Molecular docking and MD simulation approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecule against triple negative breast cancer [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]

Background Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are defined as tumors that lack the expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It exhibits unique clinical and pathological features, demonstrates high aggressiveness, and...

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Main Authors: Arabinda Ghosh, M Manikandan, Abhinand PA, Dicky John Davis G, Pranaya Sankaranarayanan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2025-03-01
Series:F1000Research
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Online Access:https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1271/v2
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author Arabinda Ghosh
M Manikandan
Abhinand PA
Dicky John Davis G
Pranaya Sankaranarayanan
author_facet Arabinda Ghosh
M Manikandan
Abhinand PA
Dicky John Davis G
Pranaya Sankaranarayanan
author_sort Arabinda Ghosh
collection DOAJ
description Background Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are defined as tumors that lack the expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It exhibits unique clinical and pathological features, demonstrates high aggressiveness, and has a relatively poor prognosis and clinical outcome. Objective To identify a novel drug target protein against TNBC and potential phytochemical lead molecules against the identified target. Methods In this study, we retrieved TNBC samples from NGS and microarray datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We employed a combination of differential gene expression studies, protein-protein interaction analysis, and network topology investigation to identify the target protein. Additionally, the molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies followed by Molecular Mechanics with Generalised Born Surface Area salvation was used to identify potential lead molecule. Result The upregulated genes with LogFC > 1.25 and P-value < 0.05 from the TNBC gene expression dataset were identified. Androgen receptor (AR) was found to be an appropriate hub target in the protein-protein interaction network. Phytochemicals that inhibit breast cancer target were retrieved from the PubChem database and virtual screening was performed using PyRx against the AR protein. Thereby, the AR was found to be the target protein and 2-hydroxynaringenin was discovered to be a possible phytochemical lead molecule for combating TNBC. Moreover, the AR and the 2-hydroxynaringenin complex showed structural stability and higher binding affinity through molecular dynamics and MM-GBSA studies. Conclusion AR was identified as a hub protein that is highly expressed in breast cancer and 2-hydroxynaringenin efficacy of counter TNBC requires further investigation both in vitro and in vivo.
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spelling doaj-art-ea9d99454a884113a5c6f33d6035bf462025-08-25T01:00:00ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022025-03-011310.12688/f1000research.155657.2178643Molecular docking and MD simulation approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecule against triple negative breast cancer [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]Arabinda Ghosh0M Manikandan1Abhinand PA2Dicky John Davis G3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2325-7952Pranaya Sankaranarayanan4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8076-6994Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, IndiaDepartment of Medical Genetics, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 017, IndiaDepartment of Bioinformatics, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600116, IndiaDepartment of Bioinformatics, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600116, IndiaDepartment of Bioinformatics, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600116, IndiaBackground Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are defined as tumors that lack the expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It exhibits unique clinical and pathological features, demonstrates high aggressiveness, and has a relatively poor prognosis and clinical outcome. Objective To identify a novel drug target protein against TNBC and potential phytochemical lead molecules against the identified target. Methods In this study, we retrieved TNBC samples from NGS and microarray datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We employed a combination of differential gene expression studies, protein-protein interaction analysis, and network topology investigation to identify the target protein. Additionally, the molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies followed by Molecular Mechanics with Generalised Born Surface Area salvation was used to identify potential lead molecule. Result The upregulated genes with LogFC > 1.25 and P-value < 0.05 from the TNBC gene expression dataset were identified. Androgen receptor (AR) was found to be an appropriate hub target in the protein-protein interaction network. Phytochemicals that inhibit breast cancer target were retrieved from the PubChem database and virtual screening was performed using PyRx against the AR protein. Thereby, the AR was found to be the target protein and 2-hydroxynaringenin was discovered to be a possible phytochemical lead molecule for combating TNBC. Moreover, the AR and the 2-hydroxynaringenin complex showed structural stability and higher binding affinity through molecular dynamics and MM-GBSA studies. Conclusion AR was identified as a hub protein that is highly expressed in breast cancer and 2-hydroxynaringenin efficacy of counter TNBC requires further investigation both in vitro and in vivo.https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1271/v2Triple Negative Breast Cancer AR target Phytochemicals 2–hydroxy naringenin Virtual screening Molecular Dockingeng
spellingShingle Arabinda Ghosh
M Manikandan
Abhinand PA
Dicky John Davis G
Pranaya Sankaranarayanan
Molecular docking and MD simulation approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecule against triple negative breast cancer [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
F1000Research
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
AR target
Phytochemicals
2–hydroxy naringenin
Virtual screening
Molecular Docking
eng
title Molecular docking and MD simulation approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecule against triple negative breast cancer [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_full Molecular docking and MD simulation approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecule against triple negative breast cancer [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_fullStr Molecular docking and MD simulation approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecule against triple negative breast cancer [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_full_unstemmed Molecular docking and MD simulation approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecule against triple negative breast cancer [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_short Molecular docking and MD simulation approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecule against triple negative breast cancer [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_sort molecular docking and md simulation approach to identify potential phytochemical lead molecule against triple negative breast cancer version 2 peer review 1 approved 2 approved with reservations
topic Triple Negative Breast Cancer
AR target
Phytochemicals
2–hydroxy naringenin
Virtual screening
Molecular Docking
eng
url https://f1000research.com/articles/13-1271/v2
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