Several mechanisms are employed by members of transcription factor families to achieve sequence-specific DNA recognition. In this study, we have investigated how members of the ETS-domain transcription factor family achieve such specificity. We have used the ternary complex factor (TCF) subfamily as an example. ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinase stimulates serum response factor-dependent and autonomous DNA binding by the TCFs Elk-1 and SAP-la. Phosphorylated Elk-1 and SAP-la exhibit specificities of DNA binding similar to those of their isolated ETS domains. The ETS domains of Elk-1 and SAP-la and SAP-2 exhibit related but distinct DNA-binding specificities. A single residue, D-69 (Elk-1) or V-68 (SAP-1), has been identified as the critical determinant for the differential binding specificities of Elk-1 and SAP-1a, and an additional residue, D-38 (Elk-1) or Q-37 (SAP-1), further modulates their DNA binding. Creation of mutations D38Q and D69V is sufficient to confer SAP-la DNA-binding specificity upon Elk-1 and thereby allow it to bind to a greater spectrum of sites. Molecular modelling indicates that these two residues (D-38 and D-69) are located away from the DNA-binding interface of Elk-1. Our data suggest a mechanism in which these residues modulate DNA binding by influencing the interaction of other residues with DNA.

The development of shrimp aquaculture has been severely affected by viral diseases resulting in a huge economic burden to the industry. White spot disease (WSD) has caused severe mortality in farmed shrimp in many countries. Globally aquaculture industries face huge economic losses due to rapid spread of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) disease that can cause 100% mortality in a short period of 3-10 days. In the present study in order to prevent the spread of WSSV disease in shrimps, the receptor, PmRab7 has been chosen as the drug target. Due to the absence of a precise 3D structure of the target, homology-modeling approach was employed to obtain the structure that was validated later. This structure was then used as a template to screen selective phytomolecules as potential antiviral agents and their docking results with the target are analyzed based on their energy scores. Identification of the drug-like molecule obtained from the docking analysis would be used to optimize to a candidate drug. This is expected to play a role of the inhibitor that blocks the binding of the viral protein to the receptor, duly preventing the WSSV disease.

To study the involvement of compounds stigmasterol and oleic acid isolated from marine sponge Aurora globostellata and docking against the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 in breast cancer. The comparative molecular docking was performed with the natural compounds from marine sponge and the synthetic drugs used in breast cancer treatment against the target HER2. The molecular docking analysis was done using GLIDE in Schrodinger software package. The ADME properties were calculated using the Qikprop. The observation of the common binding site for all the ligands confirms the binding pocket; where the isolated compound Stigmasterol agrees well with the binding residues and thus can be optimized further to arrive at a molecule that has a high binding affinity and low binding constant. The results of the docking studies carried out on HER2 provide an insight for the compound stigmasterol to have drug like properties than oleic acid. These results are supportive to confirm the marine sponges as a better lead for cancer therapeutics.