1
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Herbst C, Endres S, Würz R, Sotriffer C. Assessment of fragment docking and scoring with the endothiapepsin model system. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024; 357:e2400061. [PMID: 38631672 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202400061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Fragment-based screening has become indispensable in drug discovery. Yet, the weak binding affinities of these small molecules still represent a challenge for the reliable detection of fragment hits. The extent of this issue was illustrated in the literature for the aspartic protease endothiapepsin: When seven biochemical and biophysical in vitro screening methods were applied to screen a library of 361 fragments, very poor overlap was observed between the hit fragments identified by the individual approaches, resulting in high levels of false positive and/or false negative results depending on the mutually compared methods. Here, the reported in vitro findings are juxtaposed with the results from in silico docking and scoring approaches. The docking programs GOLD and Glide were considered with the scoring functions ASP, ChemScore, ChemPLP, GoldScore, DSXCSD, and GlideScore. First, the ranking power and scoring power were assessed for the named scoring functions. Second, the capability of reproducing the crystallized fragment binding modes was tested in a structure-based redocking approach. The redocking success notably depended on the ligand efficiency of the considered fragments. Third, a blinded virtual screening approach was employed to evaluate whether in silico screening can compete with in vitro methods in the enrichment of fragment databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Herbst
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sara Endres
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rebecca Würz
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Sotriffer
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität, Würzburg, Germany
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2
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Schmitz B, Frieg B, Homeyer N, Jessen G, Gohlke H. Extracting binding energies and binding modes from biomolecular simulations of fragment binding to endothiapepsin. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024; 357:e2300612. [PMID: 38319801 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) aims to discover a set of small binding fragments that may be subsequently linked together. Therefore, in-depth knowledge of the individual fragments' structural and energetic binding properties is essential. In addition to experimental techniques, the direct simulation of fragment binding by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations became popular to characterize fragment binding. However, former studies showed that long simulation times and high computational demands per fragment are needed, which limits applicability in FBDD. Here, we performed short, unbiased MD simulations of direct fragment binding to endothiapepsin, a well-characterized model system of pepsin-like aspartic proteases. To evaluate the strengths and limitations of short MD simulations for the structural and energetic characterization of fragment binding, we predicted the fragments' absolute free energies and binding poses based on the direct simulations of fragment binding and compared the predictions to experimental data. The predicted absolute free energies are in fair agreement with the experiment. Combining the MD data with binding mode predictions from molecular docking approaches helped to correctly identify the most promising fragments for further chemical optimization. Importantly, all computations and predictions were done within 5 days, suggesting that MD simulations may become a viable tool in FBDD projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birte Schmitz
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Benedikt Frieg
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- John von Neumann Institute for Computing (NIC), Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nadine Homeyer
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gisela Jessen
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Holger Gohlke
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- John von Neumann Institute for Computing (NIC), Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), and Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-4: Bioinformatics), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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3
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Beg A, Parveen R, Fouad H, Yahia ME, Hassanein AS. Unravelling driver genes as potential therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer via integrated bioinformatics approach. J Ovarian Res 2024; 17:86. [PMID: 38654363 PMCID: PMC11036584 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01402-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Target-driven cancer therapy is a notable advancement in precision oncology that has been accompanied by substantial medical accomplishments. Ovarian cancer is a highly frequent neoplasm in women and exhibits significant genomic and clinical heterogeneity. In a previous publication, we presented an extensive bioinformatics study aimed at identifying specific biomarkers associated with ovarian cancer. The findings of the network analysis indicate the presence of a cluster of nine dysregulated hub genes that exhibited significance in the underlying biological processes and contributed to the initiation of ovarian cancer. Here in this research article, we are proceeding our previous research by taking all hub genes into consideration for further analysis. GEPIA2 was used to identify patterns in the expression of critical genes. The KM plotter analysis indicated that the out of all genes 5 genes are statistically significant. The cBioPortal platform was further used to investigate the frequency of genetic mutations across the board and how they affected the survival of the patients. Maximum mutation was reported by ELAVL2. In order to discover viable therapeutic candidates after competitive inhibition of ELAVL2 with small molecular drug complex, high throughput screening and docking studies were used. Five compounds were identified. Overall, our results suggest that the ELAV-like protein 2-ZINC03830554 complex was relatively stable during the molecular dynamic simulation. The five compounds that have been found can also be further examined as potential therapeutic possibilities. The combined findings suggest that ELAVL2, together with their genetic changes, can be investigated in therapeutic interventions for precision oncology, leveraging early diagnostics and target-driven therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anam Beg
- Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Rafat Parveen
- Department of Computer Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India.
