Virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation reveal new insights into RNA polymerase inhibition for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery

Purpose This study aims to identify potential RNA polymerase (RNAP) inhibitors using a comprehensive computational approach, addressing the challenges in drug discovery related to stability, affinity, and accurate binding predictions.Patients and methods The research workflow involved virtual screen...

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Main Authors: Taufik Muhammad Fakih, Farendina Suarantika, Aulia Fikri Hidayat, Dwi Syah Fitra Ramadhan, Muchtaridi Muchtaridi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21691401.2025.2531748
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author Taufik Muhammad Fakih
Farendina Suarantika
Aulia Fikri Hidayat
Dwi Syah Fitra Ramadhan
Muchtaridi Muchtaridi
author_facet Taufik Muhammad Fakih
Farendina Suarantika
Aulia Fikri Hidayat
Dwi Syah Fitra Ramadhan
Muchtaridi Muchtaridi
author_sort Taufik Muhammad Fakih
collection DOAJ
description Purpose This study aims to identify potential RNA polymerase (RNAP) inhibitors using a comprehensive computational approach, addressing the challenges in drug discovery related to stability, affinity, and accurate binding predictions.Patients and methods The research workflow involved virtual screening to narrow down candidate compounds, molecular docking to predict optimal binding poses, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to evaluate interaction stability over time, and MM-PBSA analysis to calculate binding energies. These steps ensured that only compounds with strong and stable binding profiles were selected for further evaluation.Results The selected compounds, ZINC001286671821, ZINC000253654686, and ZINC000252693842, demonstrated varying degrees of stability and affinity. MM-PBSA analysis revealed that ZINC000252693842 had the most favourable binding energy at −106.097 ± 24.664 kJ/mol, followed by ZINC001286671821 at −89.201 ± 22.647 kJ/mol, and ZINC000253654686 at −43.832 ± 23.748 kJ/mol. Van der Waals forces were the main contributors to stability, with values of −221.032 ± 27.721 kJ/mol, −187.136 ± 23.796 kJ/mol, and −157.232 ± 19.676 kJ/mol, respectively. These findings confirm the strong binding potential of ZINC000252693842 as an RNAP inhibitor.Conclusion This study highlights the effectiveness of combining virtual screening, molecular docking, MD simulations, and MM-PBSA analysis in identifying promising RNAP inhibitors. The results establish a strong foundation for further experimental validation, advancing the development of effective therapeutic agents targeting RNA polymerase.
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issn 2169-1401
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series Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology
spelling doaj-art-265debd1262e47b7a66d60a4ea1aba162025-08-20T03:51:29ZengTaylor & Francis GroupArtificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology2169-14012169-141X2025-12-0153130432510.1080/21691401.2025.2531748Virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation reveal new insights into RNA polymerase inhibition for anti-tuberculosis drug discoveryTaufik Muhammad Fakih0Farendina Suarantika1Aulia Fikri Hidayat2Dwi Syah Fitra Ramadhan3Muchtaridi Muchtaridi4Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, IndonesiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Islam Bandung, Bandung, IndonesiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Islam Bandung, Bandung, IndonesiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Poltekkes Kemenkes Makassar, Jl. Baji Gau, Makassar, IndonesiaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, IndonesiaPurpose This study aims to identify potential RNA polymerase (RNAP) inhibitors using a comprehensive computational approach, addressing the challenges in drug discovery related to stability, affinity, and accurate binding predictions.Patients and methods The research workflow involved virtual screening to narrow down candidate compounds, molecular docking to predict optimal binding poses, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to evaluate interaction stability over time, and MM-PBSA analysis to calculate binding energies. These steps ensured that only compounds with strong and stable binding profiles were selected for further evaluation.Results The selected compounds, ZINC001286671821, ZINC000253654686, and ZINC000252693842, demonstrated varying degrees of stability and affinity. MM-PBSA analysis revealed that ZINC000252693842 had the most favourable binding energy at −106.097 ± 24.664 kJ/mol, followed by ZINC001286671821 at −89.201 ± 22.647 kJ/mol, and ZINC000253654686 at −43.832 ± 23.748 kJ/mol. Van der Waals forces were the main contributors to stability, with values of −221.032 ± 27.721 kJ/mol, −187.136 ± 23.796 kJ/mol, and −157.232 ± 19.676 kJ/mol, respectively. These findings confirm the strong binding potential of ZINC000252693842 as an RNAP inhibitor.Conclusion This study highlights the effectiveness of combining virtual screening, molecular docking, MD simulations, and MM-PBSA analysis in identifying promising RNAP inhibitors. The results establish a strong foundation for further experimental validation, advancing the development of effective therapeutic agents targeting RNA polymerase.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21691401.2025.2531748RNA polymerase inhibitorsmolecular dockingmolecular dynamics simulationMM-PBSAvirtual screeningcomputational drug discovery
spellingShingle Taufik Muhammad Fakih
Farendina Suarantika
Aulia Fikri Hidayat
Dwi Syah Fitra Ramadhan
Muchtaridi Muchtaridi
Virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation reveal new insights into RNA polymerase inhibition for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery
Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology
RNA polymerase inhibitors
molecular docking
molecular dynamics simulation
MM-PBSA
virtual screening
computational drug discovery
title Virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation reveal new insights into RNA polymerase inhibition for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery
title_full Virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation reveal new insights into RNA polymerase inhibition for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery
title_fullStr Virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation reveal new insights into RNA polymerase inhibition for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery
title_full_unstemmed Virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation reveal new insights into RNA polymerase inhibition for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery
title_short Virtual screening, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation reveal new insights into RNA polymerase inhibition for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery
title_sort virtual screening molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation reveal new insights into rna polymerase inhibition for anti tuberculosis drug discovery
topic RNA polymerase inhibitors
molecular docking
molecular dynamics simulation
MM-PBSA
virtual screening
computational drug discovery
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21691401.2025.2531748
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