Microsecond MD simulations of human CYP2D6 wild-type and five allelic variants reveal mechanistic insights on the function

PLoS One. 2018 Aug 22;13(8):e0202534. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202534. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Characterization of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and the impact of the major identified allelic variants on the activity of one of the most dominating drug-metabolising enzymes is essential to increase drug safety and avoid adverse reactions. Microsecond molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to capture the dynamic signatures of this complex enzyme and five allelic variants with diverse enzymatic activity. In addition to the apo simulations, three substrates (bufuralol, veliparib and tamoxifen) and two inhibitors (prinomastat and quinidine) were included to explore their influence on the structure and dynamical features of the enzyme. Our results indicate that the altered enzyme activity can be attributed to changes in the hydrogen bonding network within the active site, and local structural differences in flexibility, position and shape of the binding pocket. In particular, the increased (CYP2D6*53) or the decreased (CYP2D6*17) activity seems to be related to a change in dynamics of mainly the BC loop due to a modified hydrogen bonding network around this region. In addition, the smallest active site volume was found for CYP2D6*4 (no activity). CYP2D6*2 (normal activity) showed no major differences in dynamic behaviour compared to the wild-type.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Benzimidazoles / chemistry
  • Benzimidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Catalytic Domain / drug effects
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / chemistry*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / genetics
  • Dextromethorphan / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Ethanolamines / chemistry
  • Ethanolamines / therapeutic use
  • Heme / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding / drug effects
  • Inactivation, Metabolic / genetics*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Tamoxifen / chemistry
  • Tamoxifen / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Benzimidazoles
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Ethanolamines
  • veliparib
  • Tamoxifen
  • Heme
  • Dextromethorphan
  • bufuralol
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.