Understanding the Modulatory Role of E2012 on the γ-Secretase-Substrate Interaction.

Allosteric modulation plays a critical role in enzyme functionality and requires a deep understanding of the interactions between the active and allosteric sites. γ-Secretase (GS) is a key therapeutic target in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), through its role in the synthesis of amyloid ß peptides that accumulate in AD patients. This study explores the structure and dynamic effects of GS modulation by E2012 binding, employing well-tempered metadynamics and conventional molecular dynamics simulations across three binding scenarios: (1) GS enzyme with and without L458 inhibitor, (2) the GS-substrate complex together with the modulator E2012 in two different binding modes, and (3) E2012 interacting with a C99 substrate fragment. Our findings reveal that the presence of L458 induces conformational changes that contribute to stabilization of the GS enzyme dynamics, previously reported as a key factor that allowed the resolution of the cryo-EM structure and the enhanced binding of E2012. Furthermore, we identified the most favorable binding site for E2012 within the GS-substrate complex, uncovering significant modulatory effects and a complex network of interactions that influence the position of the substrate for catalysis. In addition, we explore a potential substrate-modulator binding before the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex. The insights gained from our study emphasize the importance of these interactions in the development of potential therapeutic interventions that target the functionality of the GS enzyme in AD.

Chemical Analysis and Antidiabetic Potential of a Decoction from Stevia serrata Roots.

A decoction of the roots (31.6-316 mg/kg) from Stevia serrata Cav. (Asteraceae) as well as the main component (5-150 mg/kg) showed hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects in mice. The fractionation of the active extract led to the isolation of dammaradiene acetate (1), stevisalioside A (2), and three new chemical entities characterized by spectroscopic methods and named stevisaliosides B-D (3-5). Glycoside 2 (5 and 50 mg/kg) decreased blood glucose levels and the postprandial peak during oral glucose and insulin tolerance tests in STZ-hyperglycemic mice. Compounds 1-5 were tested also against PTP1B1-400 and showed IC50 values of 1180.9 ± 0.33, 526.8 ± 0.02, 532.1 ± 0.03, 928.2 ± 0.39, and 31.8 ± 1.09 µM, respectively. Compound 5 showed an IC50 value comparable to that of ursolic acid (IC50 = 30.7 ± 0.00 µM). Docking studies revealed that 2-5 and their aglycones bind to PTP1B1-400 in a pocket formed by the C-terminal region. The volatilome of S. serrata was characterized by a high content of (E)-longipinene, spathulenol, guaiadiene, seychellene, and aromandendrene. Finally, a UHPLC-UV method was developed and validated to quantify the content of 2 in the decoction of the plant.

The Role of Transcription Factors in the Loss of Inter-Chromosomal Co-Expression for Breast Cancer Subtypes.

Breast cancer encompasses a diverse array of subtypes, each exhibiting distinct clinical characteristics and treatment responses. Unraveling the underlying regulatory mechanisms that govern gene expression patterns in these subtypes is essential for advancing our understanding of breast cancer biology. Gene co-expression networks (GCNs) help us identify groups of genes that work in coordination. Previous research has revealed a marked reduction in the interaction of genes located on different chromosomes within GCNs for breast cancer, as well as for lung, kidney, and hematopoietic cancers. However, the reasons behind why genes on the same chromosome often co-express remain unclear. In this study, we investigate the role of transcription factors in shaping gene co-expression networks within the four main breast cancer subtypes: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2+, and Basal, along with normal breast tissue. We identify communities within each GCN and calculate the transcription factors that may regulate these communities, comparing the results across different phenotypes. Our findings indicate that, in general, regulatory behavior is to a large extent similar among breast cancer molecular subtypes and even in healthy networks. This suggests that transcription factor motif usage does not fully determine long-range co-expression patterns. Specific transcription factor motifs, such as CCGGAAG, appear frequently across all phenotypes, even involving multiple highly connected transcription factors. Additionally, certain transcription factors exhibit unique actions in specific subtypes but with limited influence. Our research demonstrates that the loss of inter-chromosomal co-expression is not solely attributable to transcription factor regulation. Although the exact mechanism responsible for this phenomenon remains elusive, this work contributes to a better understanding of gene expression regulatory programs in breast cancer.

Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of fungal metabolites on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 43300) mediated by SarA and AgrA.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) increases its antibiotic resistance by forming biofilms. Natural products (NP) or specialized metabolites have demonstrated their ability to decrease the virulence and pathogenesis of MRSA infections by inhibiting biofilm formation. The present study evaluated the antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential against MRSA of a small library of fungal NP isolated from Mexican biodiversity. The most potent antibacterial activity was observed for myrotecisin B, epiequisetin, equisetin, stachybotrolide acetate, monorden A, zearalenone, fuscin, and fusarubin. On the other hand, epifiscalin C, fiscalin C, dimethylglyotoxin, aspernolide B, and butyrolactones I and IV inhibited the biofilm formation without decreasing bacterial growth. To determine the putative mechanism of action of these compounds, docking analyses were performed against SarA and AgrA proteins, targets known to regulate biofilm production in MRSA. Overall, the results demonstrate that fungal NP may act as potential antibiofilm agents for treating MRSA infections.

Structure-Based Optimization of Carbendazim-Derived Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors through Alchemical Free Energy Calculations.

Carbendazim derivatives, commonly used as antiparasitic drugs, have shown potential as anticancer agents due to their ability to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cancer cells by inhibiting tubulin polymerization. Crystallographic structures of α/ß-tubulin multimers complexed with nocodazole and mebendazole, two carbendazim derivatives with potent anticancer activity, highlighted the possibility of designing compounds that occupy both benzimidazole- and colchicine-binding sites. In addition, previous studies have demonstrated that the incorporation of a phenoxy group at position 5/6 of carbendazim increases the antiproliferative activity in cancer cell lines. Despite the significant progress made in identifying new tubulin-targeting anticancer compounds, further modifications are needed to enhance their potency and safety. In this study, we explored the impact of modifying the phenoxy substitution pattern on antiproliferative activity. Alchemical free energy calculations were used to predict the binding free energy difference upon ligand modification and define the most viable path for structure optimization. Based on these calculations, seven compounds were synthesized and evaluated against lung and colon cancer cell lines. Our results showed that compound 5a, which incorporates an α-naphthyloxy substitution, exhibits the highest antiproliferative activity against both cancer lines (SK-LU-1 and SW620, IC50 < 100 nM) and induces morphological changes in the cells associated with mitotic arrest and mitotic catastrophe. Nevertheless, the tubulin polymerization assay showed that 5a has a lower inhibitory potency than nocodazole. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that this low antitubulin activity could be associated with the loss of the key H-bond interaction with V236. This study provides insights into the design of novel carbendazim derivatives with anticancer activity.

Discovery of inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B contained in a natural products library from Mexican medicinal plants and fungi using a combination of enzymatic and in silico methods*.

This work aimed to discover protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitors from a small molecule library of natural products (NPs) derived from selected Mexican medicinal plants and fungi to find new hits for developing antidiabetic drugs. The products showing similar IC50 values to ursolic acid (UA) (positive control, IC50 = 26.5) were considered hits. These compounds were canophyllol (1), 5-O-(ß-D-glucopyranosyl)-7-methoxy-3',4'-dihydroxy-4-phenylcoumarin (2), 3,4-dimethoxy-2,5-phenanthrenediol (3), masticadienonic acid (4), 4',5,6-trihydroxy-3',7-dimethoxyflavone (5), E/Z vermelhotin (6), tajixanthone hydrate (7), quercetin-3-O-(6″-benzoyl)-ß-D-galactoside (8), lichexanthone (9), melianodiol (10), and confusarin (11). According to the double-reciprocal plots, 1 was a non-competitive inhibitor, 3 a mixed-type, and 6 competitive. The chemical space analysis of the hits (IC50 < 100 µM) and compounds possessing activity (IC50 in the range of 100-1,000 µM) with the BIOFACQUIM library indicated that the active molecules are chemically diverse, covering most of the known Mexican NPs' chemical space. Finally, a structure-activity similarity (SAS) map was built using the Tanimoto similarity index and PTP1B absolute inhibitory activity, which allows the identification of seven scaffold hops, namely, compounds 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11. Canophyllol (1), on the other hand, is a true analog of UA since it is an SAR continuous zone of the SAS map.

Molecular Insights into the Covalent Binding of Zoxamide to the ß-Tubulin of Botrytis cinerea.

Botrytis cinerea is a fungal plant pathogen that causes significant economic losses in the agricultural industry worldwide. Fungicides that target microtubules, such as carbendazim (CBZ), diethofencarb (DEF), and zoxamide (ZOX), are widely used in crop protection against this pathogen. These groups of compounds exert their fungicidal activity by disrupting the microtubule assembly by binding to the ß-tubulin subunit, provoking cell-cycle arrest and cell death. However, with the appearance of isolates resistant to these compounds, it is necessary to search for new alternatives to control this pathogenic fungus. In this work, we gained insight into the binding and stability of these fungicides in the benzimidazole binding site of B. cinerea ß-tubulin through different computational approaches. Our molecular dynamics simulation replicas showed that R enantiomers of ZOX and its analog RH-4032 had better interaction profiles at the site compared to S enantiomers. The simulations also revealed that while the R-isomer fungicides formed H-bonds with the main chain carbonyl of V236 or the side chain residue of S314, only CBZ interacted with E198. Previous experimental data have identified key mutations in B. cinerea's ß-tubulin gene that lead to the development of resistance or, on the contrary, increased sensitivity for treatment with these fungicide compounds. In agreement with experimental findings, alchemical free energy calculations showed that E198A and E198V mutations in B. cinerea ß-tubulin have high sensitivity to (R)-ZOX, whereas the E198K mutation decreased its affinity. Similarly, the results obtained explain the resistance to CBZ of B. cinerea isolates with E198A/V/K mutations and the insensitivity of the wild-type organism to DEF. Our work provides a deeper insight into the molecular mechanism of action of these fungicides, highlighting the importance of understanding the interaction profiles to develop more effective antifungal agents.

Enhancing Giardicidal Activity and Aqueous Solubility through the Development of "RetroABZ", a Regioisomer of Albendazole: In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Studies.

Parasitic diseases, including giardiasis caused by Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia), present a considerable global health burden. The limited effectiveness and adverse effects of current treatment options underscore the necessity for novel therapeutic compounds. In this study, we employed a rational design strategy to synthesize retroalbendazole (RetroABZ), aiming to address the limitations associated with albendazole, a commonly used drug for giardiasis treatment. RetroABZ exhibited enhanced in vitro activity against G. lamblia trophozoites, demonstrating nanomolar potency (IC50 = 83 nM), outperforming albendazole (189 nM). Moreover, our in vivo murine model of giardiasis displayed a strong correlation, supporting the efficacy of RetroABZ, which exhibited an eleven-fold increase in potency compared to albendazole, with median effective dose (ED50) values of 5 µg/kg and 55 µg/kg, respectively. A notable finding was RetroABZ's significantly improved water solubility (245.74 µg/mL), representing a 23-fold increase compared to albendazole, thereby offering potential opportunities for developing derivatives that effectively target invasive parasites. The molecular docking study revealed that RetroABZ displays an interaction profile with tubulin similar to albendazole, forming hydrogen bonds with Glu198 and Cys236 of the ß-tubulin. Additionally, molecular dynamics studies demonstrated that RetroABZ has a greater number of hydrophobic interactions with the binding site in the ß-tubulin, due to the orientation of the propylthio substituent. Consequently, RetroABZ exhibited a higher affinity compared to albendazole. Overall, our findings underscore RetroABZ's potential as a promising therapeutic candidate not only for giardiasis but also for other parasitic diseases.

Synthesis of Quinazolin-2,4,6-triamine Derivatives as Non-purine Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors and Exploration of Their Toxicological Potential.

In this work, a new set of quinazolin-2,4,6-triamine derivatives were synthesized to explore their potential biological activity as xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors, superoxide scavengers and screening of their toxicological profile. Among all the synthesized compounds, B1 exhibited better inhibitory activity against bovine xanthine oxidase (bXO) than allopurinol (IC50 =1.56 µM and IC50 =6.99 µM, respectively). As superoxide scavengers, B1, B2 and B13 exhibited a better effect than allopurinol (97.3 %, 82.1 %, 87.4 % and 69.4 %, respectively). Regarding the toxicological profile, B1 was less cytotoxic than methotrexate on HCT-15 cancer cells. Apoptosis results obtained in cells of female and male mice, showed that B1 and B2 presented a similar behaviour to CrO3 (positive control) with respect to the average frequency to induce apoptosis; while B13 apoptosis induced effect was similar to DMSO and control group. Finally, B1, B2, B13 did not induce genotoxicity in a micronuclei murine model compared to CrO3 .

Patients' perceptions of the post-pancreatectomy discharge process.

