Binding pattern analysis and structural insight into the inhibition mechanism of Sterol 24-C methyltransferase by docking and molecular dynamics approach

Sterol 24-C methyltransferase (SMT) plays a major role during the production of steroids, especially in the biosynthesis of ergosterol, which is the major membrane sterol in leishmania parasite, and the etiological basis of leishmaniasis. Mechanism-based inactivators bind irreversibly to SMT and interfere with its activity to provide leads for the design of antileishmanial inhibitors. In this study, computational methods are used for studying enzyme–inhibitor interactions. fifty-seven mechanism-based inactivators are docked using 3 docking/scoring approaches (FRED, GoldScore, and ChemScore). A consensus is generated from the results of different scoring functions which are also validated with already reported experimental values. The most active compound thus obtained is subjected to molecular dynamics simulation of length 20 ns. Stability of simulation is analyzed through root-mean-square deviation, beta factor (B-factor), and radius of gyration (Rg). Hydrogen bonds and their involvement in the structural stability of the enzyme are evaluated through radial distribution function. Newly developed application of axial frequency distribution that determines three-particle correlation on frequency distributions before and after simulation has provided a clear evidence for the movement of the inhibitor into active pocket of the enzyme. Results yielded strong interaction between enzyme and the inhibitor throughout the simulation. Binding of the inhibitor with enzyme has stabilized the enzyme structure; thus, the inhibitor has the potential to become a lead compound.     

Cholesterol import fails to prevent catalyst-based inhibition of ergosterol synthesis and cell proliferation of Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosoma brucei (TB) cultured in rat blood, bovine serum, or lipid-depleted serum generated distinct differences in cholesterol availability. Whereas cell proliferation of the parasite was relatively unaffected by cholesterol availability, the ratios of cellular ergostenols to cholesterol varied from close to unity to 3 orders of magnitude different with cholesterol as the major sterol (>99%) of bloodstream form cells. In the procyclic form cultured with lipid-depleted serum, 15 sterols at 52 fg/cell were identified by GC-MS. The structures of these sterols reveal a nonconventional ergosterol pathway consistent with the novel product diversity catalyzed by the recently cloned sterol methyltransferase (SMT). A potent transition state analog of the TB SMT C24 alkylation reaction, 25-azalanosterol (25-AL; inhibition constant Ki = 39 nM), was found to inhibit the growth of the procyclic and bloodstream forms at an IC(50) of approximately 1 microM. This previously unrecognized catalyst-specific inhibition of cell growth was unmasked further using the 25-AL-treated procyclic form, which, compared with control cultures, caused a change in cellular sterol content from ergostenols to cholesterol. However, growth of the bloodstream form disrupted by 25-AL was not rescued by cholesterol absorption from the host, suggesting an essential role for ergosterol (24-methyl sterol) in cell proliferation and that the SMT can be a new enzyme target for drug design.     

Enzyme mechanisms for sterol C-methylations

The mechanisms by which sterol methyl transferases (SMT) transform olefins into structurally different C-methylated products are complex, prompting over 50 years of intense research. Recent enzymological studies, together with the latest discoveries in the fossil record, functional analyses and gene cloning, establish new insights into the enzymatic mechanisms of sterol C-methylation and form a basis for understanding regulation and evolution of the sterol pathway. These studies suggest that SMTs, originated shortly after life appeared on planet earth. SMTs, including those which ultimately give rise to 24 alpha- and 24 beta-alkyl sterols, align the si(beta)-face pi-electrons of the Delta(24)-double bond with the S-methyl group of AdoMet relative to a set of deprotonation bases in the active site. From the orientation of the conformationally flexible side chain in the SMT Michaelis complex, it has been found that either a single product is formed or cationic intermediates are partitioned into multiple olefins. The product structure and stereochemistry of SMT action is phylogenetically distinct and physiologically significant. SMTs control phytosterol homeostasis and their activity is subject to feedback regulation by specific sterol inserts in the membrane. A unified conceptual framework has been formulated in the steric-electric plug model that posits SMT substrate acceptability on the generation of single or double 24-alkylated side chains, which is the basis for binding order, stereospecificity and product diversity in this class of AdoMet-dependent methyl transferase enzymes. The focus of this review is the mechanism of the C-methylation process which, as discussed, can be altered by point mutations in the enzyme to direct the shape of sterol structure to optimize function.     

