Cheminformatics-based interaction profiling identifies the UV filter benzophenone-4 as a potential PPARγ agonist and obesogenic compound
Environmental chemicals capable of interfering with metabolic regulation have attracted increasing attention due to their potential role as obesogens. Ultraviolet (UV) filters used in personal care products are widely detected in aquatic environments and human samples, raising concerns regarding their biological effects. However, the metabolic activity of many UV filter compounds remains insufficiently characterized.In this study, a cheminformatics-based interaction profiling approach was applied to explore potential nuclear receptor activities of commonly used UV filter compounds. Using a read-across strategy, interaction signatures of target compounds were compared with those of reference ligands with known biological activities. Among the analyzed compounds, benzophenone-4 exhibited an interaction pattern similar to that of established peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists.PPARγ plays a central role in adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. Therefore, chemicals capable of modulating this receptor may influence adipogenic signaling pathways and metabolic homeostasis. The present findings suggest that benzophenone-4 may possess previously unrecognized PPARγ agonistic potential and could represent a candidate obesogenic compound. These results demonstrate that interaction-profile-based cheminformatics analysis can serve as a useful strategy for identifying potential metabolic disruptors among environmental chemicals
2026 Spring Convention