Homology modelling and virtual screening to explore potent inhibitors for MAP2K3 protein

Abstract

MAP2K3 protein is mitogen-activated protein kinase belonging to the family of kinases involved in intracellular cell proliferation. The mammalian MAPK family that consists of ERK, p38 and JNK signalling pathway is showing a critical role in the regulation of cell proliferation. MAP2K3 and MAP2K6 are highly selective for p38 MAPKs which actively participate at check point controls and various stages of cell cycle at G0, G1/S and G2/M transitions by differential regulation of specific cyclin A or D1. In the present work, the 3D model of MAP2K3 protein is generated using comparative homology modelling techniques, minimized and validated. Active site of the protein is determined using various server tools and literature studies, for the prediction of important binding pockets to identify the putative active site. Virtual screening was carried out using chalcone library in Schrodinger suite to identify new lead molecules to knock down MAP2K3 target protein and inhibit cell proliferation. An Atomistic MD simulation of screened compound with MAP2K3 not only strengthens our findings but also identified the key interactions involved in protein-ligand complex in the dynamic environment.