| | - Hassan Fouad
- Applied Medical Science Department, CC, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia
| | - M E Yahia
- Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, Institute of Applied Technology, Abu Dhabi, 111499, United Arab Emirates
| | - Azza S Hassanein
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
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4
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Hocking B, Armstrong A, Mann DJ. Covalent fragment libraries in drug discovery-Design, synthesis, and screening methods. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2023; 62:105-146. [PMID: 37981350 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmch.2023.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
As the development of drugs with a covalent mode of action is becoming increasingly popular, well-validated covalent fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) methods have been comparatively slow to keep up with the demand. In this chapter the principles of covalent fragment reactivity, library design, synthesis, and screening methods are explored in depth, focussing on literature examples with direct applications to practical covalent fragment library design and screening. Further, questions about the future of the field are explored and potential useful advances are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad Hocking
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Armstrong
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, London, United Kingdom
| | - David J Mann
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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5
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Bührmann M, Kallepu S, Warmuth JD, Wiese JN, Ehrt C, Vatheuer H, Hiller W, Seitz C, Levy L, Czodrowski P, Sievers S, Müller MP, Rauh D. Fragtory: Pharmacophore-Focused Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of an sp 3-Enriched Fragment Library. J Med Chem 2023; 66:6297-6314. [PMID: 37130057 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery has played an important role in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical research. Despite numerous demonstrated successes, the limited diversity and overrepresentation of planar, sp2-rich structures in commercial libraries often hamper the full potential of this approach. Hence, the thorough design of screening libraries inevitably determines the probability for meaningful hits and subsequent structural elaboration. Against this background, we present the generation of an exclusive fragment library based on iterative entry nomination by a specifically designed computational workflow: "Fragtory". Following a pharmacophore diversity-driven approach, we used Fragtory in an interdisciplinary academic setting to guide both tailored synthesis efforts and the implementation of in-house compounds to build a curated 288-member library of sp3-enriched fragments. Subsequent NMR screens against a model protein and hit validation by protein crystallography led to the identification of structurally novel ligands that were further characterized by isothermal titration calorimetry, demonstrating the applicability of our experimental approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Bührmann
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Shivakrishna Kallepu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Jonas D Warmuth
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Jan N Wiese
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Christiane Ehrt
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Helge Vatheuer
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Wolf Hiller
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Carina Seitz
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Compound Management and Screening Center (COMAS), Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11/15, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Laura Levy
- Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Taros Chemicals GmbH & Co. KG, Emil-Figge-Strasse 76a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Paul Czodrowski
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Sonja Sievers
- Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Compound Management and Screening Center (COMAS), Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11/15, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Matthias P Müller
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Daniel Rauh
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
- Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD) am Zentrum für integrierte Wirkstoffforschung (ZIW), Dortmund 44227, Germany
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6
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Grigalunas M, Patil S, Krzyzanowski A, Pahl A, Flegel J, Schölermann B, Xie J, Sievers S, Ziegler S, Waldmann H. Unprecedented Combination of Polyketide Natural Product Fragments Identifies the New Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Inhibitor Grismonone. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202202164. [PMID: 36083197 PMCID: PMC10091983 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202202164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Pseudo-natural products (pseudo-NPs) are de novo combinations of natural product (NP) fragments that define novel bioactive chemotypes. For their discovery, new design principles are being sought. Previously, pseudo-NPs were synthesized by the combination of fragments originating from biosynthetically unrelated NPs to guarantee structural novelty and novel bioactivity. We report the combination of fragments from biosynthetically related NPs in novel arrangements to yield a novel chemotype with activity not shared by the guiding fragments. We describe the synthesis of the polyketide pseudo-NP grismonone and identify it as a structurally novel and potent inhibitor of Hedgehog signaling. The insight that the de novo combination of fragments derived from biosynthetically related NPs may also yield new biologically relevant compound classes with unexpected bioactivity may be considered a chemical extension or diversion of existing biosynthetic pathways and greatly expands the opportunities for exploration of biologically relevant chemical space by means of the pseudo-NP principle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Grigalunas
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
| | - Sohan Patil
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
| | - Adrian Krzyzanowski
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
