A Simple Representation of Three-Dimensional Molecular Structure

J Med Chem. 2017 Sep 14;60(17):7393-7409. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00696. Epub 2017 Aug 8.

Abstract

Statistical and machine learning approaches predict drug-to-target relationships from 2D small-molecule topology patterns. One might expect 3D information to improve these calculations. Here we apply the logic of the extended connectivity fingerprint (ECFP) to develop a rapid, alignment-invariant 3D representation of molecular conformers, the extended three-dimensional fingerprint (E3FP). By integrating E3FP with the similarity ensemble approach (SEA), we achieve higher precision-recall performance relative to SEA with ECFP on ChEMBL20 and equivalent receiver operating characteristic performance. We identify classes of molecules for which E3FP is a better predictor of similarity in bioactivity than is ECFP. Finally, we report novel drug-to-target binding predictions inaccessible by 2D fingerprints and confirm three of them experimentally with ligand efficiencies from 0.442-0.637 kcal/mol/heavy atom.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Drug Design
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Small Molecule Libraries