BACKGROUND: Complications after pancreatectomies contribute to poor outcomes. Patients are expected to identify signs/symptoms leading to these complications but may be poorly educated on how to identify them. We assessed the impact of an educational tool on patient perceptions of, and satisfaction with the discharge process, and its effect on readmission rates. METHODS: A prospective cohort study with retrospective chart review including patients who underwent pancreatic resection was undertaken. An interactive educational module (iBook) that provided information about the procedure, possible complications, and peri-discharge information was implemented. English-speaking patients were equally divided into the pre- and post-iBook cohorts. Primary outcome was patients' satisfaction with discharge; Secondary outcomes were 30- and 90-day readmission rates. RESULTS: 100 patients were included. Mean age was 65.5 ± 12.6, 46% were female, and 92.3% were white. Most patients underwent Whipple procedures (72%), and distal pancreatectomies (26%). In the post-implementation group, 92% were satisfied with the discharge process, and 89% reported it was a good tool. There were no statistical differences in 30- and 90-day readmission rates between cohorts. CONCLUSION: The iBook positively impacted patients' satisfaction and preparedness for discharge. Readmission rates were not statistically significantly impacted but could be investigated with further studies of greater sample sizes.

A novel machine learning-based screening identifies statins as inhibitors of the calcium pump SERCA.

We report a novel small-molecule screening approach that combines data augmentation and machine learning to identify Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs interacting with the calcium pump (Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, SERCA) from skeletal (SERCA1a) and cardiac (SERCA2a) muscle. This approach uses information about small-molecule effectors to map and probe the chemical space of pharmacological targets, thus allowing to screen with high precision large databases of small molecules, including approved and investigational drugs. We chose SERCA because it plays a major role in the excitation-contraction-relaxation cycle in muscle and it represents a major target in both skeletal and cardiac muscle. The machine learning model predicted that SERCA1a and SERCA2a are pharmacological targets for seven statins, a group of FDA-approved 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors used in the clinic as lipid-lowering medications. We validated the machine learning predictions by using in vitro ATPase assays to show that several FDA-approved statins are partial inhibitors of SERCA1a and SERCA2a. Complementary atomistic simulations predict that these drugs bind to two different allosteric sites of the pump. Our findings suggest that SERCA-mediated Ca2+ transport may be targeted by some statins (e.g., atorvastatin), thus providing a molecular pathway to explain statin-associated toxicity reported in the literature. These studies show the applicability of data augmentation and machine learning-based screening as a general platform for the identification of off-target interactions and the applicability of this approach extends to drug discovery.

Combined Electrodialysis and Electrocoagulation as Treatment for Industrial Wastewater Containing Arsenic and Copper.

In copper smelting processes, acidic effluents are generated that contain inorganic contaminants such as arsenic and copper. Nowadays, the treatment of wastewater is done by physicochemical methods without copper recovery. Electrodialysis is an alternative process that can recover copper. Moreover, when electrocoagulation is applied to remove arsenic from wastewater, a more stable final sludge of less volume is obtained. The present research studies the application of a combined electrodialysis and electrocoagulation process to (1) recover Cu and (2) precipitate and remove arsenic simultaneously in the same batch reactor, using synthetic wastewater that simulates wastewater from a copper smelter. Copper and arsenic could be removed and separated by the electrodialysis part, and the electrocoagulation of arsenic was verified. With electrodialysis, the arsenic and copper removals were 67% and 100%, respectively, while 82% of the arsenic arriving at the electrocoagulation part of the cell could be precipitated and removed by this process. Initial concentrations were around 815 mg L-1 Cu and 7700 mg L-1 As. The optimal current was found to be 1.36 A due to the shorter treatment times necessary to get removal percentages, recovery percentages and energy/removed copper mass ratios in the same ranges as the values achieved with a current of 1.02 A. In summary, the combined process is a promising tool for simultaneous copper recovery and arsenic removal.

Delayed Presentation of First Rib Osteomyelitis Following Trauma.

Rib osteomyelitis can be caused by a contiguous infection after a traumatic fracture. Post traumatic osteomyelitis can present as chronic six or more weeks after bone infection. However, this patient developed first rib osteomyelitis 17 years after trauma, following the initiation of anticoagulation therapy. 17 years ago, a 55-year-old male patient was in a motor vehicle collision. He was diagnosed with a left first rib fracture and an internal carotid dissection. He subsequently underwent a left subclavian central venous catheter placement. His rib fracture was managed nonoperatively and the carotid dissection was treated with endovascular stent placement. He now presents with symptomatic carotid stent stenosis which is treated with anti-platelet and anticoagulation therapy. He then developed a hematoma over the old rib fracture, and subsequently developed acute osteomyelitis. As seen here, a remote history of traumatic first rib fracture remains a risk factor for osteomyelitis despite the passage of time.

