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Catalase is an important enzyme, which performs the decomposition of two molecules of hydrogen peroxide into water molecules and oxygen, in an aerobic organism. Deficient or inactive catalase are implicated in cell damage and lead to inflammation, aging and cancer. In order to develop a novel natural product that prevents inactive catalase generation, the world largest traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database (http://tcm.cmu.edu.tw/) was employed for this study, which combined high-throughput virtual screening and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to investigate potent natural compounds for keeping catalase active. We found two natural products, hesperidin and 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG), and they present high binding affinity with catalase. The results of MD simulation show that THSG is the most stable in trajectory analysis in all simulations. Moreover, THSG can make the catalase structure more compact during the process of MD simulation. In addition, the radical scavenging assay showed that THSG has more potential antioxidant activity than hesperidin. Therefore, we regard if the natural TCM compound, THSG, could be used to develop potential drugs that might have similar effect to keep catalase active and prevent the inactive form generation by hydrogen peroxide.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) appears to play an important role in acute skin inflammation. Subantimicrobial dose of tetracycline has been demonstrated to inhibit the activity of MMP-9 protein. However, long-term use tetracycline will induce side effect. The catalytic site of MMP-9 is located at zinc-binding amino acids, His401, His405 and His411. We attempted to search novel medicine formula as MMP-9 inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database by using in silico studies. We utilized high-throughput virtual screening to find which natural compounds could bind to the zinc-binding site. The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, which constructed by scaffold of MMP-9 inhibitors and its activities, were employed to predict the bio-activity of the natural compounds for MMP-9. The results showed that Celacinnine, Lobelanidine and Celallocinnine were qualified to interact with zinc-binding site and displayed well predictive activity. We found that celallocinnine was the best TCM compound for zinc binging sites of MMP-9 because the stable interactions were observed under dynamic condition. In addition, Celacinnine and Lobelanidine could interact with MMP-9 related protein that identified by drug-target interaction network analysis. Thus, we suggested the herbs Hypericum patulum, Sedum acre, and Tripterygium wilfordii that containing Celallocinnine, Celacinnine and Lobelanidine might be a novel medicine formula to avoid the side effect of tetracycline and increase the efficacy of treatment.

