Research Article

Investigation of a Stable Interaction of Levothyroxine with AFP Through Molecular Modelling

Volume: 46 Number: 2 June 30, 2025
EN TR

Investigation of a Stable Interaction of Levothyroxine with AFP Through Molecular Modelling

Abstract

Thyroid dysfunctions are common all over the world, and accordingly, the use of thyroid drugs has increased. Incorrect measurement of tumor markers may lead to missed cases of cancer. The most used cancer markers are CA19-9, CA125, CEA, PSA, and AFP molecules. In this study, the molecular interactions of these markers with the thyroid medications of levothyroxine, methimazole, and propylthiouracil were investigated via molecular docking and dynamics simulations. In the molecular docking studies, levothyroxine was shown to interact with AFP, CEA, and CA15-3 in low concentrations. As a result of the MD simulations, the AFP/LEVO model exhibited the highest level of interaction. For instance, while the RMSD values of AFP/Levothyroxine complex were consistently around 0.7, and for the others they were observed above 1. This tight binding was reflected in interaction energies, with the total interaction in the AFP/Levothyroxine model computed as -192.04 kJ/mol. In contrast, for CA15-3/Levothyroxine and CEA/Levothyroxine complexes, these values were calculated as -135.26 and -88.56 kJ/mol, respectively. The SASA analysis also suggested the superiority of AFP/Levothyroxine complex due to ligand masking and a decrease in standard deviation, as the SASA mean difference area was found to be -0.46.

Keywords

References

  1. [1] Taylor P.N., Global epidemiology of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, Nat. Rev. Endocrinol., 14(5) (2018) 301-316.
  2. [2] Chiovato L., Magri F., Carlé A., Hypothyroidism in Context: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going, Advances in Therapy, 36(S2) (2019) 47-58.
  3. [3] Hughes K., Eastman C., Thyroid disease: Long-term management of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, Aust. J. Gen. Pract., 50(1-2) (2021) 36-42.
  4. [4] Guerri G., Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, Acta Biomed., 90(10-S) (2019) 83-86.
  5. [5] Kravets I., Hyperthyroidism: Diagnosis and Treatment, Am. Fam. Physician., 93(5) (2016) 363-70.
  6. [6] Silsirivanit A., Glycosylation Markers in Cancer, Adv. Clin. Chem., 89(2019) 189-213.
  7. [7] Lee T., Teng T.Z.J., Shelat V.G., Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 - tumor marker: Past, present, and future, World J. Gastrointest Surg., 12(12) (2020) 468-490.
  8. [8] Seale K.N., Tkaczuk K.H.R., Circulating Biomarkers in Breast Cancer, Clin Breast Cancer, 22(3) (2022) e319-e331.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Molecular Docking , Computational Chemistry , Bioengineering (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 30, 2025

Submission Date

December 12, 2024

Acceptance Date

May 19, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 46 Number: 2

APA
Akbaba, E., Karataş, D., Gönel, A., Soylu, E., Kiraz, B., & Almahdi, Y. A. (2025). Investigation of a Stable Interaction of Levothyroxine with AFP Through Molecular Modelling. Cumhuriyet Science Journal, 46(2), 274-285. https://doi.org/10.17776/csj.1599148

As of 2026, Cumhuriyet Science Journal will be published in six issues per year, released in February, April, June, August, October, and December