Fragment-Based De Novo Design Reveals a Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Helicobacter Pylori HtrA

Sustained identification of innovative chemical entities is key for the success of chemical biology and drug discovery. We report the fragment-based, computer-assisted de novo design of a small molecule inhibiting Helicobacter pylori HtrA protease. Molecular binding of the designed compound to HtrA was confirmed through biophysical methods, supporting its functional activity in vitro. Hit expansion led to the identification of the currently best-in-class HtrA inhibitor. The results obtained reinforce the validity of ligand-based de novo design and binding-kinetics-guided optimization for the efficient discovery of pioneering lead structures and prototyping drug-like chemical probes with tailored bioactivity.

Multidimensional de novo design reveals 5-HT2B receptor-selective ligands

We report a multi-objective de novo design study driven by synthetic tractability and aimed at the prioritization of computer-generated 5-HT2B receptor ligands with accurately predicted target-binding affinities. Relying on quantitative bioactivity models we designed and synthesized structurally novel, selective, nanomolar, and ligand-efficient 5-HT2B modulators with sustained cell-based effects. Our results suggest that seamless amalgamation of computational activity prediction and molecular design with microfluidics-assisted synthesis enables the swift generation of small molecules with the desired polypharmacology.