- Technical University DortmundFaculty of ChemistryChemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
| | - Axel Pahl
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
- Compound Management and Screening CenterDortmund44227Germany
| | - Jana Flegel
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
| | - Beate Schölermann
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
| | - Jianing Xie
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
| | - Sonja Sievers
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
- Compound Management and Screening CenterDortmund44227Germany
| | - Slava Ziegler
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular PhysiologyDepartment of Chemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
- Technical University DortmundFaculty of ChemistryChemical BiologyDortmund44227Germany
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7
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McAulay K, Bilsland A, Bon M. Reactivity of Covalent Fragments and Their Role in Fragment Based Drug Discovery. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:1366. [PMID: 36355538 PMCID: PMC9694498 DOI: 10.3390/ph15111366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragment based drug discovery has long been used for the identification of new ligands and interest in targeted covalent inhibitors has continued to grow in recent years, with high profile drugs such as osimertinib and sotorasib gaining FDA approval. It is therefore unsurprising that covalent fragment-based approaches have become popular and have recently led to the identification of novel targets and binding sites, as well as ligands for targets previously thought to be 'undruggable'. Understanding the properties of such covalent fragments is important, and characterizing and/or predicting reactivity can be highly useful. This review aims to discuss the requirements for an electrophilic fragment library and the importance of differing warhead reactivity. Successful case studies from the world of drug discovery are then be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten McAulay
- Cancer Research Horizons—Therapeutic Innovation, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Alan Bilsland
- Cancer Research Horizons—Therapeutic Innovation, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - Marta Bon
- Cancer Research Horizons—Therapeutic Innovation, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
- Exscientia, The Schrödinger Building, Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GE, UK
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8
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Bon M, Bilsland A, Bower J, McAulay K. Fragment-based drug discovery-the importance of high-quality molecule libraries. Mol Oncol 2022; 16:3761-3777. [PMID: 35749608 PMCID: PMC9627785 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is now established as a complementary approach to high-throughput screening (HTS). Contrary to HTS, where large libraries of drug-like molecules are screened, FBDD screens involve smaller and less complex molecules which, despite a low affinity to protein targets, display more 'atom-efficient' binding interactions than larger molecules. Fragment hits can, therefore, serve as a more efficient start point for subsequent optimisation, particularly for hard-to-drug targets. Since the number of possible molecules increases exponentially with molecular size, small fragment libraries allow for a proportionately greater coverage of their respective 'chemical space' compared with larger HTS libraries comprising larger molecules. However, good library design is essential to ensure optimal chemical and pharmacophore diversity, molecular complexity, and physicochemical characteristics. In this review, we describe our views on fragment library design, and on what constitutes a good fragment from a medicinal and computational chemistry perspective. We highlight emerging chemical and computational technologies in FBDD and discuss strategies for optimising fragment hits. The impact of novel FBDD approaches is already being felt, with the recent approval of the covalent KRASG12C inhibitor sotorasib highlighting the utility of FBDD against targets that were long considered undruggable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Bon
- Cancer Research HorizonsCancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Alan Bilsland
- Cancer Research HorizonsCancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Justin Bower
- Cancer Research HorizonsCancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Kirsten McAulay
- Cancer Research HorizonsCancer Research UK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
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9
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Pose, duplicate, then elaborate: Steps towards increased affinity for inhibitors targeting the specificity surface of the Pim-1 kinase. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 245:114914. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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10
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Almeleebia TM, Ahamad S, Ahmad I, Alshehri A, Alkhathami AG, Alshahrani MY, Asiri MA, Saeed A, Siddiqui JA, Yadav DK, Saeed M. Identification of PARP12 Inhibitors By Virtual Screening and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:847499. [PMID: 36016564 PMCID: PMC9395932 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.847499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly [adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose] polymerases (PARPs) are members of a family of 17 enzymes that performs several fundamental cellular processes. Aberrant activity (mutation) in PARP12 has been linked to various diseases including inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Herein, a large library of compounds (ZINC-FDA database) has been screened virtually to identify potential PARP12 inhibitor(s). The best compounds were selected on the basis of binding affinity scores and poses. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and binding free energy calculation (MMGBSA) were carried out to delineate the stability and dynamics of the resulting complexes. To this end, root means deviations, relative fluctuation, atomic gyration, compactness, covariance, residue-residue contact map, and free energy landscapes were studied. These studies have revealed that compounds ZINC03830332, ZINC03830554, and ZINC03831186 are promising agents against mutated PARP12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahani M. Almeleebia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Irfan Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Alshehri
