Combinatorial Library Designing and Virtual Screening of Cryptolepine Derivatives against Topoisomerase II by Molecular Docking

Abstract Computational approaches have emerging role for designing potential inhibitors against topoisomerase 2 for treatment of cancer. TOP2A plays a key role in DNA replication before cell division and thus facilitates the growth of cells. This function of TOP2A can be suppressed by targeting with potential inhibitors in cancer cells to stop the uncontrolled cell division. Among potential inhibitors cryptolepine is more selective and has the ability to intercalate into DNA, effectively block TOP2A and cease cell division in cancer cells. However, cryptolepine is non-specific and have low affinity, therefore, a combinatorial library was designed and virtually screened for identification of its derivatives with greater TOP2A binding affinities. A combinatorial library of 31114 derivatives of cryptolepine was formed and the library was virtually screened by molecular docking to predict the molecular interactions between cryptolepine derivatives and TOP2A taking cryptolepine as standard. The overall screening and docking approach explored all the binding poses of cryptolepine for TOP2A to calculate binding energy. The compounds are given database number 8618, 907, 147, 16755, and 8186 scored lowest binding energies of −9.88kcal/mol, −9.76kcal/mol, −9.75kcal/mol, −9.73kcal/mol, and −9.72kcal/mol respectively and highest binding affinity while cryptolepine binding energy is −6.09kcal/mol. The good binding interactions of the derivatives showed that they can be used as potent TOP2A inhibitors and act as more effective anticancer agents than cryptolepine itself. The interactions of derivatives with different amino acid residues were also observed. A comprehensive understanding of the interactions of proposed derivatives with TOP2A helped for searching more novel and potent drug-like molecules for anticancer therapy. This Computational study suggests useful references to understand inhibition mechanisms that will help in the modification of TOP2A inhibitors.