Author(s):
Siopa, Filipa ; Frade, Raquel F. M. ; Diniz, Ana ; Andrade, Joana M. ; Nicolai, Marisa ; Meirinhos, Ana ; Lucas, Susana D. ; Marcelo, Filipa ; Afonso, Carlos A. M. ; Rijo, Patrícia
Date: 2018
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/104680
Origin: Repositório Institucional da UNL
Project/scholarship:
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/SFRH/SFRH%2FBPD%2F73822%2F2010/PT;
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/SFRH/SFRH%2FBPD%2F88666%2F2012/PT;
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876/UID%2FDTP%2F04138%2F2013/PT;
Subject(s): Chemistry(all); Chemical Engineering(all); SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Description
COMPETE Programme: SAICTPAC/0019/2015 IF/00780/2015 Project no. 022161
Monocationic and dicationic cholinium ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized and evaluated as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors with in vitro and in silico models, and their cytotoxicity was assessed using human cell lines from skin (CRL-1502) and colon cancer (CaCo-2). The ILs with a longer alkyl chain were stronger AChE inhibitors, the dicationic ILs (DILs) being more active than the monocationic ILs. The best result was obtained for [N1,1,12,2(OH)]2Br2 at a concentration of 0.18 μM by reducing half enzyme activity without affecting the viability of tested cell lines. A saturation-transfer difference NMR (STD-NMR) binding study was carried out, demonstrating that [N1,1,12,2(OH)]2Br2 binds to AChE. STD-NMR competition binding experiments, using galanthamine as a reference ligand, clearly highlight that the IL displaces galanthamine in the AChE binding site pinpointing [N1,1,12,2(OH)]2Br2 inside the deep gorge of AChE. In order to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) view of the molecular recognition process, in silico molecular docking studies on the active site of AChE were carried out. The proposed 3D model of the AChE/DIL complex is in agreement with the STD-derived epitope mapping, which explains the competition with galanthamine and unveils key interactions in both peripheral and catalytic sites of AChE. These interactions seem essential to govern the recognition of DILs by the AChE enzyme. Our study provides a structural and functional platform that can be used for the rational design of choline-based ILs as potent AChE inhibitors.
