In Silico Modeling of the Interaction of NBD Steroids with Insect Steroid-Binding Protein SPC-2

Abstract

Two fluorescent sterol-like molecules have been synthesized, namely, a derivative of 7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD) with 17-(methylamino)-androst-5-en-3beta-ol (DAM-NBD) and NBD-piperazine conjugate with cholesteryl chloroformate (NBD-pip-CCF). In silico docking and plasma membrane simulations have shown ability of the compounds to penetrate the lipid bilayer, as well as to bind affinely of the yellow fever mosquito SCP-2 protein structure (code PDB: 3BDQ; binding energy about −11.9 kcal/mol). Also docking with AlphaFOLD-predicted insect Neverland protein structure demonstrated DAM-NBD binding with a similar affinity. The theoretical results indicate perspectives of the fluorescent steroid usage to study insect protein-sterol interactions.

Keywords

• 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Cl)
• molecular docking
• fluorescence
• cholesterol