In silico prediction of GRP78-CRIPTO binding sites to improve therapeutic targeting in glioblastoma

Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most malignant tumors in central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and CRIPTO (Cripto-1), a protein that belongs to the EGF-CFC (epidermal growth factor cripto-1 FRL-1 cryptic) family, are overexpressed in GBM....

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Main Authors: Mahmoud E. Rashwan, Mahrous R. Ahmed, Abdo A. Elfiky
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00125-z
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author Mahmoud E. Rashwan
Mahrous R. Ahmed
Abdo A. Elfiky
author_facet Mahmoud E. Rashwan
Mahrous R. Ahmed
Abdo A. Elfiky
author_sort Mahmoud E. Rashwan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most malignant tumors in central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and CRIPTO (Cripto-1), a protein that belongs to the EGF-CFC (epidermal growth factor cripto-1 FRL-1 cryptic) family, are overexpressed in GBM. A complex between GRP78 SBDβ (substrate binding domain beta) and CRIPTO CFC domain was reported in previous studies. This complex activates MAPK/AKT signaling, Src/PI3K/AKT, and Smad2/3 pathways which is a reason for tumor proliferation. In this work, we study how the two proteins form the complex figuring out binding sites between GRP78 and CRIPTO utilizing computational biophysics and bioinformatics tools, such as protein–protein docking, molecular dynamics simulation and MMGBSA calculations. Haddock web server results of 4 regions from the CFC domain (region1 (− 70.4), region2 (− 78.7), region3 (− 74.2), region4 (− 86.8)) with selected residues of the SBDβ are then simulated for 100 ns MDS then MMGBSA were calculated for the four complexes. The results reveal the stability of the complexes with binding free energy (complex1 (− 15.07 kcal/mol), complex2 (− 59.78 kcal/mol), complex3 (− 81.92 kcal/mol), complex4 (− 126.26 kcal/mol). All these findings ensure that GRP78 SBDβ associates with the CRIPTO CFC domain, and the binding sites suggested make stable interactions between the proteins.
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spelling doaj-art-756443fc9a0e49c5a0bb0bb19979cb702025-08-20T03:10:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-00125-zIn silico prediction of GRP78-CRIPTO binding sites to improve therapeutic targeting in glioblastomaMahmoud E. Rashwan0Mahrous R. Ahmed1Abdo A. Elfiky2Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag UniversityPhysics Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag UniversityBiophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo UniversityAbstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most malignant tumors in central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and CRIPTO (Cripto-1), a protein that belongs to the EGF-CFC (epidermal growth factor cripto-1 FRL-1 cryptic) family, are overexpressed in GBM. A complex between GRP78 SBDβ (substrate binding domain beta) and CRIPTO CFC domain was reported in previous studies. This complex activates MAPK/AKT signaling, Src/PI3K/AKT, and Smad2/3 pathways which is a reason for tumor proliferation. In this work, we study how the two proteins form the complex figuring out binding sites between GRP78 and CRIPTO utilizing computational biophysics and bioinformatics tools, such as protein–protein docking, molecular dynamics simulation and MMGBSA calculations. Haddock web server results of 4 regions from the CFC domain (region1 (− 70.4), region2 (− 78.7), region3 (− 74.2), region4 (− 86.8)) with selected residues of the SBDβ are then simulated for 100 ns MDS then MMGBSA were calculated for the four complexes. The results reveal the stability of the complexes with binding free energy (complex1 (− 15.07 kcal/mol), complex2 (− 59.78 kcal/mol), complex3 (− 81.92 kcal/mol), complex4 (− 126.26 kcal/mol). All these findings ensure that GRP78 SBDβ associates with the CRIPTO CFC domain, and the binding sites suggested make stable interactions between the proteins.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00125-zGRP78CriptoGlioblastoma multiformeComputational biophysicsProtein–protein docking, molecular dynamics simulation
spellingShingle Mahmoud E. Rashwan
Mahrous R. Ahmed
Abdo A. Elfiky
In silico prediction of GRP78-CRIPTO binding sites to improve therapeutic targeting in glioblastoma
Scientific Reports
GRP78
Cripto
Glioblastoma multiforme
Computational biophysics
Protein–protein docking, molecular dynamics simulation
title In silico prediction of GRP78-CRIPTO binding sites to improve therapeutic targeting in glioblastoma
title_full In silico prediction of GRP78-CRIPTO binding sites to improve therapeutic targeting in glioblastoma
title_fullStr In silico prediction of GRP78-CRIPTO binding sites to improve therapeutic targeting in glioblastoma
title_full_unstemmed In silico prediction of GRP78-CRIPTO binding sites to improve therapeutic targeting in glioblastoma
title_short In silico prediction of GRP78-CRIPTO binding sites to improve therapeutic targeting in glioblastoma
title_sort in silico prediction of grp78 cripto binding sites to improve therapeutic targeting in glioblastoma
topic GRP78
Cripto
Glioblastoma multiforme
Computational biophysics
Protein–protein docking, molecular dynamics simulation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00125-z
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AT abdoaelfiky insilicopredictionofgrp78criptobindingsitestoimprovetherapeutictargetinginglioblastoma