Sterol methyl transferase: enzymology and inhibition

Sterol C-methylations catalyzed by the (S)-adenosyl-L-methionine: Delta(24)-sterol methyl transferase (SMT) have provided the focus for study of electrophilic alkylations, a reaction type of functional importance in C-C bond formation of natural products. SMTs occur generally in nature, but do not occur in animal systems, suggesting that the difference in sterol synthetic pathways can be exploited therapeutically and in insect-plant interactions. The SMT genes from several plants and fungi have been cloned, sequenced and expressed in bacteria or yeast and bioengineered into tobacco or tomato plants. These enzymes share significant amino acid sequence similarity in the putative sterol and AdoMet binding sites. Investigations of the molecular recognition of sterol fitness and studies with stereospecifically labeled substrates as well as various sterol analogs assayed with native or mutant SMTs from fungi and plants have been carried out recently in our own and other laboratories. These analyses have led to an active-site model, referred to as the 'steric-electric plug' model, which is consistent with a non-covalent mechanism involving the intermediacy of a 24beta-methyl (or ethyl) sterol bound to the ternary complex. Despite the seeming differences between fungal and plant SMT activities the recent data indicate that a distinct SMT or family of SMTs exist in these organisms which bind and transform sterols according to a similar mechanistic plan. Vascular plants have been found to express different complements of C(1)/C(2)-activities in the form of at least three SMT isoforms. This enzyme multiplicity can be a target of regulatory control to affect phytosterol homeostasis in transgenic plants. The state of our current understanding of SMT enzymology and inhibition is presented.     

76 The Pneumocystis sam:smt, an atypical fungal enzyme protein

Pneumocystis , an opportunistic fungal protist, causes a type of pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients. Rat-derived P. carinii and human-derived P. jiroveci contain a large number of sterols with C-24 alkyl groups. S-Adenosyl-L-methionine:sterol C-24 methyl transferase (SAM:SMT) is the enzyme that transfers methyl groups from SAM to the C-24 position of the sterol side chain. An alkyl group at the C-24 sterol side chain position appears to be essential for the organism to proliferate. Thus SAM:SMT, which is absent in mammals, is an attractive target for chemotherapeutic attack against the pathogen. The P. carinii erg6 gene that codes for SAM:SMT has been sequenced, cloned, and the protein expressed in E. coli . Since bacteria do not synthesize sterols, and do not have SAM:SMT, the P. carinii erg6 gene product expressed in E. coli would only transmethylate exogenously provided sterol substrates. The P. carinii recombinant SAM:SMT is unique because lanosterol, a central intermediate in sterol biosynthesis, is its preferred substrate for enzyme activity. Most SAM:SMT from other organisms do not bind lanosterol and prefer other sterol substrates produced from lanosterol. Furthermore, it appears that this unusual P. carinii SAM:SMT can also methylate cholesterol, which is readily scavenged from the lungs of its rat host. The recombinant enzyme protein is being purified by affinity chromatography techniques, which will be used to obtain definitive structural analyses of the sterol compounds formed by the enzyme reaction using different sterols substrates and allow detailed structural analysis of this unusual SAM:SMT enzyme protein.     

Sterols of Saccharomyces cerevisiae erg6 Knockout Mutant Expressing the Pneumocystis carinii S‐Adenosylmethionine:Sterol C‐24 Methyltransferase

The AIDS‐associated lung pathogen Pneumocystis is classified as a fungus although Pneumocystis has several distinct features such as the absence of ergosterol, the major sterol of most fungi. The Pneumocystis carinii S‐adenosylmethionine:sterol C24‐methyltransferase (SAM:SMT) enzyme, coded by the erg6 gene, transfers either one or two methyl groups to the C‐24 position of the sterol side chain producing both C₂₈ and C₂₉ 24‐alkylsterols in approximately the same proportions, whereas most fungal SAM:SMT transfer only one methyl group to the side chain. The sterol compositions of wild‐type Sacchromyces cerevisiae, the erg6 knockout mutant (Δerg6), and Δerg6 expressing the P. carinii or the S. cerevisiae erg6 gene were analyzed by a variety of chromatographic and spectroscopic procedures to examine functional complementation in the yeast expression system. Detailed sterol analyses were obtained using high performance liquid chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H‐NMR). The P. carinii SAM:SMT in the Δerg6 restored its ability to produce the C₂₈ sterol ergosterol as the major sterol, and also resulted in low levels of C₂₉ sterols. This indicates that while the P. carinii SAM:SMT in the yeast Δerg6 cells was able to transfer a second methyl group to the side chain, the action of Δ²⁴⁽²⁸⁾‐sterol reductase (coded by the erg4 gene) in the yeast cells prevented the formation and accumulation of as many C₂₉ sterols as that found in P. carinii.     

