Naringenin as a potent inhibitor molecule for targeting microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 (mark4): a molecular docking and in vitro study for therapeutics of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: The targeted inhibition of Microtubule Affinity-Regulating Kinase 4 (MARK4) using small molecule inhibitors has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for diverse diseases, including neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Ongoing research endeavors aim to develop novel and more effective MARK4 inhibitors with enhanced target specificity and reduced off-target effects. In the present study, we sought to investigate the binding affinity and impact of Naringenin on the activity of MARK4. Methods: We employed a combination of molecular docking and other bioinformatics methods, a fluorescence-based inhibition assay, as well as a kinase activity assay to assess the binding affinity and inhibition potential of Naringenin against MARK4. Additionally, we utilized the MTT assay to examine the effect of Naringenin on the viability of two cell lines: the normal human cell line HEK-293 and the neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y. The IC50 dose of Naringenin, determined from the MTT assay, provided a valuable reference point for subsequent neuronal cell line experiments. Results: The results of the molecular docking demonstrated a robust binding affinity of Naringenin (-7.8 kcal/mol) to MARK4, affirming its potency as an inhibitor. Moreover, the fluorescence inhibition and kinase activity assays confirmed the inhibitory effect of Naringenin on MARK4. Interestingly, the MTT assay outcomes indicated that increasing concentrations of Naringenin did not significantly impact the viability of HEK 293 cells, while exhibiting a pronounced effect on SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. The IC50 concentration of Naringenin was determined to be 10.0 ± 1.33 µM for SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study reported Naringenin as a potential inhibitor molecule for MARK4, offering promising prospects for future therapeutic interventions in neuronal disorders specifically for Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]