Probing the polyphenolic flavonoid, morin as a highly efficacious inhibitor against amyloid(A4V) mutant SOD1 in fatal amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Deposition of misfolded protein aggregates in key areas of human brain is the quintessential trait of various pertinent neurodegenerative disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Genetic point mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are found to be the most important contributing factor behind familial ALS. Especially, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) A4V is the most nocuous since it substantially decreases life expectancy of patients. Besides, the use of naturally occurring polyphenolic flavonoids is profoundly being advocated for palliating amyloidogenic behavior of proteopathic proteins. In the present analysis, through proficient computational tools, we have attempted to ascertain a pharmacodynamically promising flavonoid compound that effectively curbs the pathogenic behavior of A4V SOD1 mutant. Initial screening of flavonoids that exhibit potency against amyloids identified morin, myricetin and epigallocatechin gallate as promising leads. Further, with the help of feasible and yet adept protein-ligand interaction studies and stalwart molecular simulation analyses, we were able to observe that aforementioned flavonoids were able to considerably divert mutant A4V SOD1 from its distinct pathogenic behavior. Among which, morin showed the most curative potential against A4V SOD1. Therefore, morin holds a great therapeutic potential in contriving highly efficacious inhibitors in mitigating fatal and insuperable ALS.

Keywords: ALS; Amyloidosis; Discrete molecular dynamics; Flavonoids; SOD1.