Exploring the interactive mechanism of acarbose with the amylase SusG in the starch utilization system of the human gut symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron through molecular modeling

The a-amylase, SusG, is a principal component of the Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt) starch utilization system (Sus) used to metabolize complex starch molecules in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We previously reported the non-microbicidal growth inhibition of Bt by the acarbose-mediated arrest of the Sus as a potential therapeutic strategy. Herein, we report a computational approach using density functional theory (DFT), molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to explore the interactive mechanism between acarbose and SusG at the atomic level in an effort to understand how acarbose shuts down the Bt Sus. The docking analysis reveals that acarbose binds orthosterically to SusG with a binding affinity of -8.3 kcal/mol. The MD simulation provides evidence of conformational variability of acarbose at the active site of SusG and also suggests that acarbose interacts with the main catalytic residues via a general acid-base double-displacement catalytic mechanism. These results suggest that small molecule competitive inhibition against the SusG protein could impact the entire Bt Sus and eliminate or reduce the system's ability to metabolize starch. This computational strategy could serve as a potential avenue for structure-based drug design to discover other small molecules capable of inhibiting the Sus of Bt with high potency, thus providing a holistic approach for selective modulation of the GI microbiota.

Automated summary

In this study, a computational approach was used to explore the interactive mechanism between acarbose and SusG, and it was found that acarbose binds to SusG and inhibits its catalytic activity through a double-displacement catalytic mechanism. This computational strategy could be used for structure-based drug design to discover small molecules capable of inhibiting Bt Sus, providing a holistic approach for selective modulation of the GI microbiota.