Destabilization of Alzheimer's Aβ42 Protofibrils with a Novel Drug Candidate wgx-50 by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

J Phys Chem B. 2015 Aug 27;119(34):11196-202. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b03116. Epub 2015 Jun 4.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common dementia. The aggregation and deposition of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in neural tissue is its characteristic symptom. To destabilize and dissolve Aβ fibrils, a number of candidate molecules have been proposed. wgx-50 is a compound extracted from Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum bungeanum) and a potential candidate drug for treating AD. Our early experiments show it is effective in disassembling Aβ42 aggregations. A series of molecular dynamics simulations were performed in this work to explain the molecular mechanism of the destabilization of Aβ42 protofibril by wgx-50. It is found that there were three possible stable binding sites including two sites in hydrophobic grooves on surface of Aβ protofibril that made no significant changes in Aβ structures and one site in the interior that caused destabilization of the protofibril. In this site, wgx-50 was packed against the side chains of I32 and L34, disrupted the D23-K28 salt bridges, and partially opened the tightly compacted two β-sheets. The results were confirmed by simulations at 320 K, where deeper insertion of wgx-50 into the whole protofibril was observed. The molecular mechanism of this novel drug candidate wgx-50 to disaggregate Aβ protofibril may provide some insight into the strategy of structure-based drug design for AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamides / chemistry*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • lemairamin