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali G. Alkhathami
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Y. Alshahrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A. Asiri
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amir Saeed
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Jamshaid Ahmad Siddiqui
- Department of Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Dharmendra K. Yadav
- Department of Pharmacy, Gachon Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Mohd Saeed, ; Dharmendra K. Yadav,
| | - Mohd Saeed
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Mohd Saeed, ; Dharmendra K. Yadav,
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11
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Huang CY, Aumonier S, Engilberge S, Eris D, Smith KML, Leonarski F, Wojdyla JA, Beale JH, Buntschu D, Pauluhn A, Sharpe ME, Metz A, Olieric V, Wang M. Probing ligand binding of endothiapepsin by `temperature-resolved' macromolecular crystallography. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2022; 78:964-974. [PMID: 35916221 PMCID: PMC9344481 DOI: 10.1107/s205979832200612x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A room-temperature X-ray crystallographic method using temperature as a trigger to record movie-like structural snapshots has been developed and applied to study ligand binding and protein plasticity. Continuous developments in cryogenic X-ray crystallography have provided most of our knowledge of 3D protein structures, which has recently been further augmented by revolutionary advances in cryoEM. However, a single structural conformation identified at cryogenic temperatures may introduce a fictitious structure as a result of cryogenic cooling artefacts, limiting the overview of inherent protein physiological dynamics, which play a critical role in the biological functions of proteins. Here, a room-temperature X-ray crystallographic method using temperature as a trigger to record movie-like structural snapshots has been developed. The method has been used to show how TL00150, a 175.15 Da fragment, undergoes binding-mode changes in endothiapepsin. A surprising fragment-binding discrepancy was observed between the cryo-cooled and physiological temperature structures, and multiple binding poses and their interplay with DMSO were captured. The observations here open up new promising prospects for structure determination and interpretation at physiological temperatures with implications for structure-based drug discovery.
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12
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Toti D, Macari G, Barbierato E, Polticelli F. FGDB: a comprehensive graph database of ligand fragments from the Protein Data Bank. Database (Oxford) 2022; 2022:6619197. [PMID: 35763362 PMCID: PMC9239314 DOI: 10.1093/database/baac044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This work presents Fragment Graph DataBase (FGDB), a graph database of ligand fragments extracted and generated from the protein entries available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). FGDB is meant to support and elicit campaigns of fragment-based drug design, by enabling users to query it in order to construct ad hoc, target-specific libraries. In this regard, the database features more than 17 000 fragments, typically small, highly soluble and chemically stable molecules expressed via their canonical Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) representation. For these fragments, the database provides information related to their contact frequencies with the amino acids, the ligands they are contained in and the proteins the latter bind to. The graph database can be queried via standard web forms and textual searches by a number of identifiers (SMILES, ligand and protein PDB ids) as well as via graphical queries that can be performed against the graph itself, providing users with an intuitive and effective view upon the underlying biological entities. Further search mechanisms via advanced conjunctive/disjunctive/negated textual queries are also possible, in order to allow scientists to look for specific relationships and export their results for further studies. This work also presents two sample use cases where maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase and mesotrypsin are used as a target, being proteins of high biomedical relevance for the development of cancer therapies. Database URL: http://biochimica3.bio.uniroma3.it/fragments-web/
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Toti
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences , via della Garzetta 48, Brescia 25133, Italy
| | - Gabriele Macari
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University , viale Marconi 446, Roma, Lazio 00146, Italy
| | - Enrico Barbierato
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences , via della Garzetta 48, Brescia 25133, Italy
| | - Fabio Polticelli
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University , viale Marconi 446, Roma, Lazio 00146, Italy
- Roma Tre Section, National Institute of Nuclear Physics , via della Vasca Navale 84, Roma 00146, Italy
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13
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Kell SR, Wang Z, Ji H. Fragment hopping protocol for the design of small-molecule protein-protein interaction inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 69:116879. [PMID: 35749838 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.116879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Fragment-based ligand discovery (FBLD) is one of the most successful approaches to designing small-molecule protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors. The incorporation of computational tools to FBLD allows the exploration of chemical space in a time- and cost-efficient manner. Herein, a computational protocol for the development of small-molecule PPI inhibitors using fragment hopping, a fragment-based de novo design approach, is described and a case study is presented to illustrate the efficiency of this protocol. Fragment hopping facilitates the design of PPI inhibitors from scratch solely based on key binding features in the PPI complex structure. This approach is an open system that enables the inclusion of different state-of-the-art programs and softwares to improve its performances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby R Kell
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
| | - Zhen Wang
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
| | - Haitao Ji
- Drug Discovery Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States.