Viral infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) requires integration of viral DNA with host DNA which involves the binding of HIV integrase (IN) with its co-factor lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF/p75). Since disrupted binding of IN with LEDGF/p75 inhibits proliferation of HIV, inhibition or denaturation of IN is a possible method for inhibiting HIV replication. D77 is a known drug with demonstrated inhibition against HIV by binding to IN. Herein, we utilized D77 as a control to screen for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds that exhibit similar atomic-level characteristics. 9-Hydroxy-(10E)-octadecenoic acid and Beauveriolide I were found to have higher Dock Scores to IN than D77 through virtual screening. Multiple linear regression (R2 = 0.9790) and support vector machine (R2 = 0.9114) models consistently predicted potential bioactivity of the TCM candidates against IN. The 40 ns molecular dynamics simulation showed that the TCM compounds fulfilled the drug-like criteria of forming stable complexes with IN. Atomic-level investigations revealed that 9-hydroxy-(10E)-octadecenoic acid bound to an important residue A:Lys173, and Beauveriolide I formed stable interactions with the core LEDGF binding site and with Asn256 of the IN binding site on LEDGF. The TCM candidates also initiated loss of α-helices that could affect the functionality of IN. Taken together, the ability of 9-hydroxy-(10E)-octadecenoic acid and Beauveriolide I to (1) form stable interactions affecting IN-LEDGF binding and (2) have predicted bioactivity against IN suggests that the TCM candidates might be potential starting structures for developing compounds that may disrupt IN-LEDGF binding. An animated interactive 3D complement (I3DC) is available in Proteopedia at http://proteopedia.org/w/Journal:JBSD:40.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha, delta and gamma are a collection of ligand-activated transcription factors crucial in lipid and glucose homeostasis. The involvement of these receptors in lipid metabolism makes them perfect therapeutic target for treating obesity and stroke. In this study, 'sum of activity' model was employed to design multi-target agonists. We used a new strategy to design agonists that fit both alpha and delta but not gamma, to avoid side effect. The CoMFA and CoMSIA models were used to explore the pharmacophore features by constructing three individual models: (a) alpha-model, (b) delta-model and (c) gamma-model, and two sum models: (d) alpha, delta- model, and (e) alpha, delta and gamma-model. The CoMFA model yielded a significant cross validation value, q(2), of 0.729 and non-cross validation value, r(2), of 0.933 in the alpha, delta-model. The CoMSIA studies yielded the best predictive models with q(2) of 0.622 in A+S and with r(2) of 0.911 in the alpha, delta-model. Finally, we proposed that distinct features shown in models (a), (b), (d) but not (c) and (e) should be accounted in designing weight-controlling drugs.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, HER2, is a commonly over-expressed tyrosine kinase receptor found in many types of carcinoma. Despite that there are several HER2 inhibitors, namely Iressa, Tarceva and Tykerb, currently in clinical trials, all can cause several side effects. In this study, both structure-based and ligand-based drug design were employed to design novel HER2 inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The HER2 structure model was built in homology modeling based on known receptors of the same family. Docking and de novo evolution experiments were performed to identify candidates and to build derivatives. A training set of 32 compounds with inhibitory activities to HER2 was used to formulate the pharmacophore hypotheses that were subsequently used to examine candidates obtained from the docking study. Hydrogen bond interactions, salt-bridge formations and pi-stacking were observed between the ligands and Phe731, Lys753, Asp863 and Asp808 of HER2 protein. Combining results from both docking and pharmacophore mapping analysis, CLC015-5, CLC604-11 and CLC604-18 were well accepted and consistent in both approaches and were considered as the most potential HER2 inhibitors.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) senses the cellular energy state by monitoring the AMP in various eukaryotes. The activated AMPK regulates a wide range of important pathways which cause diabetes, obesity, metabolic aberrant, and also breast cancer. In this study, the crystal structure of yeast AMPK was used as a template to construct the reliable homology model of human AMPK with corresponding binding site. The quantitative structure–activity relationship ( QSAR) models, comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) models, were utilized to obtain the pharmacophore feature. By virtual screening the data, the top eight phenylamide compounds screened by “ De novo evolution” were selected to design new ligands for AMPK. A total of 531 derivatives were generated subsequently. All the potent ligands, same as AMP and AICAR, carried H-bond interacting with the key interactive amino acids of AMPK. The features of the derivatives were also fitted with the CoMFA and CoMSIA models. Thus, these data suggested that the phenylamide derivates might be the potent AMPK agonists.

An outbreak of influenza A virus subtype H1N1, also known as swine flu, in Mexico was occurred in April 2009. To design drugs for treating this epidemic is urgency. In this study, we employed the new sequences (2009) to build the N1 simulation structure by homology modeling, which has been checked for high reliability by Verify Score and Ramachandran plot. The latest H1 homology model was employed from Chen's report. 365,602 compounds from NCI database have been screened by docking study of H1 and N1, respectively. And then, nine candidates were screened and suggested as potent dual target candidates from the docking studies. In our investigation, drug resistance was found by our molecular simulation in the new N1 modeling structure to oseltamivir. However, the mechanism is still not clear; further clinical investigations are urgently required.

To explore the potent inhibitor from one of the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Epimedium sagittatum. We predicted the potent compound, ES03b, de novo evolution from the four Epimedium sagittatum components were verified by molecular docking, pharmacophore analysis, and analysis of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model, which was constructed by multiple linear regression. ES03b was chosen to undergo drug modification via de novo evolution. By analyzing the pharmacophore features, we found that the hydrophobic core in the binding site and the hydrogen bond generated at Asn663 played key roles in designing PDE5 inhibitors. ES03b generated 49 diversities (Evo01-49). Evo48 had high activity in prediction. Although the value of prediction was overestimated, Evo48 was suggested as the potent lead. In this study, we showed that the hydrophobic core in the binding site and hydrogen bond production on Asn663 played key roles to design PDE5 inhibitors. From several require validation analysis, Evo48 was suggested to be a potent inhibitor.

