Ewelina Rutkowska

Computational methods for studying G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

The functioning of GPCRs is classically described by the ternary complex model as the interplay of three basic components: a receptor, an agonist, and a G protein. According to this model, receptor activation results from an interaction with an agonist, which translates into the activation of a particular G protein in the intracellular compartment that, in turn, is able to initiate particular signaling cascades. Extensive studies on GPCRs have led to new findings which open unexplored and exciting possibilities for drug design and safer and more effective treatments with GPCR targeting drugs. These include discovery of novel signaling mechanisms such as ligand promiscuity resulting in multitarget ligands and signaling cross-talks, allosteric modulation, biased agonism, and formation of receptor homo- and heterodimers and oligomers which can be efficiently studied with computational methods. Computer-aided drug design techniques can reduce the cost of drug development by up to 50%. In particular structure- and ligand-based virtual screening techniques are a valuable tool for identifying new leads and have been shown to be especially efficient for GPCRs in comparison to water-soluble proteins. Modern computer-aided approaches can be helpful for the discovery of compounds with designed affinity profiles. Furthermore, homology modeling facilitated by a growing number of available templates as well as molecular docking supported by sophisticated techniques of molecular dynamics and quantitative structure-activity relationship models are an excellent source of information about drug-receptor interactions at the molecular level.

Ketamine Metabolites Enantioselectively Decrease Intracellular D-Serine Concentrations in PC-12 Cells.

D-Serine is an endogenous NMDA receptor co-agonist that activates synaptic NMDA receptors modulating neuronal networks in the cerebral cortex and plays a key role in long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission. D-serine is associated with NMDA receptor neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration and elevated D-serine concentrations have been associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons’ diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Previous studies have demonstrated that the ketamine metabolites (rac)-dehydronorketamine and (2S,6S)-hydroxynorketamine decrease intracellular D-serine concentrations in a concentration dependent manner in PC-12 cells. In the current study, PC-12 cells were incubated with a series of ketamine metabolites and the IC50 values associated with attenuated intracellular D-serine concentrations were determined. The results demonstrate that structural and stereochemical features of the studied compounds contribute to the magnitude of the inhibitory effect with (2S,6S)-hydroxynorketamine and (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine displaying the most potent inhibition with IC50 values of 0.18 ± 0.04 nM and 0.68 ± 0.09 nM. The data was utilized to construct a preliminary 3D-QSAR/pharmacophore model for use in the design of new and more efficient modulators of D-serine.

Selected secondary metabolites in Echium vulgare L. populations from nonmetalliferous and metalliferous areas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of severe environmental conditions prevailing on metalliferous waste heaps and heavy metal-contaminated growth substrates on accumulation of selected secondary metabolites, antioxidant capacity, and heavy metal concentration in two metallicolous (MC, MZ) and one nonmetallicolous (NM) populations of Echium vulgare L. The shoots and the roots of the three studied populations were collected from their natural habitats. Additionally, the plants were cultivated on different growth substrates, i.e. a contaminated substrate obtained from the areas of growth of the MZ and MC populations and an uncontaminated one from the NM population site. Several compounds, i.e. allantoin, rutin, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were identified in the shoots. Moreover, rosmarinic acid, allantoin, and shikonin were measured in the roots. The adverse environmental conditions contributed to a ca. 10- and 4-fold increase in the concentration of allantoin in the roots and shoots, respectively, as well as a ca. 4-fold and ca. 3-fold increase in the level of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and shikonin, respectively, in comparison with the plants from the uncontaminated site. Similarly, a great impact of the contaminated substrate on the compounds was demonstrated in the soil experiment. Regardless of the populations, even ca. 20-fold higher levels of allantoin and shikonin were observed in plants grown on the MC and MZ substrates. In contrast, the chlorogenic acid concentration was lower in plants collected from the metalliferous areas and in all populations cultivated on the contaminated substrates in comparison with plants from the uncontaminated soil. Unambiguous results were obtained in the case of rutin, i.e. decreased accumulation in both metallicolous populations from the natural environment and increased accumulation in plants grown on the contaminated substrates. The high concentrations of heavy metals in the substrates contributed to high HM concentrations in plant tissues. However, some differences were observed between the metallicolous and nonmetallicolous populations - the accumulation of metals was lower in the shoots and higher in the roots of the NM population, compared with the MZ and MC populations.

VALIDATED STABILITY-INDICATING HPTLC METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PROPAFENONE HYDROCHLORIDE IN TABLETS AND THE GC-MS IDENTIFICATION OF ITS DEGRADATION PRODUCTS

A novel stability-indicating TLC method for determination of propafenone hydrochloride (PRO) in bulk drug and POLFENON tablets. Normal-phase high performance thin layer chromatographic separation was achieved by use of silica gel 60 F254 plates and mixture of chloroform–methanol–acetic acid 99.5% (7.9:2:0.1, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Linear calibration function was obtained (r 2 = 0.9987) with respect to peak area in the concentration range of 0.1–3.2 µg/spot. Densitometric analysis of PRO and its forced-degradation products was carried out in the absorbance mode at 316 nm. Limits of detection and quantification were 0.02 and 0.08 µg/spot, respectively. PRO was subjected to stress conditions for obtainment of hydrolytic, oxidative, photolytic, and thermal degradation products. The GC-MS technique was applied to identification of the degradants. The elaborated method was validated using ICH guidelines. The linearity, accuracy (99.24%), precision (intraday RSD 1.61%), and specificity were satisfactory. The validated stability indicating method enables reproducible and selective analysis of propafenone hydrochloride in pharmaceutical dosage form.

fRMSDchiral: a novel algorithm to represent differences between positions of stereoisomers in complex with dissymmetric binding site.

The ability of molecules to distinguish between optical isomers is crucial for living systems. The change of position of one enantiomer in respect to the position of the second enantiomer within an asymmetric binding site may be analyzed on different levels. Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) may be used for such analyses with low precision. Additional fragment level variants of RMSD allow for more precise definition of differences in location of the main molecular features responsible for recognition of stereoisomers by a selector. Three fRMSDchiral parameters appear to be very useful to precisely quantify the change in orientations of stereoisomers. Proposed calculation emerges as interesting assistance in interpretation of consequences of formation differential interaction(s) responsible for a chiral recognition process.