In Silico Approaches to Developing Novel Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β (GSK-3β)

Biomedicines. 2023 Oct 13;11(10):2784. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11102784.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by plaque agglomeration and entanglement in several areas of the neural cells, which leads to apoptosis. The main etiology of AD is senile dementia, which is linked to amyloid-beta (Aβ) deregulation and tau perivascular pathogeny. Hyperphosphorylated tau has a propensity for microtubules, which elevate the instability and tau-protein congregates, leading to accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Tau hyperphosphorylation is susceptible to GSK-3, which has led to an emerging hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of AD. Accordingly, attempts have been made to conduct investigations and achieve further advancements on new analogues capable of inhibiting the GSK-3 protein, which are currently in the clinical trials. In this analysis, we have evaluated certain GSK-3 inhibitor variants utilising scaffolding and framework devised techniques with pharmacological characteristics, accompanied by computational screenings (pharmacokinetics and docking). The structure-based designed analogues interacted effectively with the active amino acids of GSK-3β target protein. The in silico pharmacokinetic studies revealed their drug-like properties. The analogues with best interactions and binding scores will be considered in the future to completely demonstrate their potential relevance as viable GSK-3 inhibitors.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; GSK-3β; amyloid-beta; docking; molecular dynamics; morphing; neurofibrillary tangles; scaffold.

Grants and funding

Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSPD2023R709), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.