Identification of lead molecules against potential drug target protein MAPK4 from L. donovani: An in-silico approach using docking, molecular dynamics and binding free energy calculation

PLoS One. 2019 Aug 19;14(8):e0221331. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221331. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Leishmaniasis caused by obligate intracellular parasites of genus Leishmania is one of the most neglected tropical diseases threatening 350 million people worldwide. Protein kinases have drawn much attention as potential drug targets due to their important role in various cellular processes. In Leishmania sp. mitogen-activated protein kinase 4 is essential for the parasite survival because of its involvement in various regulatory, apoptotic and developmental pathways. The current study reveals the identification of natural inhibitors of L. donovani mitogen-activated protein kinase-4 (LdMPK4). We have performed in silico docking of 110 natural inhibitors of Leishmania parasite that have been reported earlier and identified two compounds Genistein (GEN) and Chrysin (CHY). The homology model of LdMPK4 was developed, followed by binding affinity studies, and pharmacokinetic properties of the inhibitors were calculated by maintaining ATP as a standard molecule. The modelled structure was deposited in the protein model database with PMDB ID: PM0080988. Molecular dynamic simulation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex along with the free energy calculations over 50 ns showed that GEN and CHY are more stable in their binding. These two molecules, GEN and CHY, can be considered as lead molecules for targeting LdMPK4 enzyme and could emerge as potential LdMPK4 inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence / genetics
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemistry
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / chemistry
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / genetics
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Genistein / chemistry
  • Genistein / pharmacology
  • Leishmania donovani / genetics
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
  • Protozoan Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Flavonoids
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • chrysin
  • Genistein
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India Grant Number: YSS/2014/000147 to PS. The authors SS and SR acknowledge research fellowships from NIT Warangal. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.