Structural based investigation of novel pyrazole-thiazole Hybrids as dual CDK-1 and CDK-2 inhibitors for cancer chemotherapy

CDK-1 and CDK-2 are two promising targets for cancer treatment as they are vital in tumor development, proliferation, and apoptosis during the cell cycle process. In treating cancers, CDK inhibitors (small molecules) are used to prevent the overproliferation and overexpression of cancer cells. Consequently, inhibiting CDKs is a promising treatment strategy in oncology. The limitations imposed by current CDK-1 and CDK-2 inhibitors, including neurotoxicity and the development of resistance, have prompted our group to use the novel synthesized pyrazole-thiazole hybrid analogues to investigate their possible potency against CDK-1 and CDK-2. The research study employed detailed computational approaches including molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, post-MD analyses such as RMSD, RMSF, RoG, per-residue energy decomposition, hydrogen bond lifetime analysis, and drug-likeness studies like ADME properties prediction and cytotoxicity, to predict the properties and inhibitory potentials of synthesized pyrazole-thiazole hybrid analogues against CDK-1 and CDK-2. The in silico binding free energy and other analysis reported in the study revealed that four (7 g, 8a, 8b, and 8 h) of the tested molecules against CDK-1 demonstrated a higher binding affinity and structural influence on the target protein than the known inhibitor, Roscovitine (RVT). Similarly, in the case of CDK-2, four (7b, 8a, 8b, and 8f) of the tested compounds showed better results than (RVT). Furthermore, structural examination of the two proteins after binding to the inhibitors revealed that the compounds form stable complexes with the targets and significantly reduced the structural flexibility of the proteins. Therefore, this study suggests the novel pyrazole-thiazole hybrid analogues as potential CDK-1 and CDK-2 inhibitors and could be potential lead compounds for target-based anticancer drugs inhibiting the important proteins, CDK-1 and CDK-2.