Shiv Nadar University

About: Shiv Nadar University is a education organization based out in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Graphene. The organization has 1015 authors who have published 1924 publications receiving 18420 citations.

In silico identification and validation of natural antiviral compounds as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 methyltransferase.

Abstract: The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is potentially fatal and caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Due to the unavailability of any proven treatment or vaccination, the outbreak of COVID-19 is wreaking havoc worldwide. Hence, there is an urgent need for therapeutics targeting SARS-CoV-2. Since, botanicals are an important resource for several efficacious antiviral agents, natural compounds gaining significant attention for COVID-19 treatment. In the present study, methyltranferase (MTase) of the SARS-CoV-2 is targeted using computational approach. The compounds were identified using molecular docking, virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulation studies. The binding mechanism of each compound was analyzed considering the stability and energetic parameter using in silico methods. We have found four natural antiviral compounds Amentoflavone, Baicalin, Daidzin and Luteoloside as strong inhibitors of methyltranferase of SARS-CoV-2. ADMET prediction and target analysis of the selected compounds showed favorable results. MD simulation was performed for four top-scored molecules to analyze the stability, binding mechanism and energy requirements. MD simulation studies indicated energetically favorable complex formation between MTase and the selected antiviral compounds. Furthermore, the structural effects on these substitutions were analyzed using the principles of each trajectories, which validated the interaction studies. Our analysis suggests that there is a very high probability that these compounds may have a good potential to inhibit Methyltransferase (MTase) of SARS-CoV-2 and to be used in the treatment of COVID-19. Further studies on these natural compounds may offer a quick therapeutic choice to treat COVID-19. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Biocompatible High Entropy Alloys with Excellent Degradation Resistance in a Simulated Physiological Environment

Abstract: Bioimplants are susceptible to simultaneous wear and corrosion degradation in the aggressive physiological environment. High entropy alloys with equimolar proportion of constituent elements represe...

A Paradigm Shift in the Catalytic Cycle of P450: The Preparatory Choreography during O2 Binding and Origins of the Necessity for Two Protonation Pathways

Abstract: The study uses MD simulations and QM/MM calculations to address the preparatory half of the catalytic cycle for two cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, CYP450CAM and CYP450BM3. We focus on two unexpl...