On the pathway of forming enzymatically productive ligand-protein complexes in lactate dehydrogenase

We have carried out a series of studies on the binding of a substrate mimic to the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) using advanced kinetic approaches, which begin to provide a molecular picture of the dynamics of ligand binding for this protein. Binding proceeds via a binding-competent subpopulation of the nonligated form of the protein (the LDH/NADH binary complex) to form a protein-ligand encounter complex. The work here describes the collapse of the encounter complex to form the catalytically competent Michaelis complex. Isotope-edited static Fourier transform infrared studies on the bound oxamate protein complex reveal two kinds of oxamate environments: 1), a major populated structure wherein all significant hydrogen-bonding patterns are formed at the active site between protein and bound ligand necessary for the catalytically productive Michaelis complex and 2), a minor structure in a configuration of the active site that is unfavorable to carry out catalyzed chemistry. This latter structure likely simulates a dead-end complex in the reaction mixture. Temperature jump isotope-edited transient infrared studies on the binding of oxamate with LDH/NADH suggest that the evolution of the encounter complex between LDH/NADH and oxamate collapses via a branched reaction pathway to form the major and minor bound species. The production of the catalytically competent protein-substrate complex has strong similarities to kinetic pathways found in two-state protein folding processes. Once the encounter complex is formed between LDH/NADH and substrate, the ternary protein-ligand complex appears to “fold” to form a compact productive complex in an all or nothing like fashion with all the important molecular interactions coming together at the same time.     

Mechanistic analysis of a multiple product sterol methyltransferase implicated in ergosterol biosynthesis in Trypanosoma brucei

Sterol methyltransferase (SMT) plays a key role in sterol biosynthesis in different pathogenic organisms by setting the pattern of the side chain structure of the final product. This catalyst, absent in humans, provides critical pathway-specific enzymatic steps in the production of ergosterol in fungi or phytosterols in plants. The new SMT gene was isolated from Trypanosoma brucei genomic DNA and cloned into an Escherichia coli expression system. The recombinant SMT was purified to homogeneity to give a band at 40.0 kDa upon SDS-PAGE and showed a tetrameric subunit organization by gel chromatography. It has a pH optimum of 7.5, an apparent kcat value of 0.01 s(-1), and a Km of 47 +/- 4 microm for zymosterol. The products of the reaction were a mixture of C24-monoalkylated sterols, ergosta-8,24 (25)-dienol, ergosta-8,25 (27)-dienol, and ergosta-8,24 (28)-dienol (fecosterol), and an unusual double C24-alkylated sterol, 24,24-dimethyl ergosta-8,25 (27)-dienol, typically found in plants. Inhibitory profile studies with 25-azalanosterol (Ki value of 39 nm) or 24(R,S), 25-epiminolanosterol (Ki value of 49 nm), ergosterol (Ki value of 27 microm) and 26,27-dehydrozymosterol (Ki and kinact values of 29 microm and 0.26 min(-1), respectively) and data showing zymosterol as the preferred acceptor strongly suggest that the protozoan SMT has an active site topography combining properties of the SMT1 from plants and yeast (37-47% identity). The enzymatic activation of this and other SMTs reveals that the catalytic requirements for the C-methyl reaction are remarkably versatile, whereas the inhibition studies provide a powerful approach to rational design of new anti-sleeping sickness chemotherapeutic drugs.     

