The binding of lignans, flavonoids and coumestrol to CYP450 aromatase: a molecular modelling study.

Androgens are transformed into aromatic estrogens by CYP450 aromatase in a three-step reaction consuming three equivalents of oxygen and three equivalents of NADPH. Estrogens are substrates for nuclear estrogen receptors (ERs) and play a key role in estrogen-dependent tumour cell formation and proliferation. Natural phytoestrogens are proved to be competitive inhibitors of aromatase enzyme at IC(50) values in micromolar levels. In order to understand the mechanisms involved in the binding of various phytoestrogens, we used our model of CYP450 aromatase to study the binding of phytoestrogens using molecular dynamics simulations with a bound phytoestrogen. The simulation trajectory was analysed to find the essential interactions which take place upon binding and a representative structure of the trajectory was minimized for docking studies. Sets of phytoestrogens, such as lignans, flavonoids/isoflavonoids and coumestrol, were docked into the aromatase active site and the binding modes were studied.