Synthesis and in silico evaluation of 1N-methyl-1S-methyl-2-nitroethylene (NMSM) derivatives against Alzheimer disease: to understand their interacting mechanism with acetylcholinesterase.

Anomalous action of human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) was restrained by various AChE inhibitors, of which the specific and potent lead candidate Donepezil is used for treating the disease AD. Besides the specificity, the observed undesirable side effects caused by Donepezil invoked the quest for new lead molecules with the increased potency and specificity for AChE. The present study elucidates the potency of six 1N-methyl-1S-methyl-2-nitroethylene (NMSM) derivatives to form a specific interaction with the peripheral anionic site and catalytic anionic subsite residues of hAChE. The NMSMs were prepared in good yield from 1,1-di(methylsulfanyl)-2-nitroethylene and primary amine (or) amino acid esters. In silico interaction analysis reveals specific and potent interactions between hAChE and selected ligand molecules. The site-specific interactions formed between these molecules also results in a conformational change in the orientation of active site residues of hAChE, which prevents them from being accessed by beta-amyloid protein (Aβ), which is a causative agent for amyloid plaque formation and acetylcholine (ACh). In silico interaction analysis between the ligand-bounded hAChE with Aß and ACh confirms this observation. The variation in the conformation of hAChE associated with the decreased ability of Aβ and ACh to access the respective functional residues of hAChE induced by the novel NMSMs favors their selection for in vivo analysis to present themselves as new members of hAChE inhibitors.