24-Methylenecyclopropane steroidal inhibitors: A Trojan horse in ergosterol biosynthesis that prevents growth of Trypanosoma brucei

A new class of steroidal therapeutics based on phylogenetic-guided design of covalent inhibitors that target parasite-specific enzymes of ergosterol biosynthesis is shown to prevent growth of the protozoan-Trypanosoma brucei, responsible for sleeping sickness. In the presence of approximately 15 ± 5 μM 26,27-dehydrolanosterol, T. brucei procyclic or blood stream form growth is inhibited by 50%. This compound is actively converted by the parasite to an acceptable substrate of sterol C24-methyl transferase (SMT) that upon position-specific side chain methylation at C26 inactivates the enzyme. Treated cells show dose-dependent depletion of ergosterol and other 24β-methyl sterols with no accumulation of intermediates in contradistinction to profiles typical of tight binding inhibitor treatments to azoles showing loss of ergosterol accompanied by accumulation of toxic 14-methyl sterols. HEK cells accumulate 26,27-dehydrolanosterol without effect on cholesterol biosynthesis. During exposure of cloned TbSMT to 26,27-dehydrozymosterol, the enzyme is gradually inactivated (k_cat/k_inact = 0.13 min^− 1/0.08 min^− 1; partition ratio of 1.6) while 26,27-dehydrolanosterol binds nonproductively. GC–MS analysis of the turnover product and bound intermediate released as a C26-methylated diol (C3-OH and C24-OH) confirmed substrate recognition and covalent binding to TbSMT. This study has potential implications for design of a novel class of chemotherapeutic leads functioning as mechanism-based inhibitors of ergosterol biosynthesis to treat neglected tropical diseases.     

The Pneumocystis carinii drug target S-adenosyl-L-methionine:sterol C-24 methyl transferase has a unique substrate preference

Pneumocystis is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause pneumonitis in immunodeficient people such as AIDS patients. Pneumocystis remains difficult to study in the absence of culture methods for luxuriant growth. Recombinant protein technology now makes it possible to avoid some major obstacles. The P. carinii expressed sequence tag (EST) database contains 11 entries of a sequence encoding a protein homologous to S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM):C-24 sterol methyl transferase (SMT), suggesting high activity of this enzyme in the organism. We sequenced the erg6 cDNA, identified the putative peptide motifs for the sterol and SAM binding sites in the deduced amino acid sequence and expressed the protein in Escherichia coli. Unlike SAM:SMT from other organisms, the P. carinii enzyme had higher affinities for lanosterol and 24-methylenelanosterol than for zymosterol, the preferred substrate in other fungi. Cycloartenol was not a productive substrate. With lanosterol and 24-methylenelanosterol as substrates, the major reaction products were 24-methylenelanosterol and pneumocysterol respectively. Thus, the P. carinii SAM:SMT catalysed the transfer of both the first and the second methyl groups to the sterol C-24 position, and the substrate preference was found to be a unique property of the P. carinii SAM:SMT. These observations, together with the absence of SAM:SMT among mammals, further support the identification of sterol C-24 alkylation reactions as excellent targets for the development of drugs specifically directed against this pathogen.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of Axillaridine–A: A potent natural cholinesterase inhibitor

Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out for human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) and its complex with Axillaridine–A, in order to dynamically explore the active site of the protein and the behaviour of the ligand at the peripheral binding site. Simulation of the enzyme alone showed that the active site of AChE is located at the bottom of a deep and narrow cavity whose surface is lined with rings of aromatic residues while Tyr72 is almost perpendicular to the Trp286, which is responsible for stable π -π interactions. The complexation of AChE with Axillaridine-A, results in the reduction of gorge size due to interaction between the ligand and the active site residues. The gorge size was determined by the distance between the center of mass of Glu81 and Trp286. As far as the geometry of the active site is concerned, the presence of ligand in the active site alters its specific conformation, as revealed by stable hydrogen bondings established between amino acids. With the increasing interaction between ligand and the active amino acids, size of the active site of the complex decreases with respect to time. Axillaridine-A, forms stable π -π interactions with the aromatic ring of Tyr124 that results in inhibition of catalytic activity of the enzyme. This π -π interaction keeps the substrate stable at the edge of the catalytic gorge by inhibiting its catalytic activity. The MD results clearly provide an explanation for the binding pattern of bulky steroidal alkaloids at the active site of AChE.     

