AN OVERVIEW OF EPIGENETIC DRUGS, AND THEIR VIRTUAL SCREENING STUDY RETRIEVED FROM ZINC DATABASE ALONG WITH AN AUTODOCK STUDY OF THE BEST INHIBITOR

Objective: Over the last 30 y cancer epigenetics research has grown extensively. It is note-worthy to recognize that epigenetic misregulation could substantiate the development of cancer and we need to continue to look for anti-neoplastic epi-drugs. Taking into consideration this phenomenon, our first aim is to search for an effective epi-drugs by virtual screening from ZINC database and to explore the validity of the virtual screening. The second aim is to explore a binding conformation of the top affinity ligands against macromolecules, by docking experiment. Methods: The virtual screening was conducted by our Virtual Screening by Docking (VSDK) algorithm and procedure. Small molecules were randomly downloaded by ZINC database. For docking experiment, AutoDock 4.2.6 and AutoDock Tool were used. Results: It took eight to ten hours for the successful virtual screening of the 2778 small compounds retrieved at random from ZINC database. Among histone H2B E76K mutant (HHEM) inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors, the first ranked inhibitors were 1H-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-diamine and 2-ethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole respectively. Conclusion: As for the molecular structures obtained from virtual screening, most of the top ten HHEM and DNMT inhibitors contained 5-member rings. More than two times in affinity difference between the top and bottom ten compounds would indicate a successful virtual screening experiment. The histogram chart of AutoDock4 runs appeared in the lowest affinity region with two or three hydrogen bonds indicating a reliable conformation docking

Studies on Regioselective Binding Mode of Steroid Molecules in Homology Modeled Cytochrome P450-2C11

In this study, we investigated the regioselective binding mode of steroid molecules and structure requirements for steroid molecules for 16[alpha]-hydroxylation by Cytochrome P450-2C11. Docking study by using the homology Cytochrome P450-2C11 indicated that 16[alpha]-hydroxylation is favored with steroidal molecules possessing the following components, 1) a bent A-B ring configuration (5[beta]-reduced), 2) C-3[alpha]-hydroxyl group, 3) C-17[beta]-acetyl group, and 4) methyl group at both the C-18 and C-19. These respective steroid components requirements such as A-B ring configuration and functional groups at C-3 and C-17 were defined as the inhibitory contribution factor. Overall results by rat CYP2C11 revealed that steroidal structure requirements resulted in causing an effective inhibition of [^3^H]progesterone 16[alpha]-hydroxylation by the adult male rat liver microsome. As far as docking of homology modeled CYP2C11 against investigated steroids is concerned, they are docked at the active site superimposed with flurbiprofen. It was also found that the distance between heme iron and C16[alpha]-H was between 4 to 6 Å and that the related angle was in the range of 180±45°

Antitumor studies. Part 1: Design, synthesis, antitumor activity, and AutoDock study of 2-deoxo-2-phenyl-5-deazaflavins and 2-deoxo-2-phenylflavin-5-oxides as a new class of antitumor agents

Novel 2-deoxo-2-phenyl-5-deazaflavins and 2-deoxo-2-phenylflavin-5-oxides were prepared as a new class of antitumor agents and showed significant antitumor activities against NCI-H 460, HCT 116, A 431, CCRF-HSB-2, and KB cell lines. In vivo investigation, 2-deoxo-10-methyl-2-phenyl-5-deazaflavin exhibited the effective antitumor activity against A 431 human adenocarcinoma cells transplanted subcutaneously into nude mouse. Furthermore, AutoDock study has been done by binding of the flavin analogs into PTK pp60(c-src), where a good correlation between their IC50 and AutoDock binding free energy was exhibited. In particular, 2-deoxo-2-phenylflavin-5-oxides exhibited the highest potential binding affinity within the binding pocket of PTK

Studies on 16α-Hydroxylation of Steroid Molecules and Regioselective Binding Mode in Homology-Modeled Cytochrome P450-2C11

We investigated the 16α-hydroxylation of steroid molecules and regioselective binding mode in homology-modeled cytochrome P450-2C11 to correlate the biological study with the computational molecular modeling. It revealed that there was a positive relationship between the observed inhibitory potencies and the binding free energies. Docking of steroid molecules into this homology-modeled CYP2C11 indicated that 16α-hydroxylation is favored with steroidal molecules possessing the following components, (1) a bent A-B ring configuration (5β-reduced), (2) C-3 α-hydroxyl group, (3) C-17β-acetyl group, and (4) methyl group at both the C-18 and C-19. These respective steroid components requirements were defined as the inhibitory contribution factor. Overall studies of the male rat CYP2C11 metabolism revealed that the above-mentioned steroid components requirements were essential to induce an effective inhibition of [3H]progesterone 16α-hydroxylation. As far as docking of homology-modeled CYP2C11 against investigated steroids is concerned, they are docked at the active site superimposed with flurbiprofen. It was also found that the distance between heme iron and C16α-H was between 4 to 6 Å and that the related angle was in the range of 180±45∘