DOI 10.1007/s13233-022-0071-3 www.springer.com/13233 pISSN 1598-5032 eISSN 2092-7673
Macromolecular Research Article
Macromol. Res. 1 © The Polymer Society of Korea and Springer 2022
Chemometric Study, Homology Modeling of G Protein-Coupled Bile
Acids Receptor (GPBAR_HUMAN) of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus, Virtual
Screening Evaluation, Drug-Likeness and ADME Prediction for
Newly Designed Compounds
Abstract: Chemometric validation of the reported experimental activities of nico-
tinamide and carboxamide analogues against diabetes were determined via quanti-
tative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model using ATS1p, AATSC1m, nHother
and RDF80p descriptors. Meanwhile, GPBAR_HUMAN with a UniProtKB code (Q8TDU6)
for G protein-coupled bile acid was known as a potential drug target in human TGR5
of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) whose crystal structure wasn’t found in the Pro-
tein Data Bank. With the aid of in-Silico approach via homology modeling helps to
build a 3D protein (target) model with the availability of GPBAR_HUMAN sequence
data. The swiss-Model online workspace was used to model the GPBAR_HUMAN
receptor using the Cryo-EM structure of the INT-777-bound GPBAR-Gs complex
with PDB code (7CFN) as a potential template. The built receptor was evaluated, val-
idated, and used as a target protein for molecular docking simulation of some potent
nicotinamide and carboxamide series. The virtual screening studies via molecular
docking revealed the binding pockets, binding modes and poses of the GPBAR_HU-
MAN receptor with some prominent anti-diabetic agents. Analysis of these interac-
tions led to computational design via a structure-based approach of new potent anti-diabetic compounds with significant binding scores
and better interactions with the GPBAR_HUMAN receptor. Validation of the designed compounds via Drug-likeness and ADME prediction
confirmed that these compounds are orally bioavailable with a good lipophilicity index for lipid environments and show zero violation to
the drug assessment rules in order to be considered as drug candidates. Therefore, in-vitro and an in-vivo test to transform these findings
into potent therapeutics are strongly recommended.
Keywords: diabetes, binding score, drug-likeness, homology modelling, QSAR.
1. Introduction
Diabetes is known as one of the global epidemic illness which
occur as a result of the body not being able to produce sufficient
insulin. This hormone is created by some special cells known as
Beta cells located in the pancreas. However, poor cellular intake
compromises the efficiency of these cells which led to overbur-
dened of the cell and eventually wear out. Consequently, excess
glucose builds up in the blood due to poor insulin response or
low insulin level which then result in diabetes mellitus.
1
Conse-
quently, an increase of 5% untimely mortality has been reported
to take place from 2016 to 2000 while cases of 1.5 million peo-
ple in 2019 have been recorded death as a result of epidemic
disease.
2
A Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is referred to as ‘‘Non-
Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)’’ occurs when
insulin is being resisted by the body.
1,3
Hence, a metabolic ail-
ment with an extremely high level of glucose is mixed in the
blood and spills into the urine. Some of the notable symptoms
associated with the disease are dramatic weight loss, poorly
healing wound, fatigue and weakness, vomiting and nausea,
frequent urination, blurred vision and irritation of the eyes increase
appetite and excessive thirst and itching of the skin. With these
effects, numerous drugs to combat this disease have been
developed.
1
However, reposts have shown that patients battling
with diseases are finding it difficult to get adequate and full
control without any/fewer side effects using these drugs as a
potential treatment.
In recent times, a potential drug target ‘‘human TGR5’’ of Type 2
diabetes mellitus is a new class of G protein-coupled Bile Acids
which was newly discovered. Initially, Farnesoid X-receptor (FXR)
was the first recognized target initiated by Bile Acids (Bas). A
report has shown that a moderate level of TGR5 is mostly located
in the spleen, placenta and intestine while the highest level is
Shola Elijah Adeniji*
,1
Abduljelil Ajala
1
David Ebuka Arthur
2
Mustapha Abdullahi
3
Omole Isaac Areguamen
4
Chemistry Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Pure and applied Chemistry Department, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
Chemistry Department, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria
Applied Chemistry Department, Federal University Dutsinma Katsina, Nigeria
Received December 30, 2021/Revised March 19, 2022/Accepted April 28, 2022
*Corresponding Author: Shola Elijah Adeniji (shola4343@gmail.com)