Density functional theory (DFT)
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A series of triterpenoids of the lupane, taraxastane, friedelane and baccharane type were oxidized using selenium dioxide (SeO2) and benzeneseleninic anhydride (BSA) under various conditions. Depending on the reaction conditions, different reaction pathways were observed, including dehydrogenation, allylic oxidation, and 1,2-diketone formation. In this way, derivatives functionalized in the triterpene core (especially in rings A, D, and E), difficult to obtain by other methods, can be easily prepared. In some cases, rarely observed α-phenylseleno-ketones were isolated. An unexpected reaction involving the cleavage of the carbon-carbon double bond was observed in the presence of stoichiometric amounts of osmium tetroxide. Further transformations of selected intermediates facilitated the synthesis of new, functionally enriched derivatives. The key reaction pathways were investigated using density functional theory (DFT), focusing on bond length variations and transition states, revealing energetically favored pathways and critical transition structures, including covalent and noncovalent interactions. Solvent and isomerization equilibrium effects were proposed to explain the experimentally observed discrepancies. Cytotoxic activity of selected derivatives was investigated. Derivatives 4 and 38 showed strongest cytotoxicity in cancer cells and fibroblasts (IC50 2.6-26.4 μM); some compounds were selective for G-361 or HeLa cells. These results suggest that they may find application in pharmaceuticals.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- molekulární struktura MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- oxidace-redukce MeSH
- pentacyklické triterpeny MeSH
- proliferace buněk účinky léků MeSH
- protinádorové látky * farmakologie chemie chemická syntéza MeSH
- screeningové testy protinádorových léčiv MeSH
- selen * chemie MeSH
- teorie funkcionálu hustoty MeSH
- triterpeny * chemie farmakologie chemická syntéza MeSH
- vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
- vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
In polarizable materials, electronic charge carriers interact with the surrounding ions, leading to quasiparticle behavior. The resulting polarons play a central role in many materials properties including electrical transport, interaction with light, surface reactivity, and magnetoresistance, and polarons are typically investigated indirectly through these macroscopic characteristics. Here, noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) is used to directly image polarons in Fe2O3 at the single quasiparticle limit. A combination of Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations shows that the mobility of electron polarons can be markedly increased by Ti doping. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that a transition from polaronic to metastable free-carrier states can play a key role in migration of electron polarons. In contrast, hole polarons are significantly less mobile, and their hopping is hampered further by trapping centers.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Staphylococcus aureus infections present a significant threat to the global healthcare system. The increasing resistance to existing antibiotics and their limited efficacy underscores the urgent need to identify new antibacterial agents with low toxicity to effectively combat various S. aureus infections. Hence, in this study, we have screened T-muurolol for possible interactions with several S. aureus-specific bacterial proteins to establish its potential as an alternative antibacterial agent. Based on its binding affinity and interactions with amino acids, T-muurolol was identified as a potential inhibitor of S. aureus lipase, dihydrofolate reductase, penicillin-binding protein 2a, D-Ala:D-Ala ligase, and ribosome protection proteins tetracycline resistance determinant (RPP TetM), which indicates its potentiality against S. aureus and its multi-drug-resistant strains. Also, T-muurolol exhibited good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity by showing strong binding interactions with flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD(P)H) oxidase, and cyclooxygenase-2. Consequently, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and recalculating binding free energies elucidated its binding interaction stability with targeted proteins. Furthermore, quantum chemical structure analysis based on density functional theory (DFT) depicted a higher energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (EHOMO-LUMO) with a lower chemical potential index, and moderate electrophilicity suggests its chemical hardness and stability and less polarizability and reactivity. Additionally, pharmacological parameters based on ADMET, Lipinski's rules, and bioactivity score validated it as a promising drug candidate with high activity toward ion channel modulators, nuclear receptor ligands, and enzyme inhibitors. In conclusion, the current findings suggest T-muurolol as a promising alternative antibacterial agent that might be a potential phytochemical-based drug against S. aureus. This study also suggests further clinical research before human application.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky * farmakologie chemie MeSH
- antioxidancia farmakologie chemie MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny antagonisté a inhibitory metabolismus chemie MeSH
- fytonutrienty * farmakologie chemie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- objevování léků * metody MeSH
- počítačová simulace MeSH
- simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
- simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
- stafylokokové infekce farmakoterapie mikrobiologie MeSH
- Staphylococcus aureus * účinky léků MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Accurate estimates of intermolecular interaction energy, ΔE, are crucial for modeling the properties of organic electronic materials and many other systems. For a diverse set of 50 dimers comprising up to 50 atoms (Set50-50, with 7 of its members being models of single-stacking junctions), benchmark ΔE data were compiled. They were obtained by the focal-point strategy, which involves computations using the canonical variant of the coupled cluster theory with singles, doubles, and perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] performed while applying a large basis set, along with extrapolations of the respective energy components to the complete basis set (CBS) limit. The resulting ΔE data were used to gauge the performance for the Set50-50 of several density-functional theory (DFT)-based approaches, and of one of the localized variants of the CCSD(T) method. This evaluation revealed that (1) the proposed "silver standard" approach, which employs the localized CCSD(T) method and CBS extrapolations, can be expected to provide accuracy better than two kJ/mol for absolute values of ΔE, and (2) from among the DFT techniques, computationally by far the cheapest approach (termed "ωB97X-3c/vDZP" by its authors) performed remarkably well. These findings are directly applicable in cost-effective yet reliable searches of the potential energy surfaces of noncovalent complexes.
