Xueying Liu

Background: Mutations in the IDH1 gene have been shown to be an important driver in the development of acute myeloid leukemia, gliomas and certain solid tumors, which is a promising target for cancer therapy.Methods: Bidirectional recurrent neural network (BRNN) and scaffold hopping methods were used to generate new compounds, which were evaluated by principal components analysis, quantitative estimate of drug-likeness, synthetic accessibility analysis and molecular docking. ADME prediction, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to screen candidate compounds and assess their binding affinity and binding stability with mutant IDH1 (mIDH1).Results: BRNN and scaffold hopping methods generated 3890 and 3680 new compounds, respectively. The molecules generated by the BRNN performed better in terms of molecular diversity, druggability, synthetic accessibility and docking score. From the 3890 compounds generated by the BRNN model, 10 structurally diverse drug candidates with great docking score were preserved. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the RMSD of the four systems, M1, M2, M3 and M6, remained stable, with local flexibility and compactness similar to the positive drug. The binding free energy results indicated that compound M1 exhibited the best binding properties in all energy aspects and was the best candidate molecule among the 10 compounds.Conclusion: In present study, compounds M1, M2, M3 and M6 generated by BRNN exhibited optimal binding properties. This study is the first attempt to use deep learning to design mIDH1 inhibitors, which provides theoretical guidance for the design of mIDH1 inhibitors.

There have been outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 around the world for over three years, and its variants continue to evolve. This has become a major global health threat. The main protease (M^pro, also called 3CL^pro) plays a key role in viral replication and proliferation, making it an attractive drug target. Here, we have identified a novel potential inhibitor of M^pro, by applying the virtual screening of hundreds of nilotinib-structure-like compounds that we designed and synthesized. The screened compounds were assessed using SP docking, XP docking, MM-GBSA analysis, IFD docking, MD simulation, ADME/T prediction, and then an enzymatic assay in vitro. We finally identified the compound V291 as a potential SARS-CoV-2 M^pro inhibitor, with a high docking affinity and enzyme inhibitory activity. Moreover, the docking results indicate that His41 is a favorable amino acid for pi-pi interactions, while Glu166 can participate in salt-bridge formation with the protonated primary or secondary amines in the screened molecules. Thus, the compounds reported here are capable of engaging the key amino acids His41 and Glu166 in ligand-receptor interactions. A pharmacophore analysis further validates this assertion.

The GLUT4 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways are the key sensors of energy status and they regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. Phloretin activates the PI3K/AKT pathway by promoting GLUT4 translocation and expression, thereby improving glucose consumption and tolerance. As metformin can regulate glucose metabolism, we hypothesized that phloretin can amplify its gluco-regulatory effects. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed with a high-fat and high-sugar diet for 8 weeks and injected with a low dose of streptozotocin to induce type 2 diabetes. The diabetic rats were randomized to receive phloretin (100 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹), metformin (250 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹), or phloretin + metformin via oral gavage for another 4 weeks. Random blood glucose, serum insulin, free fatty acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels were detected in type 2 diabetic rats. Hematoxylin–eosin and Oil Red O staining were used to observe the pathological changes in the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissues of type 2 diabetic rats. The expression levels of IRS-1, PI3K, P-AKT, and GLUT4 in skeletal muscle were detected using western blotting. Phloretin plus metformin improved fasting blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic rats. In addition, this combination reduced lipid accumulation, improved the pathological changes in the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue, and increased IRS-1, PI3K, P-AKT, and GLUT4 expression in skeletal muscle and the liver of type 2 diabetic rats. Thus, phloretin can be used in a potential combination therapy with metformin for the prevention and rescue of type 2 diabetes.

2′,4′,6′,4-Tetra-O-acetylphloretin (TAPHL) is a prodrug of phloretin (PHL) in which the OH groups are protected by acetylation. A validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for the determination of PHL in rat biological matrices was developed and applied to investigate and compare the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and excretion of PHL and TAPHL in rats following a single oral administration. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, range, selectivity, lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), recovery, and matrix effect. All validation parameters met the acceptance criteria according to regulatory guidelines. The mean pharmacokinetic parameters of t_max, C_max, AUC_{(0 − t)}, CL/F, and t_1/2 were observed after oral administration in rats. The data showed that PHL was absorbed and eliminated rapidly from plasma after oral administration. The pharmacokinetic properties are improved, such as the t_max has been prolonged and the area under the curve (AUC) has been enhanced after oral administration of TAPHL to rats. Tissue distribution results indicated that PHL could be rapidly and widely distributed into tissues but could not effectively cross the blood–brain barrier in rats. After oral administration of TAPHL to rats, its tissue distribution to rats was similar as that after oral administration of equimolar PHL. In addition, higher recoveries of PHL following administration of TAPHL indicated that TAPHL might reduce the excretion of PHL from the body by reducing the first pass effect.

Several new ferrocene‐derived bidentate N ligands, which contain multiple chiral factors, have been designed and synthesized by a rational combination of oxazoline and pyridine. Their catalytic performances were investigated preliminarily in Pd‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation, and excellent reactivities and enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield and 98 % ee) were realized if we used the ligand with a matched chirality. DFT calculations were used to illustrate that an intramolecular hydrogen bond formed between the hydroxyl group and the oxazoline fragment of the ligand contributed to the optimal conformation of the ligand‐Pd‐allyl complex.

The present study investigated the possible antiobesity and hypoglycemic effects of phloretin (Ph). In an attempt to discover the hypoglycemic effect and potential mechanism of Ph, we used the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and (L6) myotubes. Daily oral treatment with Ph for 4 weeks significantly (P<0.05) reduced postprandial blood glucose and improved islet injury and lipid metabolism. Glucose consumption and glucose tolerance were improved by Ph via GOD–POD method. Western blot results revealed that the expression of Akt, PI3K, IRS-1, and GLUT4 were upregulated in skeletal muscle of T2D rats and in L6 myotubes by Ph. The immunofluorescence studies confirmed that Ph improved the translocation of GLUT4 in L6 myotubes. Ph exerted hypoglycemic effects in vivo and in vitro, hence it may play an important role in the management of diabetes.