Elucidating the Protonation State of the γ-Secretase Catalytic Dyad.

γ-Secretase (GS) is an intramembrane aspartyl protease that participates in the sequential cleavage of C99 to generate different isoforms of the amyloid-ß (Aß) peptides that are associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease. Due to its importance in the proteolytic processing of C99 by GS, we performed pH replica exchange molecular dynamics (pH-REMD) simulations of GS in its apo and substrate-bound forms to sample the protonation states of the catalytic dyad. We found that the catalytic dyad is deprotonated at physiological pH in our apo form, but the presence of the substrate at the active site displaces its monoprotonated state toward physiological pH. Our results show that Asp257 acts as the general base and Asp385 as the general acid during the cleavage mechanism. We identified different amino acids such as Lys265, Arg269, and the PAL motif interacting with the catalytic dyad and promoting changes in its acid-base behavior. Finally, we also found a significant pKa shift of Glu280 related to the internalization of TM6-CT in the GS-apo form. Our study provides critical mechanistic insight into the GS mechanism and the basis for future research on the genesis of Aß peptides and the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Molecular basis of Toxoplasma gondii oryzalin resistance from a novel α-tubulin binding site model.

Oryzalin (ORY) is a dinitroaniline derivative that inhibits the microtubule polymerization in plants and parasitic protozoa by selectively binding to the α-tubulin subunit. This herbicidal agent exhibits good antiprotozoal activity against major human parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis), Leishmania mexicana (leishmaniasis), and Plasmodium falciparum (malaria). Previous chemical mutagenesis assays on T. gondii α-tubulin (TgAT) have identified key mutations that lead to ORY resistance. Herein, we employed alchemical free energy methods and molecular dynamics simulations to determine if the ORY resistance mutations either decrease the TgAT's affinity of the compound or increase the protein stability. Our results here suggest that L136F and V202F mutations significantly decrease the affinity of ORY to TgAT, while T239I and V252L mutations diminish TgAT's flexibility. On the other hand, protein stability predictors determined that R243S mutation reduces TgAT stability due to the loss of its salt bridge interaction with E27. Interestingly, molecular dynamics simulations confirm that the loss of this key interaction leads to ORY binding site closure. Our study provides a better insight into the TgAT-ORY interaction, further supporting our recently proposed ORY-binding site.

Unveiling the Possible Oryzalin-Binding Site in the α-Tubulin of Toxoplasma gondii.

Dinitroaniline derivatives have been widely used as herbicidal agents to control weeds and grass. Previous studies demonstrated that these compounds also exhibit good antiparasitic activity against some protozoan parasites. Oryzalin (ORY), a representative dinitroaniline derivative, exerts its antiprotozoal activity against Toxoplasma gondii by inhibiting the microtubule polymerization process. Moreover, the identification of ORY-resistant T. gondii lines obtained by chemical mutagenesis confirmed that this compound binds selectively to α-tubulin. Based on experimental information reported so far and a multiple sequence analysis carried out in this work, we propose that the pironetin (PIR) site is the potential ORY-binding site. Therefore, we employed state-of-the-art computational approaches to characterize the interaction profile of ORY at the proposed site in the α-tubulin of T. gondii. An exhaustive search for other possible binding sites was performed using the Wrap "N" Shake method, which showed that ORY exhibits highest stability and affinity for the PIR site. Moreover, our molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the dipropylamine substituent of ORY interacts with a hydrophobic pocket, while the sulfonamide group formed hydrogen bonds with water molecules at the site entrance. Overall, our results suggest that ORY binds to the PIR site on the α-tubulin of the protozoan parasite T. gondii. This information will be very useful for designing less toxic and more potent antiprotozoal agents.

Primitive Phospholamban- and Sarcolipin-like Peptides Inhibit the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Pump SERCA.