- MeSH
- benchmarking * MeSH
- dimerizace MeSH
- elektronika * MeSH
- fyzikální jevy MeSH
- polymery MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
We designed 0D, 1D, and 2D supramolecular assemblies made of diaryliodonium salts (functioning as double σ-hole donors) and carboxylates (as σ-hole acceptors). The association was based on two charge-supported halogen bonds (XB), which occurred between IIII sites of the iodonium cations and the carboxylate anions. The sequential introduction of the carboxylic groups in the aryl ring of the benzoic acid added a dimension to the 0D supramolecular organization of the benzoate, which furnished 1D-chained and 2D-layered structures when terephthalate and trimesate anions, correspondingly, were applied as XB acceptors. The structure-directing XB were studied using DFT calculations under periodic boundary conditions and were followed by the one-electron-potential analysis and the Bader atoms-in-molecules topological analysis of electron density. These theoretical methods confirmed the existence of the XB and verified the philicities of the interaction partners in the designed solid-state structures.
CONTEXT: Chlordecone (CLD) and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) are chlorinated pesticides that coexist as persistent organic pollutants in the groundwater of several countries in the Caribbean, being an environmental issue. This work evaluates theoretically the competitive formation of host-guest complexes pesticides@cyclodextrines (CDs) as an alternative for water purification and selective separation of pesticides. METHODS: Quantum mechanical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to achieve information on geometries, energies, structure, and dynamics of guest-host complexes in the gas phase, implicit solvent medium, and in aqueous solutions. RESULTS: DFT studies showed that interactions of both pesticides with CDs are mediated by steric factors and guided by maximization of the hydrophobic interactions either with the other pesticide or with the CD cavity's inner atoms. MD results corroborate the formation of stable complexes of both pesticides with the studied CDs. α-CD exhibited a preference for the smaller β-HCH molecule over the CLD that could not perturb the formed complex. CONCLUSIONS: The simulation of competitive formation with γ-CD illustrated that this molecule could accommodate both pesticides inside its cavity. These results suggest that CDs with smaller cavity sizes such as α-CD could be used for selective separation of β-HCH from CLD in water bodies, while γ-CD could be used for methods that aim to remove both pesticides at the same time.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: In the last couple of years, viral infections have been leading the globe, considered one of the most widespread and extremely damaging health problems and one of the leading causes of mortality in the modern period. Although several viral infections are discovered, such as SARS CoV-2, Langya Henipavirus, there have only been a limited number of discoveries of possible antiviral drug, and vaccine that have even received authorization for the protection of human health. Recently, another virial infection is infecting worldwide (Monkeypox, and Smallpox), which concerns pharmacists, biochemists, doctors, and healthcare providers about another epidemic. Also, currently no specific treatment is available against Monkeypox. This research gap encouraged us to develop a new molecule to fight against monkeypox and smallpox disease. So, firstly, fifty different curcumin derivatives were collected from natural sources, which are available in the PubChem database, to determine antiviral capabilities against Monkeypox and Smallpox. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Preliminarily, the molecular docking experiment of fifty different curcumin derivatives were conducted, and the majority of the substances produced the expected binding affinities. Then, twelve curcumin derivatives were picked up for further analysis based on the maximum docking score. After that, the density functional theory (DFT) was used to determine chemical characterizations such as the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), softness, and hardness, etc. RESULTS: The mentioned derivatives demonstrated docking scores greater than 6.80 kcal/mol, and the most significant binding affinity was at -8.90 kcal/mol, even though 12 molecules had higher binding scores (-8.00 kcal/mol to -8.9 kcal/mol), and better than the standard medications. The molecular dynamic simulation is described by root mean square deviation (RMSD) and root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF), demonstrating that all the compounds might be stable in the physiological system. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, each derivative of curcumin has outstanding absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) characteristics. Hence, we recommended the aforementioned curcumin derivatives as potential antiviral agents for the treatment of Monkeypox and Smallpox virus, and more in vivo investigations are warranted to substantiate our findings.
