A comparative computational approach toward pharmacological chaperones (NN-DNJ and ambroxol) on N370S and L444P mutations causing Gaucher's disease

Abstract

Gaucher's disease (GD) is the most commonly known lysosomal disorder that occurs due to mutations in the β-glucocerebrosidase (GBA) protein. Our previous findings (Thirumal Kumar, Eldous, Mahgoub, George Priya Doss, Zayed, 2018) and other reports concluded that the mutations N370S and L444P are the most significant mutations that could cause disruptions in protein stability and structure. These disruptions lead to protein misfolding and result in a diseased condition. Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) and Pharmacological chaperone therapy (PCT) are currently used to treat GD caused by mutations in the GBA protein. The extreme disparity in cost between ERT and chaperone therapy, shifted the attention toward chaperone therapy. The most common chaperones in the market and trial phases to treat GD are Isofagomine, Miglustat, Eliglustat, NN-DNJ, and Ambroxol. In the era of personalized medicine, it is often necessary to understand the drug likeliness of each chaperone. In this context, the present study utilized molecular docking analysis to understand the interaction behavior of the chaperone toward the native and the two mutants N370S and L444P. The molecular dynamics simulation analyses performed on chaperones (NN-DNJ and Ambroxol) interaction showed that the chaperone NN-DNJ possesses better affinity toward the protein with N370S mutation whereas chaperone Ambroxol showed better activity against both the significant mutations (N370S and L444P). This study is expected to serve as a platform for drug repurposing.

Keywords: Ambroxol; Gaucher's disease; L444P; Molecular docking; Molecular dynamics; N370S; NN-DNJ.