Structural Probing, Screening and Structure-Based Drug Repositioning Insights into the Identification of Potential

Uma Devi Bommu1, Kranthi Kumar Konidala1, Rishika Pamanji1

  • 1Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, A.P, 517502, India.

Insights

Researchers identified novel drug candidates for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy by targeting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). These compounds show potential as effective COX-2 inhibitors, offering an alternative to existing treatments with fewer side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Computational Chemistry

Background:

  • Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key prognostic target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy.
  • Selective COX-2 inhibitors (COXIBs) show therapeutic potential but are linked to adverse effects.
  • Drug discovery for COX-2 is hindered by structural data limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel therapeutic candidates for NSCLC by repositioning drugs targeting human COX-2.
  • To overcome challenges in drug discovery posed by variable X-ray diffraction structures of COX-2.
  • To explore structure-based drug repositioning for developing new NSCLC treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized multi-template modeling to generate an adaptable COX-2 structure.
  • Screened 26 celebrex-associated scaffolds from the ZINC database.
  • Employed comparative docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to assess binding affinity and stability.

Main Results:

  • Identified five compounds exhibiting strong binding to the COX-2 active site, consistent with experimental data.
  • MD simulations confirmed dynamic stabilization of lead molecules within the cyclooxygenase site via salt bridges.
  • Discovered that identified compounds inhibit tyrosyl radicals and prostaglandin production, crucial for reducing NSCLC progression.

Conclusions:

  • The identified novel drug candidates show promise as COX-2 inhibitors for NSCLC treatment.
  • These compounds represent potential alternatives to current COXIBs, possibly with improved safety profiles.
  • The study highlights the utility of structure-based drug repositioning for developing new therapies for cyclooxygenase-related disorders.

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