Computational insight into the binding of bryostatin 1 with ferritin: implication of natural compounds in Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics

Neuronal damage in iron-sensitive brain regions occurs as a result of iron dyshomeostasis. Increased iron levels and iron-related pathogenic triggers are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Ferritin is a key player involved in iron homeostasis. Major pathological hallmarks of AD are amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and synaptic loss that lead to cognitive dysfunction and memory loss. Natural compounds persist in being the most excellent molecules in the area of drug discovery because of their different range of therapeutic applications. Bryostatins are naturally occurring macrocyclic lactones that can be implicated in AD therapeutics. Among them, Bryostatin 1 regulates protein kinase C, a crucial player in AD pathophysiology, thus highlighting the importance of bryostatin 1 in AD management. Thus, this study explores the binding mechanism of Bryotstain 1 with ferritin. In this work, the molecular docking calculations revealed that bryostatin 1 has an appreciable binding potential towards ferritin by forming stable hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). Molecular dynamics simulation studies deciphered the binding mechanism and conformational dynamics of ferrritin–bryostatin 1 system. The analyses of root mean square deviation, root mean square fluctuations, R _g, solvent accessible surface area, H-bonds and principal component analysis revealed the stability of the ferritin–bryostatin 1 docked complex throughout the trajectory of 100 ns. Moreover, the free energy landscape analysis advocated that the ferritin–bryostatin 1 complex stabilized to the global minimum. Altogether, the present work delineated the binding of bryostatin 1 with ferritin that can be implicated in the management of AD. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.