Characterization of a mutation that results in independence of oxidosqualene cyclase (Erg7) activity from the downstream 3-ketoreductase (Erg27) in the yeast ergosterol biosynthetic pathway

In yeast, deletion of ERG27, which encodes the sterol biosynthetic enzyme, 3-keto-reductase, results in a concomitant loss of the upstream enzyme, Erg7p, an oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC). However, this phenomenon occurs only in fungi, as mammalian Erg27p orthologues are unable to rescue yeast Erg7p activity. In this study, an erg27 mutant containing the mouse ERG27 orthologue was isolated that was capable of growing without sterol supplementation (FGerg27). GC/MS analysis of this strain showed an accumulation of squalene epoxides, 3-ketosterones, and ergosterol. This strain which was crossed to a wildtype and daughter segregants showed an accumulation of squalene epoxides as well as ergosterol indicating that the mutation entailed a leaky block at ERG7. Upon sequencing the yeast ERG7 gene an A598S alteration was found in a conserved alpha helical region. We theorize that this mutation stabilizes Erg7p in a conformation that mimics Erg27p binding. This mutation, while decreasing OSC activity still retains sufficient residual OSC activity such that the strain in the presence of the mammalian 3-keto reductase enzyme functions and no longer requires the yeast Erg27p. Because sterol biosynthesis occurs in the ER, a fusion protein was synthesized combining Erg7p and Erg28p, a resident ER protein and scaffold of the C-4 demethyation complex. Both FGerg27 and erg27 strains containing this fusion plasmid and the mouse ERG27 orthologue showed restoration of ergosterol biosynthesis with minimal accumulation of squalene epoxides. These results indicate retention of Erg7p in the ER increases its activity and suggest a novel method of regulation of ergosterol biosynthesis.     

Isolation from yeast of a metabolically active water-soluble form of ergosterol

A water-soluble complex containing ergosterol together with a component of yeast has been isolated. The complex can be isolated from commercial yeast extract to which ergosterol has been added or directly from whole yeast cells. The complexing component has the properties of a large polysaccharide and the binding between the sterol and the polysaccharide appears to be noncovalent. The complex is easily prepared and is stable in aqueous solution; ergosterol in this solution is metabolically available to yeast cells to which it is added.     

Fermentation of soybean oil deodorizer distillate with Candida tropicalis to concentrate phytosterols and to produce sterols-rich yeast cells

Phytosterols have been recovered from the deodorizer distillate produced in the final deodorization step of vegetable oil refining by various processes. The deodorizer distillate contains mainly free fatty acids (FFAs), phytosterols, and tocopherols. The presence of FFAs hinders recovery of phytosterols. In this study, fermentation of soybean oil deodorizer distillate (SODD) with Candida tropicalis 1253 was carried out. FFAs were utilized as carbon source and converted into cellular components as the yeast cells grew. Phytosterols concentration in SODD increased from 15.2 to 28.43 % after fermentation. No significant loss of phytosterols was observed during the process. Microbial fermentation of SODD is a potential approach to concentrate phytosterols before the recovery of phytosterols from SODD. During SODD fermentation, sterols-rich yeast cells were produced and the content of total sterols was as high as 6.96 %, but its major sterol was not ergosterol, which is the major sterol encountered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Except ergosterol, other sterols synthesized in the cells need to be identified.     

A possible binding path of ergosterol within elicitins revealed by molecular dynamics

Elicitins, produced by most of the phytopathogenic fungi of the genus Phytophthora, provoke in the tobacco plant both remote leaf necrosis and the induction of a resistance against subsequent attack by various micro-organisms. The crystal structure of b-cryptogein (CRY), secreted by Phytophthora cryptogea, was previously reported as well as the first structure of a SCP/sterol complex, the ergosterol-complexed, mutated CRY (K13H). In K13H, the ergosterol molecule is encapsulated in a large internal hydrophobic cavity which is not present in CRY. This binding induces a minor conformational change in the protein structure. Molecular dynamics studies were undertaken to precise the structural behaviour of CRY and K13H with respect to the complexation of the ergosterol. Although it is not possible to simulate the entrance of the ergosterol in the protein, we assume that capture and release of the ligand possibly both occur following the same path. Our results show that, in the complex K13H, the ergosterol molecule is pushed towards the residue 13 which play a key role in the necrotic activity of the protein. It is likely that the polarity of residue 13, favouring the binding of the hydroxyl of the ligand, would be involved in the recognition of the sterol and in an optimisation of its orientation. Thus, in a first step, the molecule of ergosterol would be rotated around itself to a position which makes possible, in a second step, its translation to the internal cavity, as a key in a keyhole.     

