Exploring the exportin-1 inhibitors for COVID-19 and anticancer treatment.

Journal: Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
Published Date:

Abstract

Nuclear export protein 1, also known as XPO1, plays a crucial role in cellular homeostasis and assists in the nucleocytoplasmic transfer of ribonucleic acids (RNAs) and proteins. In addition, this nuclear export receptor is essential for the export of a variety of cargo molecules, such as proteins implicated in the immune response, tumor suppression, and cell cycle regulation. XPO1 has emerged as a promising target to disrupt the life cycles of multiple viruses and treat cancers. In our current work, we used a computational approach consisting of pharmacophore-assisted virtual screening complemented by molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and solvation-based free-energy studies to identify new inhibitors of the XPO1 protein. The identified compounds displayed highly stable RMSD plots, hydrogen bonding interactions, and relatively good binding affinities in both docking and free energy studies. These molecules were validated against SARS-CoV-2 and cancer cell lines. The study identified novel inhibitors of the XPO1 protein with both antiviral and anticancer activities.

Authors

  • Tanuj Sharma
    Department of Family Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Tanmoy Mondal
    Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • Venu Venkatarame Gowda Saralamma
    Department of Family Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Md Imtaiyaz Hassan
    Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.
  • Chang Joong Kim
    BNJBiopharma, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
  • Marianela Patzi Churqui
    Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • Kristina Nyström
    Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • Ketan Thombare
    Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • Mohammad Hassan Baig
    Department of Family Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  • Jae-June Dong
    Department of Family Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Keywords

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