Theβ-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is an important target for causing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), due to the brain deposition peptide amyloid beta (Aβ) require cleavages of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by BACE1 andγ-secretase, but treatments of AD still have side effect in recent therapy. This study utilizes the world largest traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database and database screening to provide potential BACE1 inhibited compound. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was carried out to observe the dynamics structure after ligand binding. We found that Triptofordin B1 has less toxicity than pyrimidine analogue, which has more potent binding affinity with BACE1. For trajectory analysis, all conformations are tending to be stable during 5000 ps simulation time. In dynamic protein validation, the residues of binding region are still stable after MD simulation. For snapshot comparison, we found that Triptofordin B1 could reduce the binding cavity; the results reveal that Triptofordin B1 could bind to BACE1 and better than control, which could be used as potential lead drug to design novel BACE1 inhibitor for AD therapy.

Deficiency or loss of function of Retinoblastoma-associated proteins (RbAp48) is related with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and AD disease is associated with age-related memory loss. During normal function, RbAp48 forms a complex with the peptide FOG-1 (friend of GATA-1) and has a role in gene transcription, but an unstable complex may affect the function of RbAp48. This study utilizes the world’s largest traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database and virtual screening to provide potential compounds for RbAp48 binding. A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was employed to understand the variations after protein-ligand interaction. FOG1 was found to exhibit low stability after RbAp48 binding; the peptide displayed significant movement from the initial docking position, a phenomenon which matched the docking results. The protein structure of the other TCM candidates was not variable during MD simulation and had a greater stable affinity for RbAp48 binding than FOG1. Our results reveal that the protein structure does not affect ligand binding, and the top three TCM candidates Bittersweet alkaloid II, Eicosandioic acid, and Perivine might resolve the instability of the RbAp48-FOG1 complex and thus be used in AD therapy.

The innate immune system is the first line in the defense system and prevents the body from further bacteria, virus, or fungal infections. Most of the innate immune system is relevant to mucosa immunity. Lactotransferrin is secreted from the human mammal breast duct epithelial tissue and strengthens infant immunity to defense with regard to outward pathogens. Splunc-1 is also an innate material secreted from the soft palate, lung, nasal cavity epithelium, and mucosa. It helps with mucosa defense against bacterial, virus, and even fungus. LPS is the main etiology of Gram-negative bacilla infection source. And studies of lactoferricin and slpunc-1 both can combine with LPS and subsequently cause insults to the mucosa. Although, we know that both of them partake in an important role in innate immunity, we do not know the effects when they work together. In this study, we just overview silicon stimulation to examine the combination of Lactoferricin and Splunc-1 and the effect with regard to LPS.

The recurrent sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) could be transformed to sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma. We use protein expression patterns by immunohistochemical method to see whether the expression of p53, p16, p21, and p27 belongs to cell-cycle-regulators and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and Ki-67 the proliferation markers in sixty patients with sinonasal inverted papilloma, and 10 of them with squamous cell carcinoma transformation. Significantly elevated levels of Ki-67, p27, and PCNA in IP with squamous cell carcinoma transformation of sinonasal tract compared with inverted papilloma were revealed. No variation of p16, p21, PLUNC (palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone protein) and p53 expression was correlated to sinonasal IP malignant transformation by multivariate survey. However, we found elevated PLUNC expression in IPs with multiple recurrences. Finally, we found that PCNA, p27 may interact with CDK1 which promote IP cell proliferation and correlate to sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma. Ki-67 could work throughout the cell cycles to cause malignant transformation. In conclusion, this is a first study showing the correlation of Ki-67, PCNA interacted with CDK1 might lead to malignant transformation. Elevated PLUNC expression in the sinonasal IPs was related to multiple recurrences in human., National Science Council of Taiwan (Grant NSC101-2314-B-039-013-MY3), National Science Council of Taiwan (Grant NSC102-2325-B039-001), National Science Council of Taiwan (Grant NSC102-2221-E-468-027), China Medical University (Grant CMU102-BC-3), Asia University (Grant ASIA100-CMU-2), Asia University (Grant ASIA101-CMU-2), Asia University (Grant 102-ASIA-07), China Medical University Hospital (Grant DMR-102-001), China Medical University Hospital (Grant DMR-103-025), China Medical University Hospital (Grant DMR-103-058), China Medical University Hospital (Grant DMR-103-001), China Medical University Hospital (Grant DMR-103-096)

