Unveiling promising inhibitors of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) for therapeutic interventions

Abstract

Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is a vital enzyme responsible for controlling cellular oxidative stress. Any dysregulation of SOD1 activity is linked with cancer pathogenesis and neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Among the inhibitors known to be effective against SOD1, LCS-1 stands out; however, its efficacy, specificity, and safety profiles are somewhat restricted. In this study, we used PubChem library to retrieve compounds that exhibited a structural similarity of at least 90 % with LCS-1. These compounds underwent molecular docking analyses to examine their interaction patterns and binding affinities with SOD1. Further, we applied filters based on physicochemical and ADMET properties, refining the selection process. Our analysis revealed that selected compounds interact with crucial residues of SOD1 active site. To gain further insights into conformational stability and dynamics of the SOD1-ligand complexes, we conducted all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for 100 ns. We identified two compounds, CID:133306073 and CID:133446715, as potential scaffolds with promising inhibitory properties against SOD1. Both compounds hold significant potential for further exploration as therapeutic SOD1 inhibitors. Further studies are warranted to fully harness their therapeutic potential in targeting SOD1 for cancer and ALS treatment, offering new avenues for improved patient outcomes and disease management.

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Drug discovery; Superoxide dismutase 1; Virtual screening; cancer.