Sinjan Choudhary

Inhibition of insulin fibrillation by osmolytes: Mechanistic insights.

We have studied here using a number of biophysical tools the effects of osmolytes, betaine, citrulline, proline and sorbitol which differ significantly in terms of their physical characteristics such as, charge distribution, polarity, H-bonding abilities etc, on the fibrillation of insulin. Among these, betaine, citrulline, and proline are very effective in decreasing the extent of fibrillation. Proline also causes a substantial delay in the onset of fibrillation in the concentration range (50–250 mM) whereas such an effect is seen for citrulline only at 250 mM, and in case of betaine this effect is not seen at all in the whole concentration range. The enthalpies of interaction at various stages of fibrillation process have suggested that the preferential exclusion of the osmolyte and its polar interaction with the protein are important in inhibition. The results indicate that the osmolytes are most effective when added prior to the elongation stage of fibrillation. These observations have significant biological implications, since insulin fibrillation is known to cause injection amyloidosis and our data may help in designing lead drug molecules and development of potential therapeutic strategies.

Drug–protein interactions in micellar media: Thermodynamic aspects

Devising directions for surfactant assisted effective controlled release of drugs requires a quantitative and qualitative understanding of the drug-protein, drug-surfactant, and surfactant-protein interactions. In this work, the effect of micellar environment on the binding of naproxen and diclofenac sodium with bovine serum albumin has been studied. The isothermal titration calorimetric (ITC) results suggest that the binding of naproxen is reduced with the protein when it is delivered from micellar media. However, the binding is observed to be strengthened for diclofenac sodium. The differential scanning calorimetric results suggest that the integrity of the binding sites is not altered under the employed micellar conditions. The ITC results further suggest that the numbers of naproxen and diclofenac sodium molecules partitioning/binding per micelle of HTAB are 15 and 38, respectively. In the micelles, naproxen is restricted to the surface of the micelles whereas diclofenac sodium is able to partition in the palisade layers. A detailed understanding of the energetics of the drug-protein interactions under different conditions helps in devising directions for effective drug delivery. The ITC and DSC results have shown that the micelles assisted drug-protein interactions are modified depending on the hydrophobic content of the drug.

Effects of hesperidin, a flavanone glycoside interaction on the conformation, stability, and aggregation of lysozyme: multispectroscopic and molecular dynamic simulation studies?

Hesperidin (HESP), a flavanone glycoside, shows high antioxidant properties and posses ability to go through the blood–brain barrier. Therefore, it could be a potential drug molecule against aggregation based diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and systemic amyloidoses. In this work, we investigated the potential of HESP to interact with hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) monomer and prevent its aggregation. The HESP–HEWL binding studies were performed using a fluorescence quenching technique, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. We found a strong interaction of HESP with the lysozyme monomer (Ka, ~ 5 × 104 M−1) mainly through hydrogen bonding, water bridges, and hydrophobic interactions. We showed that HESP molecule spanned the highly aggregation prone region (amino acid residues 48-101) of HEWL and prevented its fibrillar aggregation. Further, we found that HESP binding completely inhibited amorphous aggregation of the protein induced by disulfide-reducing agent tries-(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine. Conformational and stability studies as followed by various tertiary and secondary structure probes revealed that HESP binding only marginally affected the lysozyme monomer conformation and increased both stability and reversibility of the protein against thermal denaturation. Future studies should investigate detail effects of HESP on solvent dynamics, structure, and toxicity of various aggregates. The answers to these questions will not only target the basic sciences, but also have application in biomedical and biotechnological sciences.

