Structure-based design and analysis of MAO-B inhibitors for Parkinson's disease: using in silico approaches

Multidisciplinary approaches for targeting the secretase protein family as a therapeutic route for Alzheimer's disease

The continual increase of the aging population worldwide renders Alzheimer's disease (AD) a global prime concern. Several attempts have been focused on understanding the intricate complexity of the disease's development along with the on- andgoing search for novel therapeutic strategies. Incapability of existing AD drugs to effectively modulate the pathogenesis or to delay the progression of the disease leads to a shift in the paradigm of AD drug discovery. Efforts aimed at identifying AD drugs have mostly focused on the development of disease-modifying agents in which effects are believed to be long lasting. Of particular note, the secretase enzymes, a group of proteases responsible for the metabolism of the β-amyloid precursor protein (βAPP) and β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides production, have been underlined for their promising therapeutic potential. This review article attempts to comprehensively cover aspects related to the identification and use of drugs targeting the secretase enzymes. Particularly, the roles of secretases in the pathogenesis of AD and their therapeutic modulation are provided herein. Moreover, an overview of the drug development process and the contribution of computational (in silico) approaches for facilitating successful drug discovery are also highlighted along with examples of relevant computational works. Promising chemical scaffolds, inhibitors, and modulators against each class of secretases are also summarized herein. Additionally, multitarget secretase modulators are also taken into consideration in light of the current growing interest in the polypharmacology of complex diseases. Finally, challenging issues and future outlook relevant to the discovery of drugs targeting secretases are also discussed.

Discovery of monoamine oxidase inhibitors by medicinal chemistry approaches

Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and depression, have seriously inconvenienced the lives of patients. Growing evidence indicates that these diseases are closely related to the monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme, making it an attractive target for the exploitation of potent MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) with high selectivity and low side effects. Although various MAOIs have been discovered, the discovery of an ideal MAOI is not an easy task. In this review, we discuss the currently available rational design strategies for obtaining ideal MAOIs, including ligand-based and receptor-based design strategies, and these strategies were further illustrated with the aid of specific examples from the recent literature. To better understanding the biological activity of MAO, we also highlight the binding modes of typical inhibitors against MAO. Besides, advanced strategies for finding upcoming potent MAOIs were prospected.

Molecular interaction studies of green tea catechins as multitarget drug candidates for the treatment of Parkinson's disease: computational and structural insights

Green tea catechins have extensively been studied for their imminent role in reducing the risk of various neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Understanding the molecular interaction of these compounds with various anti-Parkinsonian drug targets is of interest. The present study is intended to explore binding modes of catechins with molecular targets having potential role in PD. Lamarckian genetic algorithm methodology was adopted for molecular docking simulations employing AutoDock 4.2 program. Toxicity potential and molecular properties responsible for good pharmacokinetic profile were calculated by Osiris property explorer and Molinspiration online toolkit, respectively. A strong correlation coefficient (r(2) = 0.893) was obtained between experimentally reported and docking predicted activities of native co-crystallized ligands of the 18 target receptors used in current study. Analysis of docked conformations revealed monoamine oxidase-B as most promising, while N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor was recognized as the least favorable target for catechins. Benzopyran skeleton with a phenyl group substituted at the 2-position and a hydroxyl (or ester) function at the 3-position has been identified as common structural requirements at majority of the targets. The present findings suggest that epigallocatechin gallate is the most promising lead to be developed as multitarget drug for the design and development of novel anti-Parkinsonian agents.

Chemometric design to explore pharmacophore features of BACE inhibitors for controlling Alzheimer's disease

Pharmacophoric features of potent BACE inhibitors derived from multi-chemometric studies.

Mitochondrial targets for pharmacological intervention in human disease

Over the past several years, mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to an increasing number of human illnesses, making mitochondrial proteins (MPs) an ever more appealing target for therapeutic intervention. With 20% of the mitochondrial proteome (312 of an estimated 1500 MPs) having known interactions with small molecules, MPs appear to be highly targetable. Yet, despite these targeted proteins functioning in a range of biological processes (including induction of apoptosis, calcium homeostasis, and metabolism), very few of the compounds targeting MPs find clinical use. Recent work has greatly expanded the number of proteins known to localize to the mitochondria and has generated a considerable increase in MP 3D structures available in public databases, allowing experimental screening and in silico prediction of mitochondrial drug targets on an unprecedented scale. Here, we summarize the current literature on clinically active drugs that target MPs, with a focus on how existing drug targets are distributed across biochemical pathways and organelle substructures. Also, we examine current strategies for mitochondrial drug discovery, focusing on genetic, proteomic, and chemogenomic assays, and relevant model systems. As cell models and screening techniques improve, MPs appear poised to emerge as relevant targets for a wide range of complex human diseases, an eventuality that can be expedited through systematic analysis of MP function.