- MeSH
- antivirové látky farmakologie MeSH
- COVID-19 * MeSH
- kurkumin * farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- objevování léků MeSH
- opičí neštovice * MeSH
- pravé neštovice * farmakoterapie MeSH
- racionální návrh léčiv MeSH
- simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
- simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
- virus varioly * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) using methanol (MeOH) as a solvent of the BGEs and quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) have been applied to determine the thermodynamic acidity (ionization) constants (pKa ) of mono- and diaza[5]helicenes, mono- and diaza[6]helicenes, and their dibenzo derivatives in MeOH and water. First, the mixed acidity constants, pKa,MeOHmix${\rm{p}}K_{{\rm{a,MeOH}}}^{{\rm{mix}}}$ , of ionogenic pyridinium groups of azahelicenes and their derivatives in MeOH were obtained by nonlinear regression analysis of pH dependence of their effective electrophoretic mobilities. The effective mobilities were measured by NACE in a large series of methanolic BGEs within a wide conventional pH range (pHMeOH 1.6-12.0) and at ambient temperature (21-26°C) in a home-made CE device. Prior to mixed acidity constant calculation, the effective mobilities were corrected to reference temperature (25°C) and constant ionic strength (25 mM). Then, the mixed acidity constants were recalculated to the thermodynamic acidity constants pKa,MeOH by the Debye-Hückel theory of nonideality of electrolyte solutions. Finally, from the methanolic thermodynamic pKa,MeOH values, the aqueous thermodynamic pKa,H2O${\rm{p}}{K_{{\rm{a,}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{O}}}}$ constants were estimated using the empirical relations between methanolic and aqueous acidity constants derived for structurally related pyridine derivatives. Depending on the number and position of the nitrogen atoms in their molecules, the analyzed azahelicenes were found to be weak to moderate bases with methanolic pKa,MeOH in the range 2.01-8.75 and with aqueous pKa,H2O${\rm{p}}{K_{{\rm{a,}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}{\rm{O}}}}$ in the range 1.67-8.28. The thermodynamic pKa,MeOH obtained by the DFT calculations were in a good agreement with those determined experimentally by NACE.
This work extends the multi-scale computational scheme for the quantum mechanics (QM) calculations of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) chemical shifts (CSs) in proteins that lack a well-defined 3D structure. The scheme couples the sampling of an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) by classical molecular dynamics (MD) with protein fragmentation using the adjustable density matrix assembler (ADMA) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In contrast to our early investigation on IDPs (Pavlíková Přecechtělová et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput., 2019, 15, 5642-5658) and the state-of-the art NMR calculations for structured proteins, a partial re-optimization was implemented on the raw MD geometries in vibrational normal mode coordinates to enhance the accuracy of the MD/ADMA/DFT computational scheme. In addition, machine-learning based cluster analysis was performed on the scheme to explore its potential in producing protein structure ensembles (CLUSTER ensembles) that yield accurate CSs at a reduced computational cost. The performance of the cluster-based calculations is validated against results obtained with conventional structural ensembles consisting of MD snapshots extracted from the MD trajectory at regular time intervals (REGULAR ensembles). CS calculations performed with the refined MD/ADMA/DFT framework employed the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set that outperformed IGLO-III calculations with the same density functional approximation (B3LYP) and both explicit and implicit solvation. The partial geometry optimization did not universally improve the agreement of computed CSs with the experiment but substantially decreased errors associated with the ensemble averaging. A CLUSTER ensemble with 50 structures yielded ensemble averages close to those obtained with a REGULAR ensemble consisting of 500 MD frames. The cluster based calculations thus required only a fraction of the computational time.
Naphthoquinones isolated from Quambalaria cyanescens (quambalarines) are natural pigments possessing significant cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties. Determining the structure of naphthoquinone compounds is important for the understanding of their biological activities and the informed synthesis of related analogues. Identifying quambalarines is challenging, because they contain a hydroxylated naphthoquinone scaffold and have limited solubility. Here, we report a detailed structural study of quambalarine derivatives, which form strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IMHBs) that enable the formation of several tautomers; these tautomers may complicate structural investigation due to their fast interconversion. To investigate tautomeric equilibria and identify new quambalarines, we complemented the experimental NMR spectroscopy data with density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
- MeSH
- antiinfekční látky chemie izolace a purifikace farmakologie MeSH
- Basidiomycota chemie MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční tomografie MeSH
- molekulární struktura MeSH
- naftochinony chemie izolace a purifikace farmakologie MeSH
- protinádorové látky chemie izolace a purifikace farmakologie MeSH
- vodíková vazba MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH