Structure-based drug design: from nucleic acid to membrane protein targets

Exp Mol Pathol. 2009 Jun;86(3):141-50. doi: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2009.01.011. Epub 2009 Jan 31.

Abstract

The in silico methods for drug discovery are becoming increasingly powerful and useful. That, in combination with increasing computer processor power, in our case using a novel distributed computing grid, has enabled us to greatly enhance our virtual screening efforts. Herein we review some of these efforts using both receptor and ligand-based virtual screening, with the goal of finding new anti-cancer agents. In particular, nucleic acids are a neglected set of targets, especially the different morphologies of duplex, triplex, and quadruplex DNA, many of which have increasing biological relevance. We also review examples of molecular modeling to understand receptors and using virtual screening against G-protein coupled receptor membrane proteins.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Discovery / methods
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / statistics & numerical data
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / drug effects*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nucleic Acids / chemistry
  • Nucleic Acids / drug effects*
  • Nucleolin
  • Phosphofructokinase-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Phosphofructokinase-2 / chemistry
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry
  • Phosphoproteins / drug effects
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / drug effects
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / chemistry
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / drug effects
  • Telomerase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Telomerase / chemistry
  • User-Computer Interface

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Phosphofructokinase-2
  • Telomerase