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Analysis of institutional authors

Lamsabhi AmAuthor

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October 20, 2025
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Article

Mechanism-based inhibition of squalene epoxidase by phenothiazines for lipid metabolism disruption using repurposed antipsychotic drugs.

Publicated to: Scientific Reports. 15 (1): 35955- - 2025-10-15 15(1), DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-13282-y

Authors:

Kamel EM; Ahmed NA; Aba Alkhayl FF; Bin-Jumah M; Altoom NG; Alshabrmi FM; Maodaa S; Lamsabhi AM
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Affiliations

Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62514, Egypt. emad.abdelhameed@science.bsu.edu.eg. - Author
Departamento de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Módulo 13, Campus de Excelencia UAM-CSIC Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain. - Author
Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. BOX 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia. - Author
Department of Biology, King Khalid Military Academy, Riyadh, 11459, Saudi Arabia. - Author
Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia. - Author
Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, PO Box -2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia. - Author
Physiology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, P.O. Box 62521, Beni-Suef, Egypt. - Author
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Abstract

Squalene epoxidase (SQLE) is a crucial enzyme in the cholesterol-biosynthesis pathway and a promising target for treating cholesterol-related disorders. This study aimed to repurpose eighteen clinically approved phenothiazine antipsychotics as competitive SQLE inhibitors by integrating structure-based virtual screening, 200 ns molecular-dynamics simulations, MM/PBSA binding-energy calculations and in vitro enzyme assays. We first screened the 18 derivatives using molecular docking, structural/pharmacological diversity and ADMET analysis. Six compounds-ethopropazine, periciazine, piperacetazine, dixyrazine, fluphenazine and trifluoperazine-were prioritized for detailed MD simulations and MM/PBSA evaluation. Potential-energy-landscape analysis revealed that ethopropazine, periciazine and piperacetazine formed the most stable enzyme-ligand complexes, each occupying well-defined energy wells. Corresponding ΔGtotal values of - 27.05 ± 2.10 kcal mol⁻¹, - 27.84 ± 1.67 kcal mol⁻¹ and - 26.94 ± 1.82 kcal mol⁻¹ indicated high binding affinities. In vitro assays confirmed potent SQLE inhibition, with IC₅₀ values of 1.69 ± 0.06 µM, 1.55 ± 0.13 µM and 1.44 ± 0.04 µM, respectively; kinetic studies established competitive inhibition with Ki values of 0.65-0.69 µM. The strong correlation between computational predictions and experimental data underscores the effectiveness of our integrated approach and identifies ethopropazine, periciazine and piperacetazine as promising lead compounds for further optimization and pre-clinical development as SQLE inhibitors.
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Keywords

Antipsychotic agentsAntipsychoticsDrug repositioningEnzyme inhibitorsEnzyme kineticsHumansIn silicoIn vitro studyLipid metabolismMolecular docking simulationMolecular dynamics simulationPhenothiazinesProtein bindingSqualene epoxidaseSqualene monooxygenase

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Scientific Reports due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 25/135, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Multidisciplinary Sciences.

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Impact and social visibility

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Egypt; Saudi Arabia.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (LAMSABHI, AL MOKHTAR).

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