Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase as a potential target for specific components of traditional Chinese medicine: a virtual screening and molecular dynamics study

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e50087. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050087. Epub 2012 Nov 29.

Abstract

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) has been suggested as a protectant against radiation for head and neck cancer (HNC). In this study, we employed traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds from TCM Database@Taiwan (http://tcm.cmu.edu.tw/) to screen for drug-like candidates with potential UROD inhibition characteristics using virtual screening techniques. Isopraeroside IV, scopolin, and nodakenin exhibited the highest Dock Scores, and were predicted to have good Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) properties. Two common moieties, 2H-chromen-2-one and glucoside, were observed among the top TCM candidates. Cross comparison of the docking poses indicated that candidates formed stable interactions with key binding and catalytic residues of UROD through these two moieties. The 2H-chromen-2-one moiety enabled pi-cation interactions with Arg37 and H-bonds with Tyr164. The glucoside moiety was involved in forming H-bonds with Arg37 and Asp86. From our computational results, we propose isopraeroside IV, scopolin, and nodakenin as ligands that might exhibit drug-like inhibitory effects on UROD. The glucoside and 2H-chromen-2-one moieties may potentially be used for designing inhibitors of UROD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Binding Sites
  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods
  • Drug Design
  • Glucosides / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Ligands
  • Medicine, Chinese Traditional / methods*
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Protein Binding
  • Software
  • Tyrosine / genetics
  • Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase / chemistry
  • Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glucosides
  • Ligands
  • Tyrosine
  • Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase

Grants and funding

The research was supported by grants from the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC101-2325-B-039-001), Asia University (100-asia-56), and China Medical University and Asia University (DMR-101-094). This study was also supported in part by Taiwan Department of Health Clinical Trial and Research Center of Excellence (DOH101-TD-B-111-004) and Taiwan Department of Health Cancer Research Center of Excellence (DOH101-TD-C-111-005). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.