Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase by curcumin: Investigation by simulated molecular docking and subsequent in vitro/in vivo evaluation.
Curcumin was investigated as an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) in an attempt to explain some of its interesting multiple pharmacological effects, such as its anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-malarial and anti-alzheimer's properties. The investigation included simulated docking experiments to fit curcumin within the binding pocket of GSK-3beta followed by experimental in vitro and in vivo validations. Curcumin was found to optimally fit within the binding pocket of GSK-3beta via several attractive interactions with key amino acids. Experimentally, curcumin was found to potently inhibit GSK-3beta (IC50 = 66.3 nM). Furthermore, our in vivo experiments illustrated that curcumin significantly increases liver glycogen in fasting Balb/c mice. Our findings strongly suggest that the diverse pharmacological activities of curcumin are at least partially mediated by inhibition of GSK-3beta.
Bustanji
Yasser
Y
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan. bustanji@ju.edu.jo
Taha
Mutasem O
MO
Almasri
Ihab M
IM
Al-Ghussein
Mohamed A S
MA
Mohammad
Mohammad K
MK
Alkhatib
Hatim S
HS
D000465:Algorithms; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016328:NF-kappa B; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605507:Gsk3b protein, mouse; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D003474:Curcumin