Superoxide dismutase type 1 (SOD1) mutations cause protein aggregation and decrease protein stability, which are linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease. This research utilizes the world’s largest traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database to search novel inhibitors of mutant SOD1, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to analyze the stability of protein that interacted with docked ligands. Docking results show that hesperidin and 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG) have high affinity to mutant SOD1 and then dopamine. For MD simulation analysis, hesperidin and THSG displayed similar value of RMSD with dopamine, and the migration analysis reveals stable fluctuation at the end of MD simulation time. Interestingly, distance between the protein and ligand has distinct difference, and hesperidin changes the position from initial binding site to the other place. In flexibility of residues analysis, the secondary structure among all complexes does not change, indicating that the structure are not affect ligand binding. The binding poses of hesperidin and THSG are similar to dopamine after molecular simulation. Our result indicated that hesperidin and THSG might be potential lead compound to design inhibitors of mutant SOD1 for ALS therapy.

Cloned animals usually exhibited many defects in physical characteristics or aberrant epigenetic reprogramming, especially in some important organ development. Osteoponin (OPN) is an extracellular-matrix protein involved in heart and bone development and diseases. In this study, we investigated the correlation betweenOPNmRNA and its promoter methylation changes by the 5-aza-dc treatment in fibroblast cell and promoter assay. Aberrant methylation of porcineOPNwas frequently found in different tissues of somatic nuclear transferred cloning pigs, and bisulfite sequence data suggested that theOPNpromoter region −2615 to −2239 nucleotides (nt) may be a crucial regulation DNA element. In pig ear fibroblast cell culture study, the demethylation ofOPNpromoter was found in dose-dependent response of 5-aza-dc treatment and followed theOPNmRNA reexpression. In cloned pig study, discrepant expression pattern was identified in several cloned pig tissues, especially in brain, heart, and ear. Promoter assay data revealed that four methylated CpG sites presenting in the −2615 to −2239 nt region cause significant downregulation ofOPNpromoter activity. These data suggested that methylation in theOPNpromoter plays a crucial role in the regulation ofOPNexpression that we found in cloned pigs genome.

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has become a serious world-wide problem because of this disease's rapid propagation and incurability. Recent research has pointed out that the C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) is an important target for HIV infection. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) database (http://tcm.cmu.edu.tw/) has been screened for molecular compounds that, by simulating molecular docking and molecular dynamics, may protect CCR5 against HIV. Saussureamine C, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, and abrine are selected based on the docking score being higher than Maraviroc and other TCM compounds. The molecular dynamics are helpful in the analysis and detection of protein-ligand interactions. According to the docking poses, hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bond variations, this research surmises TRP86, TYR108, GLN194, TYR251, and GLU283 are the main regions of important amino acids in CCR5. In addition to the detection of TCM compound efficacy, we suggest saussureamine C is better than the others for maintaining protein composition during protein-ligand interaction, based on the structural variation.

The H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009 has claimed over 18,000 lives. During this pandemic, development of drug resistance further complicated efforts to control and treat the widespread illness. This research utilizes traditional Chinese medicine Database@Taiwan (TCM Database@Taiwan) to screen for compounds that simultaneously target H1 and N1 to overcome current difficulties with virus mutations. The top three candidates were de novo derivatives of xylopine and rosmaricine. Bioactivity of the de novo derivatives against N1 were validated by multiple machine learning prediction models. Ability of the de novo compounds to maintain CoMFA/CoMSIA contour and form key interactions implied bioactivity within H1 as well. Addition of a pyridinium fragment was critical to form stable interactions in H1 and N1 as supported by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Results from MD, hydrophobic interactions, and torsion angles are consistent and support the findings of docking. Multiple anchors and lack of binding to residues prone to mutation suggest that the TCM de novo derivatives may be resistant to drug resistance and are advantageous over conventional H1N1 treatments such as oseltamivir. These results suggest that the TCM de novo derivatives may be suitable candidates of dual-targeting drugs for influenza., National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC 99-2221-E-039-013-), Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy (CCMP100-RD-030), China Medical University and Asia University (CMU98-TCM), China Medical University and Asia University (CMU99-TCM), China Medical University and Asia University (CMU99-S-02), China Medical University and Asia University (CMU99-ASIA-25), China Medical University and Asia University (CMU99-ASIA-26), China Medical University and Asia University (CMU99-ASIA-27), China Medical University and Asia University (CMU99-ASIA-28), Taiwan Department of Health. Clinical Trial and Research Center of Excellence (DOH100-TD-B-111-004), Taiwan Department of Health. Cancer Research Center of Excellence (DOH100-TD-C-111-005)

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is a major DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) repair pathway that maintains genome integrity. However, this pathway may reduce radiotherapy efficacy by repairing DSBs on cancer cells. This research reported a computer-aided drug design (CADD) method to identify novel inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that disrupt NHEJ. We aim to inhibit Ku86, the initiator of NHEJ. By integrating binding energy evaluation and molecular dynamics simulation methods, we reported glycyrrhizic acid, macedonoside C, lithospermic acid, and salvianolic acid B as potential Ku86 inhibitors. All four TCM compounds show low binding energy and stable binding poses to Ku86. The carboxyl groups on a ligand are the major binding region by forming salt bridges at Ku86 binding sites. Additional features were defined by a carbonyl group or a dihydroxyphenyl group that form additional hydrogen bond or pi-cation respectively with the ligand binding site on Ku86. These features strengthen the binding affinity between Ku86 and the potential TCM ligand. We reported all four TCM compounds are potential Ku86 inhibitors and may be used to enhance radiotherapy for cancer treatment.

In March and April, 2009, an outbreak of H1N1 influenza in Mexico had led to hundreds of confirmed cases and the death toll had risen to 160. The worldwide spread of H1N1 has been attracting global attention and arising an overwhelming fear. So far, the vaccine and remedy has been in urgent need. In this study, a QSAR model and pharmacophore map of neuraminidase (NA) type 1 (N1) contained two hydrogen bond acceptor features, one hydrogen bond donor feature, and one positive ionizable feature. NCI database was employed in virtual screen by the N1 pharmacophore map features. After screening, compounds were obtained and then docked into haemagglutinin type 1 (H1) to find out the candidate drugs for dual target of both N1 and H1. The candidate, NCI0353858, selected via virtual screening and docking, might be functional to this worldwide disease; consequently, further clinical investigations and scientific application are urgently demanded. We realize the proposed ligand does not have much validity without conducting a study on the stability of the protein-ligand complex by MD simulations and binding free energy, and such a study is underway and will be reported later in this journal. Nevertheless, the present study is clear, consistent and could give a rational explanation for the binding mode of the best selected ligand.

Equal contribution Abstract—In this investigation, the CoMFA and CoMSIA in the three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D- QSAR) studies were implemented to search for the pharmacophore features in each target receptor. QSAR pharmacophores hypothesis models were made from a series of ligands by their activity values. Besides, we made use of the docking strategy between the structures of each PPARs subtype. Eventually, selectivity factor is employed for us to search new drugs. By means of taking advantage of the results of 3D-QSAR studies and docking strategy, we search out the specific drugs fitting the two PPAR subtypes but repelling the other PPAR subtype effectively and selectively.

In this study, a QSAR model of neuraminidase (NA) type 1 (N1) was elevated. This map contained two hydrogen bond acceptor features, one hydrogen bond donor features, and one positive ionizable feature. In the second step, we created the interaction maps in the active sites on the neuraminidase type2, and type7 (N2 and N7) protein structures. The structure-based pharmacophore map was showed the features on every amino acid in the active site on the protein structure. The third step was pharmacophore comparison, root-mean-squared error (RMSE) was reported for the matching pharmacophore features. The result showed that the maps of N1, N2, and N7 had subtle differences in distances of each features. We created the combined map for N1, N2, and N7 to resolving the difference in the three NA types. The combined map was employed to NCI database screening, then, the potent versatile inhibitors were elevated in the results.

Equal contribution Abstract—Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 protein (HER2) are involved in several signal pathways for cancer cell proliferation. We focused on these two hallmarkers to design the dual-targeted inhibitors for cancer therapy. The comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and pharmacophore analysis were employed for generating the predictive models. According the leave-one out (LOO) cross- validation, the CoMFA models obtained the significant r2 values of 0.978 and 0.974 for HSP90 and HER2, respectively. The contour maps of both targets indicated that there were amount of similar bulky favors area. Besides, the cost difference of pharmacophore models was 48.539 for 70% correlation with the experiment. The queries at 3-N and 6-N position of purine-based compound had the similar distributions. This study provided important information for design the HER2 and HSP90 dual- targeted inhibitors