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14
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Human Estrogen Receptor Alpha Antagonists, Part 3: 3-D Pharmacophore and 3-D QSAR Guided Brefeldin A Hit-to-Lead Optimization toward New Breast Cancer Suppressants. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092823. [PMID: 35566172 PMCID: PMC9101642 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The estrogen receptor α (ERα) is an important biological target mediating 17β-estradiol driven breast cancer (BC) development. Aiming to develop innovative drugs against BC, either wild-type or mutated ligand-ERα complexes were used as source data to build structure-based 3-D pharmacophore and 3-D QSAR models, afterward used as tools for the virtual screening of National Cancer Institute datasets and hit-to-lead optimization. The procedure identified Brefeldin A (BFA) as hit, then structurally optimized toward twelve new derivatives whose anticancer activity was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. Compounds as SERMs showed picomolar to low nanomolar potencies against ERα and were then investigated as antiproliferative agents against BC cell lines, as stimulators of p53 expression, as well as BC cell cycle arrest agents. Most active leads were finally profiled upon administration to female Wistar rats with pre-induced BC, after which 3DPQ-12, 3DPQ-3, 3DPQ-9, 3DPQ-4, 3DPQ-2, and 3DPQ-1 represent potential candidates for BC therapy.
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15
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Hamilton DJ, Beemsterboer M, Carter CM, Elsayed J, Huiberts REM, Klein HF, O’Brien P, de Esch IJP, Wijtmans M. Puckering the planar landscape of fragments: design and synthesis of a 3D cyclobutane fragment library. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202200113. [PMID: 35277937 PMCID: PMC9315009 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fragment‐based drug discovery (FBDD) has a growing need for unique screening libraries. The cyclobutane moiety was identified as an underrepresented yet attractive three‐dimensional (3D) scaffold. Synthetic strategies were developed via a key 3‐azido‐cyclobutanone intermediate, giving potential access to a range of functional groups with accessible growth vectors. A focused set of 33 novel 3D cyclobutane fragments was synthesised, comprising three functionalities: secondary amines, amides, and sulfonamides. This library was designed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and an expanded version of the rule of three (RO3), followed by Principal Moment of Inertia (PMI) analysis to achieve both chemical diversity and high 3D character. Cis and trans ring isomers of library members were generated to maximise the shape diversity obtained, while limiting molecular complexity through avoiding enantiomers. Property analyses of the cyclobutane library indicated that it fares favourably against existing synthetic 3D fragment libraries in terms of shape and physicochemical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Hamilton
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences NETHERLANDS
| | | | - Caroline M. Carter
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences NETHERLANDS
| | - Jasmina Elsayed
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences NETHERLANDS
| | | | - Hanna F. Klein
- University of York Department of Chemistry UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Peter O’Brien
- University of York Department of Chemistry UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Iwan J. P. de Esch
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences NETHERLANDS
| | - Maikel Wijtmans
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Chemistry & Pharamceutical Sciences De Boelelaan 1083 1081 HV Amsterdam NETHERLANDS
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16
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Abstract
![]()
Natural products
are the result of Nature’s exploration
of biologically relevant chemical space through evolution and an invaluable
source of bioactive small molecules for chemical biology and medicinal
chemistry. Novel concepts for the discovery of new bioactive compound
classes based on natural product structure may enable exploration
of wider biologically relevant chemical space. The pseudo-natural
product concept merges the relevance of natural product structure
with efficient exploration of chemical space by means of fragment-based
compound development to inspire the discovery of new bioactive chemical
matter through de novo combination of natural product
fragments in unprecedented arrangements. The novel scaffolds retain
the biological relevance of natural products but are not obtainable
through known biosynthetic pathways which can lead to new chemotypes
that may have unexpected or unprecedented bioactivities. Herein, we
cover the workflow of pseudo-natural product design and development,
highlight recent examples, and discuss a cheminformatic analysis in
which a significant portion of biologically active synthetic compounds
were found to be pseudo-natural products. We compare the concept to
natural evolution and discuss pseudo-natural products as the human-made
equivalent, i.e. the chemical evolution of natural product structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Grigalunas
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn Strasse 11, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Susanne Brakmann
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn Strasse 11, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
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17
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Kaminski JW, Vera L, Stegmann DP, Vering J, Eris D, Smith KML, Huang CY, Meier N, Steuber J, Wang M, Fritz G, Wojdyla JA, Sharpe ME. Fast fragment- and compound-screening pipeline at the Swiss Light Source. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2022; 78:328-336. [PMID: 35234147 PMCID: PMC8900825 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798322000705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) has emerged as an effective and efficient method to identify new chemical scaffolds for the development of lead compounds. X-ray crystallography can be used in FBDD as a tool to validate and develop fragments identified as binders by other methods. However, it is also often used with great success as a primary screening technique. In recent years, technological advances at macromolecular crystallography beamlines in terms of instrumentation, beam intensity and robotics have enabled the development of dedicated platforms at synchrotron sources for FBDD using X-ray crystallography. Here, the development of the Fast Fragment and Compound Screening (FFCS) platform, an integrated next-generation pipeline for crystal soaking, handling and data collection which allows crystallography-based screening of protein crystals against hundreds of fragments and compounds, at the Swiss Light Source is reported.
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18
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Metz A, Wollenhaupt J, Glöckner S, Messini N, Huber S, Barthel T, Merabet A, Gerber HD, Heine A, Klebe G, Weiss MS. Frag4Lead: growing crystallographic fragment hits by catalog using fragment-guided template docking. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:1168-1182. [PMID: 34473087 PMCID: PMC8411975 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321008196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, crystallographic fragment screening has matured into an almost routine experiment at several modern synchrotron sites. The hits of the screening experiment, i.e. small molecules or fragments binding to the target protein, are revealed along with their 3D structural information. Therefore, they can serve as useful starting points for further structure-based hit-to-lead development. However, the progression of fragment hits to tool compounds or even leads is often hampered by a lack of chemical feasibility. As an attractive alternative, compound analogs that embed the fragment hit structurally may be obtained from commercial catalogs. Here, a workflow is reported based on filtering and assessing such potential follow-up compounds by template docking. This means that the crystallographic binding pose was integrated into the docking calculations as a central starting parameter. Subsequently, the candidates are scored on their interactions within the binding pocket. In an initial proof-of-concept study using five starting fragments known to bind to the aspartic protease endothiapepsin, 28 follow-up compounds were selected using the designed workflow and their binding was assessed by crystallography. Ten of these compounds bound to the active site and five of them showed significantly increased affinity in isothermal titration calorimetry of up to single-digit micromolar affinity. Taken together, this strategy is capable of efficiently evolving the initial fragment hits without major synthesis efforts and with full control by X-ray crystallography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Metz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jan Wollenhaupt
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Steffen Glöckner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Niki Messini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Simon Huber
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Tatjana Barthel
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ahmed Merabet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Dieter Gerber
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Heine
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Manfred S. Weiss
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
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19