Intracellular calcium signaling is essential for all kingdoms of life. An important part of this process is the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), which maintains the low cytosolic calcium levels required for intracellular calcium homeostasis. In higher organisms, SERCA is regulated by a series of tissue-specific transmembrane subunits such as phospholamban in cardiac muscles and sarcolipin in skeletal muscles. These regulatory axes are so important for muscle contractility that SERCA, phospholamban, and sarcolipin are practically invariant across mammalian species. With the recent discovery of the arthropod sarcolambans, the family of calcium pump regulatory subunits appears to span more than 550 million years of evolutionary divergence from arthropods to humans. This evolutionary divergence is reflected in the peptide sequences, which vary enormously from one another and only vaguely resemble phospholamban and sarcolipin. The discovery of the sarcolambans allowed us to address two questions. How much sequence variation is tolerated in the regulation of mammalian SERCA activity by the transmembrane peptides? Do divergent peptide sequences mimic phospholamban or sarcolipin in their regulatory activities despite limited sequence similarity? We expressed and purified recombinant sarcolamban peptides from three different arthropods. The peptides were coreconstituted into proteoliposomes with mammalian SERCA1a and the effect of each peptide on the apparent calcium affinity and maximal activity of SERCA was measured. All three peptides were superinhibitors of SERCA, exhibiting either phospholamban-like or sarcolipin-like characteristics. Molecular modeling, protein-protein docking, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed novel features of the divergent peptides and their SERCA regulatory properties.

Synthesis, in vitro, in silico and in vivo hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering effects of 4-benzyloxy-5-benzylidene-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-diones mediated by dual PPAR α/γ modulation.

In current work, we prepared a series of nine 4-benzyloxy-5-benzylidene-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-diones using a two-step pathway. Compounds 1-9 were tested in vitro using a set of three proteins recognized as important targets in diabetes and related diseases: PPARα, PPARγ, and GLUT-4. Compounds 1-3, 5, and 7 showed significant increases in the mRNA expression of PPARγ and GLUT-4, whereas compounds 1-3 did it over PPARα. Compounds 1-3 were identified as a dual PPAR α/γ modulators and were selected for evaluating the in vivo antidiabetic action at 100 mg/kg dose, being orally actives and decreasing blood glucose concentration in a hyperglycemic mice model, as well as reducing the triacylglycerides levels in normolipidemic rats. Docking and molecular dynamics studies were conducted to clarify the dual effect and binding mode of compounds 1-3 on both PPARs. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited robust in vitro and in vivo efficacy and could be considered dual PPAR modulators with antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic effects.

Kinetic and Molecular Docking Studies to Determine the Effect of Inhibitors on the Activity and Structure of Fused G6PD::6PGL Protein from Trichomonas vaginalis.

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease with a high incidence worldwide, affecting 270 million people. Despite the existence of a catalog of available drugs to combat this infection, their extensive use promotes the appearance of resistant Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis), and some side effects in treated people, which are reasons why it is necessary to find new alternatives to combat this infection. In this study, we investigated the impact of an in-house library comprising 55 compounds on the activity of the fused T. vaginalis G6PD::6PGL (TvG6PD::6PGL) protein, a protein mediating the first reaction step of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), a crucial pathway involved in the parasite's energy production. We found four compounds: JMM-3, CNZ-3, CNZ-17, and MCC-7, which inhibited the TvG6PD::6PGL protein by more than 50%. Furthermore, we determined the IC50, the inactivation constants, and the type of inhibition. Our results showed that these inhibitors induced catalytic function loss of the TvG6PD::6PGL enzyme by altering its secondary and tertiary structures. Finally, molecular docking was performed for the best inhibitors, JMM-3 and MCC-7. All our findings demonstrate the potential role of these selected hit compounds as TvG6PD::6PGL enzyme selective inhibitors.

Insights into the binding of morin to human γD-crystallin.

Crystallin aggregation in the eye lens is one of the leading causes of cataract formation. The increase in the human γD-crystallin (HγDC) aggregation propensity has been associated with the oligomerization of its partially folded and fully unfolded structure. A recent study demonstrated that the binding of flavonoid morin (MOR) to HγDC inhibits the fibrillation of this protein. In this work, we carry out an exhaustive search for the possible binding site of MOR on HγDC by combining an ensemble docking approach with the Wrap 'N' Shake protocol. In agreement with previous results, we found a potential MOR-binding site in the cleft formed between the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of HγDC. MOR preference for the cleft residues was observed even with the interface-opened intermediate conformers of HγDC. In addition, metadynamics simulations were carried out to corroborate the stabilizing activity of MOR on HγDC structure and to identify the structural regions implicated during the unfolding inhibition. Overall, this study provides relevant insights into the identification of new HγDC aggregation inhibitors.