DESIGN FOR THE COLON CANCER INHIBITORS TARGETING THYMIDYLATE KINASE BY USING INSILICO STUDIES

Objective: Thymidylate Kinase (TMK) plays a crucial role in bacterial DNA synthesis by catalyzing the phosphorylation of Deoxythymidine Monophosphate (dTMP) to form Deoxythymidine Diphosphate (dTDP). Consequently, this enzyme emerges as a promising target for developing novel anti-cancer drugs. However, no anti-cancer drugs have been reported for this target until now. Methods: Ligands obtained from Benzylidene derivatives were examined for their potency by using molecular docking by glide module, Qikprop screening of Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) study, and prime Molecular Mechanics in Generalized Bond Surface Area study (MM-GBSA) by binding free energy. Hereafter, a Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulation was performed at 100 ns to assess the stability of the potential ligand as a Human TMK (HaTMK) inhibitor. Results: These ten molecules showed good binding affinity and hydrogen and hydrophobic bond interactions with Arg150, Phe42, and Phe72 in the HaTMK enzyme (PDB id: 1E2D). Among them, trichloro-6-(((4-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol molecule had a high XP-docking score of (−7.87 kcal/mol), based on extra-precision data. Prime MM-GBSA studies also showed promising binding affinities i.e., ΔBind (-34.59 kcal/mol), ΔLipo (-13.92 kcal/mol), and ΔVdW (-34.42 kcal/mol). Arg76 and Phe72 residues maintained constant interactions with the ligand during Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation. This ligand showed a potential binding affinity for the TMK target. Conclusion: The trichloro-6-(((4-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol ligand has active sites, namely benzene ring, benzylidene, and oxygen group, which actively participate in interaction with the protein of HaTMK, thus indicating good potential activity as the inhibitor of HaTMK to treat colon cancer.