Unraveling the Energetics and Mode of the Recognition of Antibiotics Tetracycline and Rolitetracycline by Bovine Serum Albumin

An understanding of the detailed energetics and mechanism of the binding of drugs with target proteins is essential for devising guidelines to synthesize new drugs. Binding of the antibiotic drugs tetracycline and rolitetracycline with serum albumin has been studied by a combination of isothermal titration calorimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectroscopies. Both tetracycline and rolitetracycline bind to bovine serum albumin in a sequential manner with first binding being the major binding event with an association constant of the order of 104 for tetracycline and 103 for rolitetracycline, respectively. Ionic strength dependence and binding in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide and sucrose indicate involvement of a mix of hydrophobic, ionic, and hydrogen bonding interactions. The isothermal titration calorimetry results for the binding of these drugs to bovine serum albumin in the presence of warfarin and in the presence of each other indicate that both these drugs share binding site 2 on bovine serum albumin. The differential scanning calorimetry results provide quantitative information on the effect of drugs on the stability of bovine serum albumin. A comparison of isothermal titration calorimetry and fluorescence results demonstrates that the former technique has been able to explain the sequential binding events that can be missed by the fluorescence measurements.

Thermodynamic insights into drug–surfactant interactions: Study of the interactions of naporxen, diclofenac sodium, neomycin, and lincomycin with hexadecytrimethylammonium bromide by using isothermal titration calorimetry

The success of drug delivery depends on the efficiency of the route of administration, which in turn relies on properties of the drug and its transport vehicle. A quantitative knowledge of association of drugs with transport vehicles is lacking when the latter are in the category of self assembled structures. The work reported in this manuscript addresses the mechanism of partitioning of naproxen, diclofenac sodium, neomycin and lincomycin in the micelles of hexadecytrimethylammonium bromide and that is quantitatively based on the measurement of thermodynamic parameters of interactions by using isothermal titration calorimetry. The addressed mechanism of partitioning is based on the identification of the type of interactions of these drugs with the surfactant micelles and monomers, along with the effect of the former on the micellization properties of the surfactant. The conclusions are based on the interpretation of the values of partitioning constant, standard molar enthalpy change, standard molar entropy change and the stoichiometry of the interaction. The results of this study have implications for deriving guidelines for the target oriented synthesis of new drugs that are to be used for effective delivery via micellar media.

Addressing Mechanism of Fibrillization/Aggregation and Its Prevention in Presence of Osmolytes: Spectroscopic and Calorimetric Approach

Understanding the mechanism of protein fibrillization/aggregation and its prevention is the basis of development of therapeutic strategies for amyloidosis. An attempt has been made to understand the nature of interactions of osmolytes L-proline, 4-hydroxy-L-proline, sarcosine and trimethylamine N-oxide with the different stages of fibrillization of hen egg-white lysozyme by using a combination of isothermal titration calorimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Based on thioflavin T fluorescence emission intensities and microscopic images, the nucleation, elongation, and saturation phases of fibrillization have been identified. Isothermal titration calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry have enabled a quantitative analysis of the nature of interactions of these osmolytes with various conformational states of lysozyme at different stages of fibrillization/aggregation. It is concluded that interaction of the osmolytes with lysozyme fibrils at both the nucleation and elongation stages are important steps in the prevention of fibrillization/aggregation. Identification of the nature of interactions is a key step towards the discovery and synthesis of target oriented potential inhibitors of these associations. This study is a first report in which calorimetry has been used to address interaction of potential inihibitiors with the protein at different stages of fibrillization.

Competitive binding of anticancer drugs 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide with serum albumin: Calorimetric insights.

BACKGROUND Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) has emerged as an excellent method to characterize drug-protein interactions. 5-Fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide have been used in combination for the treatment of breast carcinoma, though individually these drugs have also been useful in treating other types of cancer. A quantitative understanding of binding of these drugs with the transport protein under different conditions is essential for optimizing recognition by the protein and delivery at the target. METHODS The values of binding constant, enthalpy, and entropy of binding have been determined by using ITC. Fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopies have been used to obtain further support to calorimetric observations, monitor conformational changes in the protein and establishing stoichiometry of association. RESULTS The thermodynamic parameters have enabled a quantitative understanding of the affinity of 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide with bovine serum albumin. The nature of binding has been unraveled based on effect of ionic strength, tetrabutyl-ammonium bromide, and sucrose which interfere in ionic, hydrophobic, and hydrogen bonding interactions. The binding site has been identified by using site marker warfarin in combination with 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide. Further, the experiments have been done to establish whether both the drugs share the same binding site, and the effect of antibiotic drug carbenecillin and anti-inflammatory drug naproxen on their association. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Tuning optimum association of drugs with the transport vehicles for effective drug delivery requires identification of the nature of interacting groups in terms of energetics of interactions. Such studies employing ITC have direct significance in rational drug design.

