The role of π-π stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions in the assembly of a series of isostructural group IIB coordination compounds

Identification of Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) from Orange Peel and Their Inhibitory Effects on the Formation of Trimethylamine (TMA) and Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) Using cntA/B and cutC/D Enzymes and Molecular Docking

This study investigates the inhibitory effects of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) on enzymes involved in the production of trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). PMFs were isolated from Valencia orange peel and identified using column separation and NMR techniques. The findings reveal that nobiletin and 3,6,7,8,2',5'-hexamethoxyflavone significantly suppress cntA/B and cutC/D, respectively. Furthermore, 3,6,7,8,2',5'-hexamethoxyflavone decreases the level of TMAO formation by suppressing the FMO3 mRNA level. This study elucidates that specific structural features of PMFs can contribute to their interactions with enzymes. Our study represents the first demonstration of the ability of PMFs to mitigate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by inhibiting enzymes responsible for TMA production, which are generated by gut microbiomes. Furthermore, we introduce a novel model system utilizing TMA-induced HepG2 cells to assess and compare the inhibitory effects of PMFs on TMAO production. These findings could pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to manage CVD.

Interaction of an anticancer benzopyrane derivative with DNA: Biophysical, biochemical, and molecular modeling studies

BACKGROUND

SIMR1281 is a potent anticancer lead candidate with multi- target activity against several proteins; however, its mechanism of action at the molecular level is not fully understood. Revealing the mechanism and the origin of multitarget activity is important for the rational identification and optimization of multitarget drugs.

METHODS

We have used a variety of biophysical (circular dichroism, isothermal titration calorimetry, viscosity, and UV DNA melting), biochemical (topoisomerase I & II assays) and computational (molecular docking and MD simulations) methods to study the interaction of SIMR1281 with duplex DNA structures.

RESULTS

The biophysical results revealed that SIMR1281 binds to dsDNA via an intercalation-binding mode with an average binding constant of 3.1 × 10⁶ M^-1. This binding mode was confirmed by the topoisomerases' inhibition assays and molecular modeling simulations, which showed the intercalation of the benzopyrane moiety between DNA base pairs, while the remaining moieties (thiazole and phenyl rings) sit in the minor groove and interact with the flanking base pairs adjacent to the intercalation site.

CONCLUSIONS

The DNA binding characteristics of SIMR1281, which can disrupt/inhibit DNA function as confirmed by the topoisomerases' inhibition assays, indicate that the observed multi-target activity might originate from ligand intervention at nucleic acids level rather than due to direct interactions with multiple biological targets at the protein level.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The findings of this study could be helpful to guide future optimization of benzopyrane-based ligands for therapeutic purposes.

Diverse structural assemblies of U-shaped hydrazinyl-sulfonamides: experimental and theoretical analysis of non-covalent interactions stabilizing solid state conformations

The preparation and structures of five new U-shaped hydrazinyl-sulfonamides are reported.

Solid-state supramolecular architectures of a series of Hg(ii) halide coordination compounds based on hydroxyl-substituted Schiff base ligands

Herein, six Hg(ii) coordination compounds containing Schiff base ligands were synthesized, characterized and studied using geometrical and Hirshfeld analyses as well as theoretical calculations.