule of five as well.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shravan Kumar Gunda ◽  
Hima Kumari P ◽  
Gourav Choudhir ◽  
Anuj Kumar ◽  
P B. Kavi Kishor ◽  
...  

Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 is known for its high pathogenicity and transmission due to thepresence of polybasic cleavage sites. No specific drug is available for the treatment. To identifythe potential inhibitors, we have performed molecular docking against the SARS-CoV-2 mainprotease (6Y84) with fifteen important natural xanthone compounds. The docking results showedall the compounds exhibited good binding energies and interactions with the main protease. Thevalidation of representative docking complexes through molecular dynamics simulations showedthat xanthones binds with a higher binding affinity and lower free energy than the standardligand with Brasixanthone C and Brasixanthone B on 50 ns. Natural xanthone compounds havealso passed the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) property criteriaas well as Lipinski’s rule of five. The present integrated molecular docking and dynamicssimulations study unveil the use of xanthones as potential antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria ◽  
Zahid Khan ◽  
Aleksey E. Kuznetsov

Abstract Various computational approaches have received ever-growing role in the design of potential inhibitors of the topoisomerase 2 (TOP2A) for cancer treatment. TOP2A plays a key role in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication before cell division and thus facilitates the growth of cells. This TOP2A function can be suppressed by targeting it with potential inhibitors in cancer cells to terminate the uncontrolled cell division. Among potential inhibitors, cryptolepine has higher selectivity along with the ability to intercalate into DNA, effectively blocking TOP2A and ceasing cell division in cancer cells. However, this compound has drawbacks of being nonspecific and possessing relatively low affinity. Therefore, a combinatorial library of 31,114 cryptolepine derivatives was designed and virtually screened by molecular docking to predict the molecular interactions between the cryptolepine derivatives and TOP2A using cryptolepine as a standard. All the binding poses of cryptolepine derivatives for TOP2A were investigated to calculate binding energy. The compounds with the database numbers 8618, 907, 147, 16755, and 8186 scored the highest binding energies, −9.88, −9.76, −9.75, −9.73, and −9.72 kcal/mol, respectively, and the highest binding affinities while the cryptolepine binding energy is −6.09 kcal/mol. The strong binding interactions of these derivatives show that they can be used as potent TOP2A inhibitors and act as more effective anticancer agents than cryptolepine itself. The interactions of these derivatives with different amino acid residues were also observed and analyzed. A comprehensive understanding of the interactions of the proposed derivatives with TOP2A helped for searching more novel and potent drug-like molecules for anticancer therapy. This computational study suggests useful references to understand inhibition mechanisms that will help in the further modifications of TOP2A inhibitors. Moreover, the DFT study of the derivatives with the highest binding energies was performed, helping to further understand the binding affinities of these compounds.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zekun Liu ◽  
Junpeng Zhao ◽  
Weichen Li ◽  
Xinkun Wang ◽  
Jingxuan Xu ◽  
...  

As a new strain of virus emerged in 2013, avian influenza A (H7N9) virus is a threat to the public health, due to its high lethality and pathogenicity. Furthermore, H7N9 has already generated various mutations such as neuraminidase R294K mutation which could make the anti-influenza oseltamivir less effective or ineffective. In this regard, it is urgent to develop new effective anti-H7N9 drug. In this study, we used the general H7N9 neuraminidase and oseltamivir-resistant influenza virus neuraminidase as the acceptors and employed the small molecules including quercetin, chlorogenic acid, baicalein, and oleanolic acid as the donors to perform the molecular docking for exploring the binding abilities between these small molecules and neuraminidase. The results showed that quercetin, chlorogenic acid, oleanolic acid, and baicalein present oseltamivir-comparable high binding potentials with neuraminidase. Further analyses showed that R294K mutation in neuraminidase could remarkably decrease the binding energies for oseltamivir, while other small molecules showed stable binding abilities with mutated neuraminidase. Taken together, the molecular docking studies identified four potential inhibitors for neuraminidase of H7N9, which might be effective for the drug-resistant mutants.


Computation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Ahmad Muhammad ◽  
Kanikar Muangchoo ◽  
Auwal Muhammad ◽  
Ya’u Sabo Ajingi ◽  
Ibrahim Yahaya Muhammad ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was found to be a severe threat to global public health in late 2019. Nevertheless, no approved medicines have been found to inhibit the virus effectively. Anti-malarial and antiviral medicines have been reported to target the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This paper chose eight natural eucalyptus compounds to study their binding interactions with the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) to assess their potential for becoming herbal drugs for the new SARS-CoV-2 infection virus. In-silico methods such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and Molecular Mechanics Poisson Boltzmann Surface Area (MM/PBSA) analysis were used to examine interactions at the atomistic level. The results of molecular docking indicate that Mpro has good binding energy for all compounds studied. Three docked compounds, α-gurjunene, aromadendrene, and allo-aromadendrene, with highest binding energies of −7.34 kcal/mol (−30.75 kJ/mol), −7.23 kcal/mol (−30.25 kJ/mol), and −7.17 kcal/mol (−29.99 kJ/mol) respectively, were simulated with GROningen MAchine for Chemical Simulations (GROMACS) to measure the molecular interactions between Mpro and inhibitors in detail. Our MD simulation results show that α-gurjunene has the strongest binding energy of −20.37 kcal/mol (−85.21 kJ/mol), followed by aromadendrene with −18.99 kcal/mol (−79.45 kJ/mol), and finally allo-aromadendrene with −17.91 kcal/mol (−74.95 kJ/mol). The findings indicate that eucalyptus may be used to inhibit the Mpro enzyme as a drug candidate. This is the first computational analysis that gives an insight into the potential role of structural flexibility during interactions with eucalyptus compounds. It also sheds light on the structural design of new herbal medicinal products against Mpro.


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