Discovery of an ergosterol-signaling factor that regulates Trypanosoma brucei growth

Ergosterol biosynthesis and homeostasis in the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei was analyzed by RNAi silencing and inhibition of sterol C24β-methyltransferase (TbSMT) and sterol 14α-demethylase [TbSDM (TbCYP51)] to explore the functions of sterols in T. brucei growth. Inhibition of the amount or activity of these enzymes depletes ergosterol from cells at <6 fg/cell for procyclic form (PCF) cells or <0.01 fg/cell for bloodstream form (BSF) cells and reduces infectivity in a mouse model of infection. Silencing of TbSMT expression by RNAi in PCF or BSF in combination with 25-azalanosterol (AZA) inhibited parasite growth and this inhibition was restored completely by adding synergistic cholesterol (7.8 μM from lipid-depleted media) with small amounts of ergosterol (1.2 μM) to the medium. These observations are consistent with the proposed requirement for ergosterol as a signaling factor to spark cell proliferation while imported cholesterol or the endogenously formed cholesta-5,7,24-trienol act as bulk membrane components. To test the potential chemotherapeutic importance of disrupting ergosterol biosynthesis using pairs of mechanism-based inhibitors that block two enzymes in the post-squalene segment, parasites were treated with AZA and itraconazole at 1 μM each (ED₅₀ values) resulting in parasite death. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the ergosterol pathway is a prime drug target for intervention in T. brucei infection.     

Targeting the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2D4 for cancer drug discovery–a structure-based approach

Cancer progression is a global burden. The incidence and mortality now reach 30 million deaths per year. Several pathways of cancer are under investigation for the discovery of effective therapeutics. The present study highlights the structural details of the ubiquitin protein ‘Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2D4’ (UBE2D4) for the novel lead structure identification in cancer drug discovery process. The evaluation of 3D structure of UBE2D4 was carried out using homology modelling techniques. The optimized structure was validated by standard computational protocols. The active site region of the UBE2D4 was identified using computational tools like CASTp, Q-site Finder and SiteMap. The hydrophobic pocket which is responsible for binding with its natural receptor ubiquitin ligase CHIP (C-terminal of Hsp 70 interacting protein) was identified through protein-protein docking study. Corroborating the results obtained from active site prediction tools and protein-protein docking study, the domain of UBE2D4 which is responsible for cancer cell progression is sorted out for further docking study. Virtual screening with large structural database like CB_Div Set and Asinex BioDesign small molecular structural database was carried out. The obtained new ligand molecules that have shown affinity towards UBE2D4 were considered for ADME prediction studies. The identified new ligand molecules with acceptable parameters of docking, ADME are considered as potent UBE2D4 enzyme inhibitors for cancer therapy.     

Comparative modeling and virtual screening for the identification of novel inhibitors for myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase

Myo-inositol-1-phosphate (MIP) synthase is a key enzyme in the myo-inositol biosynthesis pathway. Disruption of the inositol signaling pathway is associated with bipolar disorders. Previous work suggested that MIP synthase could be an attractive target for the development of anti-bipolar drugs. Inhibition of this enzyme could possibly help in reducing the risk of a disease in patients. With this objective, three dimensional structure of the protein was modeled followed by the active site prediction. For the first time, computational studies were carried out to obtain structural insights into the interactive behavior of this enzyme with ligands. Virtual screening was carried out using FILTER, ROCS and EON modules of the OpenEye scientific software. Natural products from the ZINC database were used for the screening process. Resulting compounds were docked into active site of the target protein using FRED (Fast Rigid Exhaustive Docking) and GOLD (Genetic Optimization for Ligand Docking) docking programs. The analysis indicated extensive hydrogen bonding network and hydrophobic interactions which play a significant role in ligand binding. Four compounds are shortlisted and their binding assay analysis is underway.