cell contraction

Ion channel is a membrane-binding enzyme whose catalytic site is an ion conduction pore, which is opened and closed in response to specific environmental stimuli (voltage, ligand concentration, membrane tension, temperature, etc.). Ion channel provide pores for the passive diffusion of ions on the biofilm. Due to their high selectivity for ion, ion channel are generally classified as sodium (Na⁺ ), potassium (K⁺ ), calcium (Ca²⁺ ), chloride (Cl^- ), and non-specific cation channel. Ion channel is an important contributor to cell signal transduction and homeostasis. In addition to electrical signal transduction, ion channel also have many functions: regulating vascular smooth muscle contraction, maintaining normal cell volume, regulating glandular secretion, protein kinase activation, etc. Therefore, dysfunction of ion channel can lead to many diseases, and its mechanism research is particularly important.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1,424 small molecules related to ion channel, mainly targeting Na⁺ channel, K⁺ channel, Ca²⁺ channel, GABA receptor, iGluR, etc. It is an essential tool for research of cardiovascular diseases, Nervous system diseases and other diseases.

The cytoskeleton is responsible for contraction, cell motility, movement of organelles and vesicles through the cytoplasm, cytokinesis, intracellular signal transduction, and many other functions that are essential for cellular homeostasis and survival. It accomplishes these tasks through three basic structures: F-actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments (IFs). The cytoskeleton is a dynamic structure where the three major filaments and tubules are under the influence of proteins that regulate their length, state of polymerization, and level of cross-linking. Since cytoskeleton is involved in virtually all cellular processes, cytoskeletal protein aberrations are the underlying reason for many pathological phenotypes, including several cardiovascular disease syndromes, neurodegeneration, cancer, liver cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and blistering skin diseases.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1,783 cytoskeleton-related compounds mainly focusing on the key targets in the cytoskeleton signal pathway and can be used in the research of cytoskeleton signal pathway and related diseases.

Ion channels are key proteins on the cell membrane that regulate the flow of ions across membranes. They participate in nearly all physiological processes, including nerve conduction, muscle contraction, heart rhythm, and pain perception. Abnormalities in their function can lead to various serious diseases such as arrhythmia, epilepsy, hypertension, neuropathic pain, and cancer. Therefore, ion channels are highly valuable drug targets—over 15% of approved drugs target ion channels currently, demonstrating their irreplaceable therapeutic value in cardiovascular, neurological, and analgesic fields.

MCE has collected a library of over 5,000 reported ion channel-related bioactive compounds targeting major sites such as Na+ channels, K+ channels, Ca2+ channels, GABA receptors, iGluRs, and others. Using AI models, these compounds are characterized through both 2D representations (molecular fingerprints, pharmacophores) and 3D representations (3D conformation) to screen for a collection of lead-like compounds highly similar to known active molecules. Additionally, an hERG channel prediction algorithm integrating XGB and ISE mapping strategy is employed to assess and exclude potential cardiotoxicity in the library.. This step significantly reduces safety risks in subsequent screenings, particularly for ion channel drug development related to cardiovascular systems (e.g., Nav1.5, Cav1.2), effectively minimizing failures due to hERG inhibition and serving as a valuable tool for ion channel drug screening.