Abstract (EN):
We present a series of new inhibitors of the association between nuclear factor kappa B ( NF-κ B) and the corresponding κ B site in DNA. They were designed using the lead compound 15-deoxy-&UDelta;(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (PGJ2), which is a natural product with demonstrated inhibitory efficiency for this system. First, the binding mode of PGJ2 to NF-κ B was unraveled by GOLD docking calculation. Subsequently, substitutions were made to PGJ2 to optimize its association with NF-κ B. Care was taken not to strongly increase the reactivity of the new compounds, and to keep the overall shape, size and hydrophilicity of the lead compound, which should render them a similar bioavailability. Molecular mechanics calculations were performed to decide on the suitability of the substitutions, and to evaluate the energies of association with NF-κ B. Density functional theory calculations were performed also to study the overall reactivity of the substituted drugs towards NF-κ B. Important general conclusions were obtained, concerning the improvement of these natural inhibitors; namely, a set of rational methodologies were deduced to improve the association between the PGJ2 derivatives and NF-κ B, and their efficiency demonstrated by generating a set of substituted complexes, some of them with a very much increased affinity for NF-κ B, opening new doors to enlarge the therapeutic capabilities of this class of drugs.
Language:
English
Type (Professor's evaluation):
Scientific
Contact:
mjramos@fu.up.pt
No. of pages:
8