In silico investigations and molecular insights for designing tRNA-encoded peptides as potential therapeutics for targeting over-expressed receptors in breast cancer

Abstract

tRNA- Encoded Peptides (tREPs) have recently been discovered as new functional peptides and hold promise as therapeutics for anti-parasitic applications. In this study, in silico investigations were conducted to design tRNA-encoded peptides with the potential to target over-expressed receptors in breast cancer cells. tRNA genes were translated into corresponding peptides (tREPs) using computational tools. The tREPs, which were predicted as anticancer peptides, were then screened for various ADMET properties. Molecular docking studies were conducted for three cancer target receptors, the Estrogen Receptor (ER), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) and the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Based on the docking results, specific tREPs were screened and molecular dynamics simulations were performed, and the binding energies were further explored using MMPBSA calculations. The peptide Pep1 (DWIAWRHHNDIVSWLTCGPRFKSWS) and Pep2 (GFIAWWSRHLELAQTRFKSWWS) exhibited a good binding affinity against the Estrogen Receptor (ER) and the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha (PPAR) cancer target. The Pep1-ER and Pep1-PPAR complex maintained an average of two hydrogen bonds throughout the simulation and demonstrated a higher negative binding free energy of −72.27 kcal/mol and −65.16 kcal/mol respectively, as calculated by MMPBSA. Therefore, the tREPs designed as anticancer peptides in this study provide novel approaches for potential anticancer therapeutic modalities.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Keywords:

• Anticancer peptides (ACPs)
• tRNA-Encoded peptides (tREPs)
• breast cancer
• molecular dynamics
• Binding free energy

Disclosure statement

There is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was not supported by any funds.