A facile and single pot strategy for the synthesis of novel naphthyridine derivatives under microwave irradiation conditions using ZnCl2 as catalyst, evaluation of AChE inhibitory activity, and molecular modeling studies

A series of novel naphthyridine derivatives 3 and 4 was prepared from substituted pyridine 2 and ketones using ZnCl2 as catalyst under microwave irradiation conditions. All the compounds were evaluated for AChE inhibitory activity and promising compounds 3d, 3e, 4b, and 4g was identified. Representative compounds 3d and 3e were found to show insignificant THLE-2 liver cell viability/toxicity. The binding mode between X-ray crystal structure of human AChE and compounds was studied using molecular docking method and fitness scores were found to be in good correlation with the activity data.

Molecular cloning and homology modelling of a subtilisin-like serine protease from the marine fungus, Engyodontium album BTMFS10

An alkaline protease gene (Eap) was isolated for the first time from a marine fungus, Engyodontium album. Eap consists of an open reading frame of 1,161 bp encoding a prepropeptide consisting of 387 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 40.923 kDa. Homology comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of Eap with other known proteins indicated that Eap encode an extracellular protease that belongs to the subtilase family of serine protease (Family S8). A comparative homology model of the Engyodontium album protease (EAP) was developed using the crystal structure of proteinase K. The model revealed that EAP has broad substrate specificity similar to Proteinase K with preference for bulky hydrophobic residues at P1 and P4. Also, EAP is suggested to have two disulfide bonds and more than two Ca2? binding sites in its 3D structure; both of which are assumed to contribute to the thermostable nature of the protein.

Molecular cloning and homology modelling of a subtilisin-like serine protease from the marine fungus, Engyodontium album BTMFS10

An alkaline protease gene (Eap) was isolated for the first time from a marine fungus, Engyodontium album. Eap consists of an open reading frame of 1,161 bp encoding a prepropeptide consisting of 387 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 40.923 kDa. Homology comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of Eap with other known proteins indicated that Eap encode an extracellular protease that belongs to the subtilase family of serine protease (Family S8). A comparative homology model of the Engyodontium album protease (EAP) was developed using the crystal structure of proteinase K. The model revealed that EAP has broad substrate specificity similar to Proteinase K with preference for bulky hydrophobic residues at P1 and P4. Also, EAP is suggested to have two disulfide bonds and more than two Ca2? binding sites in its 3D structure; both of which are assumed to contribute to the thermostable nature of the protein.