title: Fully flexible docking models of the complex between alpha7 nicotinic receptor and a potent heptapeptide inhibitor of the beta-amyloid peptide binding.
abstract: The heptapeptide IQTTWSR (IQ), recently reported as inhibitor of the beta-amyloid (Abeta) binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChrs), was docked to the homology model of the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The most representative models were further subjected to molecular dynamics simulations. The data obtained here suggest that Abeta needs highly specific structural motifs to bind to the alpha7nAChR. These structural motifs are located principally in the upper and lower surroundings of loop C, including loop F and sheets beta1, beta2, beta6, beta9, and beta10 of the receptor. Overall, these results suggest that IQ can be mimicked by more bioavailable, stable compounds that would be helpful for the understanding of the Abeta binding site and its dynamics, and for the design of novel agents to be used as an effective alternative against Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455, USA. mef@ddt.biochem.umn.edu
authors.forename: L Michel
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Espinoza-Fonseca
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Trujillo-Ferrara
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry; D001665:Binding Sites; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D008024:Ligands; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic