Molecular dynamics modeling the synthetic and biological polymers interactions pre-studied via docking: anchors modified polyanions interference with the HIV-1 fusion mediator

J Comput Aided Mol Des. 2014 Jun;28(6):647-73. doi: 10.1007/s10822-014-9749-8. Epub 2014 May 27.

Abstract

In previous works we reported the design, synthesis and in vitro evaluations of synthetic anionic polymers modified by alicyclic pendant groups (hydrophobic anchors), as a novel class of inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry into human cells. Recently, these synthetic polymers interactions with key mediator of HIV-1 entry-fusion, the tri-helix core of the first heptad repeat regions [HR1]3 of viral envelope protein gp41, were pre-studied via docking in terms of newly formulated algorithm for stepwise approximation from fragments of polymeric backbone and side-group models toward real polymeric chains. In the present article the docking results were verified under molecular dynamics (MD) modeling. In contrast with limited capabilities of the docking, the MD allowed of using much more large models of the polymeric ligands, considering flexibility of both ligand and target simultaneously. Among the synthesized polymers the dinorbornen anchors containing alternating copolymers of maleic acid were selected as the most representative ligands (possessing the top anti-HIV activity in vitro in correlation with the highest binding energy in the docking). To verify the probability of binding of the polymers with the [HR1]3 in the sites defined via docking, various starting positions of polymer chains were tried. The MD simulations confirmed the main docking-predicted priority for binding sites, and possibilities for axial and belting modes of the ligands-target interactions. Some newly MD-discovered aspects of the ligand's backbone and anchor units dynamic cooperation in binding the viral target clarify mechanisms of the synthetic polymers anti-HIV activity and drug resistance prevention.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology*
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Drug Design*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / chemistry
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / metabolism*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Maleates / chemistry
  • Maleates / pharmacology
  • Membrane Fusion / drug effects
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polymers / pharmacology
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • Maleates
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Polymers
  • polyanions
  • maleic acid