Unveiling (-)-Englerin A as a Modulator of L-Type Calcium Channels

Journal article

The voltage-dependent L-type Ca(2+) channel was identified as a macromolecular target for (-)-englerin A. This finding was reached by using an unprecedented ligand-based prediction platform and the natural product piperlongumine as a pharmacophore probe. (-)-Englerin A features high substructure dissimilarity to known ligands for voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels, selective binding affinity for the dihydropyridine site, and potent modulation of calcium signaling in muscle cells and vascular tissue. The observed activity was rationalized at the atomic level by molecular dynamics simulations. Experimental confirmation of this hitherto unknown macromolecular target expands the bioactivity space for this natural product and corroborates the effectiveness of chemocentric computational methods for prioritizing target-based screens and identifying binding counterparts of complex natural products.

Authors: Rodrigues, T; Sieglitz, F; Somovilla, V; Cal, P; Galione, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley-VCH
• Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition
• Volume: 55
• Issue: 37
• Pages: 11077-11081
• Publication date: 2016-07-08
• Acceptance date: 2016-06-08
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201604336
• EISSN: 1521-3773
• ISSN: 1433-7851
• Pmid: 27391219
• Language: English
• Keywords: chemical biology; target prediction; natural products; voltage-gated calcium channels; molecular recognition