Structural investigations into the binding mode of a novel noscapine analogue, 9-(4-vinylphenyl) noscapine, with tubulin by biochemical analyses and molecular dynamic simulations.

Structural investigations into the binding mode of a novel noscapine analogue, 9-(4-vinylphenyl) noscapine, with tubulin by biochemical analyses and molecular dynamic simulations Tejashree Mahaddalkar, Pradeep Kumar Naik, Sinjan Choudhary, Naresh Manchukonda, Srinivas Kantevari and Manu Lopus* Experimental Cancer Therapeutics and Chemical Biology, UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, University of Mumbai Kalina Campus, Santacruz (E), Mumbai 400098, India; Department of Biotechnology, Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh 495009, India; Organic Chemistry Division-II (CPC Division), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India

Elucidation of the anticancer potential and tubulin isotype-specific interactions of β-sitosterol

Beta-sitosterol (β-SITO), a phytosterol present in many edible vegetables, has been reported to possess antineoplastic properties and cancer treatment potential. We have shown previously that it binds at a unique site (the ‘SITO-site’) compared to the colchicine binding site at the interface of α- and β-tubulin. In this study, we investigated the anticancer efficacy of β-SITO against invasive breast carcinoma using MCF-7 cells. Since ‘isotypes’ of β-tubulin show tissue-specific expression and many are associated with cancer drug resistance, using computer-assisted docking and atomistic molecular dynamic simulations, we also examined its binding interactions to all known isotypes of β-tubulin in αβ-tubulin dimer. β-SITO inhibited MCF-7 cell viability by up to 50%, compared to vehicle-treated control cells. Indicating its antimetastatic potential, the phytosterol strongly inhibited cell migration. Immunofluorescence imaging of β-SITO-treated MCF-7 cells exhibited disruption of the microtubules and chromosome organization. Far-UV circular dichroism spectra indicated loss of helical stability in tubulin when bound to β-SITO. Docking and MD simulation studies, combined with MM-PBSA and MM-GBSA calculations revealed that β-SITO preferentially binds with specific β-tubulin isotypes (βII and βIII) in the αβ-tubulin dimer. Both these β-tubulin isotypes have been implicated in drug resistance against tubulin-targeted chemotherapeutics. Our data show the tubulin-targeted anticancer potential of β-SITO, and its potential clinical utility against βII and βIII isotype-overexpressing neoplasms.

Safranal Inhibits HeLa Cell Viability by Perturbing the Reassembly Potential of Microtubules

Saffron, a spice from Crocus sativus, has been known for its health benefits and medicinal properties. Safranal is a component of saffron and is known for its antioxidant and anticancer properties. In this study, we elucidated a possible tubulin‐targeted antiproliferative mechanism of action of safranal. In vitro, the compound perturbed secondary structure of tubulin without altering net microtubule polymer mass. It inhibited HeLa cell viability in a concentration‐dependent manner, with minimal damage to cellular microtubules. However, it strongly inhibited recovery of microtubule network after cold‐induced disassembly, indicating its ability to interfere with the nucleation potential of tubulin. Further, as the acetylation pattern of the safranal‐treated microtubules revealed, unlike many tubulin‐targeted agents, the compound did not appear to induce persistent stabilization of microtubules. Our data shows an unusual, tubulin‐targeted antiproliferative mechanism of safranal. Copyright