The effect of mutation on neurotoxicity reduction of new chimeric reteplase, a computational study

Pardis Mohammadi Pour1, Karim Mahnam2, Mahsa Taherzadeh3

  • 1Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Insights

New reteplase variants show reduced interaction with N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptors (NMDAR), potentially lowering neurotoxicity. This finding may lead to safer treatments for acute ischemic stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Excitotoxicity, a form of neurotoxicity, involves excessive N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptor (NMDAR) stimulation leading to cell death.
  • Plasminogen activators like reteplase can cause excitotoxicity through interaction with the NMDAR NR1 subunit's amino-terminal domain (ATD).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To computationally assess the interaction between wild-type reteplase and NMDAR ATD.
  • To evaluate the interaction of two novel chimeric reteplase variants, mutated in the kringle2 domain, with NMDAR ATD.

Main Methods:

  • Homology modeling
  • Protein docking
  • Molecular dynamic simulation
  • Molecular dynamics trajectory analysis

Main Results:

  • Free energy analysis revealed significantly lower interaction between the chimeric reteplase variants (M1-chr, M2-chr) and NMDAR ATD compared to wild-type reteplase.
  • Wild-type reteplase: -2127.516 ± 0.0; M1-chr: -1761.510 ± 0.0; M2-chr: -521.908 ± 0.0.

Conclusions:

  • The reduced interaction of chimeric reteplase variants with NMDAR ATD suggests lower associated neurotoxicity.
  • These variants could represent potential therapeutic candidates for acute ischemic stroke treatment, warranting further investigation.