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Vásquez AF, Muñoz AR, Duitama J, González Barrios A. Non-Extensive Fragmentation of Natural Products and Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening as a Practical Approach to Identify Novel Promising Chemical Scaffolds. Front Chem 2021; 9:700802. [PMID: 34422762 PMCID: PMC8377161 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.700802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragment-based drug design (FBDD) and pharmacophore modeling have proven to be efficient tools to discover novel drugs. However, these approaches may become limited if the collection of fragments is highly repetitive, poorly diverse, or excessively simple. In this article, combining pharmacophore modeling and a non-classical type of fragmentation (herein called non-extensive) to screen a natural product (NP) library may provide fragments predicted as potent, diverse, and developable. Initially, we applied retrosynthetic combinatorial analysis procedure (RECAP) rules in two versions, extensive and non-extensive, in order to deconstruct a virtual library of NPs formed by the databases Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), AfroDb (African Medicinal Plants database), NuBBE (Nuclei of Bioassays, Biosynthesis, and Ecophysiology of Natural Products), and UEFS (Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana). We then developed a virtual screening (VS) using two groups of natural-product-derived fragments (extensive and non-extensive NPDFs) and two overlapping pharmacophore models for each of 20 different proteins of therapeutic interest. Molecular weight, lipophilicity, and molecular complexity were estimated and compared for both types of NPDFs (and their original NPs) before and after the VS proceedings. As a result, we found that non-extensive NPDFs exhibited a much higher number of chemical entities compared to extensive NPDFs (45,355 vs. 11,525 compounds), accounting for the larger part of the hits recovered and being far less repetitive than extensive NPDFs. The structural diversity of both types of NPDFs and the NPs was shown to diminish slightly after VS procedures. Finally, and most interestingly, the pharmacophore fit score of the non-extensive NPDFs proved to be not only higher, on average, than extensive NPDFs (56% of cases) but also higher than their original NPs (69% of cases) when all of them were also recognized as hits after the VS. The findings obtained in this study indicated that the proposed cascade approach was useful to enhance the probability of identifying innovative chemical scaffolds, which deserve further development to become drug-sized candidate compounds. We consider that the knowledge about the deconstruction degree required to produce NPDFs of interest represents a good starting point for eventual synthesis, characterization, and biological activity studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Felipe Vásquez
- Grupo de Diseño de Productos y Procesos (GDPP), Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.,Naturalius S.A.S, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Reyes Muñoz
- Grupo de Biología Computacional y Ecología Microbiana (BCEM), Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.,Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biology, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jorge Duitama
- Systems and Computing Engineering Department, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrés González Barrios
- Grupo de Diseño de Productos y Procesos (GDPP), Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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20
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Elekofehinti OO, Iwaloye O, Josiah SS, Lawal AO, Akinjiyan MO, Ariyo EO. Molecular docking studies, molecular dynamics and ADME/tox reveal therapeutic potentials of STOCK1N-69160 against papain-like protease of SARS-CoV-2. Mol Divers 2021; 25:1761-1773. [PMID: 33201386 PMCID: PMC7670485 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-020-10151-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a new strain of Coronavirus that caused the pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China and has spread to over 200 countries of the world. It has received worldwide attention due to its virulence and high rate of infection. So far, several drugs have experimented against SARS-CoV-2, but the failure of these drugs to specifically interact with the viral protease necessitates urgent measure to boost up researches for the development of effective therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2. Papain-like protease (PLpro) of the viral polyproteins is essential for maturation and infectivity of the virus, making it one of the prime targets explored for SARS-CoV-2 drug design. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of ~ 50,000 natural compounds retrieved from IBS database against COVID-19 PLpro using computer-aided drug design. Based on molecular dock scores, molecular interaction with active catalytic residues and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations studies, STOCK1N-69160 [(S)-2-((R)-4-((R)-2-amino-3-methylbutanamido)-3-(4-chlorophenyl) butanamido) propanoic acid hydrochloride] has been proposed as a novel inhibitor against COVID-19 PLpro. It demonstrated favourable docking score, the free energy of binding, interacted with key amino acid residues necessary for PLpro inhibition and also showed significant moderation for parameters investigated for ADME/tox (Adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicological) properties. The edge of the compound was further established by its stability in MD simulation conducted for 30 ns employing GROMACS software. We propose that STOCK1N-69160 is worth further investigation for preventing SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olusola Olalekan Elekofehinti
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo, Nigeria.
