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Bioinformatics procedure for investigating senolytic (anti-aging) agents: A digital signal processing technique
Norbert Nwankwo1, Ignatius Okafor2
1University of Port Harcourt Port Harcourt Rivers State Nigeria.
Objective:
Cell growth involves cell division. This stops after reaching a certain limit. Some cells become inactive and unable to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death). These cells accumulate at sites of tissue damage or disease, thus accelerating aging. They are called senescent cells. Therapeutic interventions that can either eliminate senescent cells (senolytics) or suppress their harmful effects (senomorphics) have been developed. Senescence (aging) is caused by the inter- and intramolecular interactions between the domains of forkhead (FHD) and transactivation (TAD), as well as C-terminal region 3 (CR3) and DNA binding (DBD). On the other hand, anti-senescent/senolytic (anti-aging) activities are achieved by disrupting these interactions with CR3- and forkhead box protein O4 (FOXO4)-based peptides, such as ES2 and DRI, respectively. In this study, we use a computerized procedure based on digital signal processing to systematically analyze the inter-molecular interactions between senolytics and their targets.
Methods:
Informational spectrum method (ISM) is engaged.
Results:
We obtained the sequences of the peptides from the interacting proteins of CR3 and FOXO4 and evaluated their ability to disrupt the inter-molecular interactions between FOXO4 and DRI and CR3 and BDB, which are responsible for senescence (aging). Our results show that the peptides have different degrees of senolytic (anti-aging) activity, depending on their affinity for CR3 and BDB, or FOXO4 and DRI. We found that enhanced senescence 2 (ES2) has a higher affinity for CR3 and BDB than FOXO4 and DRI, and that the interaction between CR3 and BDB is crucial for aging. Therefore, ES2 and other CR3-based peptides are more potent senolytics than FOXO4-based peptides. Our findings are consistent with previous studies and reveal new insights into the mechanisms of senescence and senolytics. ES2 is considered the best senolytic candidate, as it is 3-7 times more effective than DRI. We verified that ES2 has a weaker interaction with FOXO4 than CR3. However, the performance of DRI has been noted to depend on its intramolecular interactions and stability. Hence, intramolecular analyses using the digital signal processing-based technique has become very vital and will follow.
Conclusion:
CR3-based peptides are promising candidates for senolytic therapy. Senolytics are linear chains of amino acids that can target and eliminate senescent cells, which are cells that have stopped dividing and contribute to aging and age-related diseases. By using this proposed, novel computerized technique that is based on digital signal processing, senolytics can be easily analyzed and optimized for their effectiveness and safety. This provides a more rational approach to enhancing our longevity and well-being by offering interventions that can delay or reverse aging and insights that can advance the field of gerontology. This procedure also will compliment other approaches such as molecular stimulation, etc.
Insights
Senescent cells accelerate aging. CR3-based peptides, like ES2, are potent senolytics that disrupt aging interactions. A digital signal processing method analyzes senolytic effectiveness for anti-aging therapies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and molecular biology.
- Cellular senescence and aging mechanisms.
- Development of therapeutic interventions for aging.
Background:
- Cellular senescence, characterized by irreversible growth arrest and resistance to apoptosis, contributes to aging and age-related diseases.
- Senescence arises from specific molecular interactions, including those involving forkhead (FHD) and transactivation (TAD) domains, and C-terminal region 3 (CR3) with DNA binding (DBD).
- Senolytics and senomorphics are therapeutic strategies aimed at eliminating or mitigating the effects of senescent cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically analyze intermolecular interactions between senolytics and their molecular targets using a digital signal processing (DSP) approach.
- To evaluate the senolytic (anti-aging) potential of CR3- and FOXO4-based peptides by assessing their ability to disrupt senescence-associated molecular interactions.
- To identify the most effective senolytic candidates for future therapeutic development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a computerized procedure based on digital signal processing (DSP) and the Informational Spectrum Method (ISM).
- Obtained peptide sequences targeting CR3 and FOXO4 (forkhead box protein O4) interacting proteins.
- Assessed the disruption of interactions between FOXO4 and DRI, and CR3 and BDB (DNA binding domain) by these peptides.
Main Results:
- Peptides exhibited varying senolytic activities based on their binding affinity to CR3/BDB or FOXO4/DRI.
- Enhanced senescence 2 (ES2), a CR3-based peptide, demonstrated higher affinity for CR3/BDB compared to FOXO4/DRI, indicating CR3/BDB interaction is crucial for aging.
- ES2 proved to be a more potent senolytic than DRI, showing 3-7 times greater effectiveness and a weaker interaction with FOXO4, highlighting CR3-based peptides as superior senolytic candidates.
Conclusions:
- CR3-based peptides, particularly ES2, show significant promise as senolytic agents for combating aging and age-related diseases.
- The novel DSP-based technique offers a rational and efficient method for analyzing and optimizing senolytic drug candidates.
- This approach advances gerontology by providing tools to develop interventions that may delay or reverse aging, complementing other therapeutic strategies.
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