Interaction of various types of bisphenols with enzymes involved in melanin synthesis

OBJECTIVES: Bisphenol is one of the commercial chemical compounds which finds application in the manufacture of phenol, polyesters, polycarbonates, epoxy resins, etc. Bisphenol A is the most commonly found bisphenol derivative, although there are various analogues such as Bisphenol S, Bisphenol B, Bisphenol C, Bisphenol E, Bisphenol AF, which vary with their structures. Bisphenols majorly get into us by means of food as they are found in food packaging and beverage containers and can be easily absorbed by the body. They can make way into the body systems either by direct means like skin contact or by indirect means through food that is stored in a bisphenol-coated containers. Exposure of the human system to this compound may bring about mild to adverse ailments ranging from skin irritations to infertility. Pigmentation disorder is one such health condition that occurs due to melanocyte destruction and is caused by bisphenol exposures. They interact with various proteins and enzymes that have been involved in the melanocyte synthesis pathway, thereby disrupting their normal functions. METHODS: In silico analysis has been done to predict the interaction and other descriptive binding parameters when the bisphenol derivatives BPA. BPB, BPC, BPE, BPS and BPAF have been docked with some of the essential proteins for melanin synthesis such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1(TRP-1), dopachrome tautomerase/tyrosinase-related protein-2(TRP-2). RESULTS: The interaction has been quantified with the binding energies, and the interacting amino acid residues have also been identified. The results showed strong interactions for both the proteins TRP-1 and TRP-2 with BPA. BPB, BPC, BPE, BPS and BPAF. CONCLUSIONS: The risk and threats caused by the commercial products made of bisphenol are at higher levels, and thereby, the need for a safe and desirable alternative has been insisted.