Unveiling Anticancer Potential in the Interactions of Melittin Peptides with CD147 Receptor: A Structural and Functional Analysis of Ligand-Target Interactions

In this study, the anticancer potential of melittin (MLT) peptides interacting with the CD147 receptor was investigated through in silico structural and functional analyses. The interaction between the transmembrane glycoprotein CD147 and cyclophilin A (CypA) activates signaling pathways crucial in cancer pathology. This study focused on the potential of melittin peptides to inhibit this interaction. Structures of the CD147 receptor and melittin peptides were obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDB), including the three-dimensional structure of the Ig1 domain of CD147 (PDB ID: 5XF0) and melittin structures (PDB IDs: 2MLT, 6O4M, 3QRX, 8AHT, and 8AHS). Validated ligand structures were acquired through X-ray crystallography. Receptor-ligand interactions and anticancer activity were evaluated using the ClusPro2.0 molecular docking server, AnciCP2.0 and ENNAACT anticancer analysis servers, ProtScale hydrophobicity analysis, PDBSum amino acid interaction analysis, and PRODIGY thermodynamic stability analysis tools. Molecular docking simulations analyzed receptor-ligand interactions, emphasizing the role of hydrophobic interactions. Structural analysis revealed variability in peptide quality, with 2MLT demonstrating favorable attributes while 3QRX exhibited weak integrity. Anticancer analysis servers indicated that 2MLT and 3QRX, exhibiting similar binding patterns with 5XF0 and CD147/CypA, may demonstrate potential anticancer activity. Specifically, non-bonded interactions involving Gly181 and Arg201 in the 5XF0-2MLT complex and non-bonded interactions involving Pro180, Gly181, and Arg201 in the 5XF0-3QRX complex were highlighted, resembling the interaction pattern of CD147/CypA. Therefore, the importance of understanding molecular interactions and guiding drug discovery through structural examinations and computational analyses was emphasized, providing insights into the anticancer effects and drug design implications of these complexes; moreover, further research into their structural determinants and therapeutic potentials is critically essential for biomedical applications.