Binding free energy calculations of N-sulphonyl-glutamic acid inhibitors of MurD ligase

Homology modeling, docking, and molecular dynamics reveal HR1039 as a potent inhibitor of 2009 A(H1N1) influenza neuraminidase

The neuraminidase of the influenza virus is the target of antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. Clinical practices have shown that zanamivir and oseltamivir are effective in treating the 2009 A(H1N1) influenza virus. However, drug resistance strains are also emerging. Herein, we report the findings from homology modeling and molecular simulations of 2009 A(H1N1) neuraminidase complexed with zanamivir, oseltamivir, and several herb extracts with potential activities. Our docked oseltamivir and zanamivir results are consistent with previous studies. Based on the same procedure, the docked results of herb extracts HR1039 and HR1040 suggest that they are potential potent inhibitors of neuraminidase. Also, the binding modes of HR1039/HR1040 are different from those of oseltmivir and zanamivir, and may be effective in treating oseltamivir-resistant influenza virus strains.

Discovery of novel benzene 1,3-dicarboxylic acid inhibitors of bacterial MurD and MurE ligases by structure-based virtual screening approach

The peptidoglycan biosynthetic pathway provides an array of potential targets for antibacterial drug design, attractive especially with respect to selective toxicity. Within this pathway, the members of the Mur ligase family are considered as promising emerging targets for novel antibacterial drug design. Based on the available MurD crystal structures co-crystallised with N-sulfonyl glutamic acid inhibitors, a virtual screening campaign was performed, combining three-dimensional structure-based pharmacophores and molecular docking calculations. A novel class of glutamic acid surrogates-benzene 1,3-dicarboxylic acid derivatives-were identified and compounds 14 and 16 found to possess dual MurD and MurE inhibitory activity.