| | - Opeyemi Iwaloye
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo, Nigeria
| | - Sunday Solomon Josiah
- Phytomedicine Biochemical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo, Nigeria
| | - Akeem Olalekan Lawal
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo, Nigeria
| | - Moses Orimoloye Akinjiyan
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo, Nigeria
| | - Esther Opeyemi Ariyo
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo, Nigeria
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21
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Nimbarte VD, Wirmer‐Bartoschek J, Gande SL, Alshamleh I, Seibert M, Nasiri HR, Schnütgen F, Serve H, Schwalbe H. Synthesis and in Vitro Evaluation of Novel 5-Nitroindole Derivatives as c-Myc G-Quadruplex Binders with Anticancer Activity. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:1667-1679. [PMID: 33508167 PMCID: PMC8252724 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Lead-optimization strategies for compounds targeting c-Myc G-quadruplex (G4) DNA are being pursued to develop anticancer drugs. Here, we investigate the structure-activity- relationship (SAR) of a newly synthesized series of molecules based on the pyrrolidine-substituted 5-nitro indole scaffold to target G4 DNA. Our synthesized series allows modulation of flexible elements with a structurally preserved scaffold. Biological and biophysical analyses illustrate that substituted 5-nitroindole scaffolds bind to the c-Myc promoter G-quadruplex. These compounds downregulate c-Myc expression and induce cell-cycle arrest in the sub-G1/G1 phase in cancer cells. They further increase the concentration of intracellular reactive oxygen species. NMR spectra show that three of the newly synthesized compounds interact with the terminal G-quartets (5'- and 3'-ends) in a 2 : 1 stoichiometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijaykumar D. Nimbarte
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Goethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Straße 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Julia Wirmer‐Bartoschek
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Goethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Straße 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Santosh L. Gande
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Goethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Straße 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
- German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer ConsortiumIm Neuenheimer Feld 28069120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Islam Alshamleh
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Goethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Straße 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Marcel Seibert
- Department of Medicine 2Hematology/OncologyUniversity Hospital FrankfurtGoethe UniversityTheodor-Stern-Kai 760596Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Hamid Reza Nasiri
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Goethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Straße 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Frank Schnütgen
- German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer ConsortiumIm Neuenheimer Feld 28069120HeidelbergGermany
- Department of Medicine 2Hematology/OncologyUniversity Hospital FrankfurtGoethe UniversityTheodor-Stern-Kai 760596Frankfurt am MainGermany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI)Theodor-Stern-Kai 760596Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Hubert Serve
- German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer ConsortiumIm Neuenheimer Feld 28069120HeidelbergGermany
- Department of Medicine 2Hematology/OncologyUniversity Hospital FrankfurtGoethe UniversityTheodor-Stern-Kai 760596Frankfurt am MainGermany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI)Theodor-Stern-Kai 760596Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Harald Schwalbe
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical BiologyCenter for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ)Goethe University FrankfurtMax-von-Laue-Straße 760438Frankfurt am MainGermany
- German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer ConsortiumIm Neuenheimer Feld 28069120HeidelbergGermany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI)Theodor-Stern-Kai 760596Frankfurt am MainGermany
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22
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Grigalunas M, Burhop A, Zinken S, Pahl A, Gally JM, Wild N, Mantel Y, Sievers S, Foley DJ, Scheel R, Strohmann C, Antonchick AP, Waldmann H. Natural product fragment combination to performance-diverse pseudo-natural products. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1883. [PMID: 33767198 PMCID: PMC7994817 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22174-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural product structure and fragment-based compound development inspire pseudo-natural product design through different combinations of a given natural product fragment set to compound classes expected to be chemically and biologically diverse. We describe the synthetic combination of the fragment-sized natural products quinine, quinidine, sinomenine, and griseofulvin with chromanone or indole-containing fragments to provide a 244-member pseudo-natural product collection. Cheminformatic analyses reveal that the resulting eight pseudo-natural product classes are chemically diverse and share both drug- and natural product-like properties. Unbiased biological evaluation by cell painting demonstrates that bioactivity of pseudo-natural products, guiding natural products, and fragments differ and that combination of different fragments dominates establishment of unique bioactivity. Identification of phenotypic fragment dominance enables design of compound classes with correctly predicted bioactivity. The results demonstrate that fusion of natural product fragments in different combinations and arrangements can provide chemically and biologically diverse pseudo-natural product classes for wider exploration of biologically relevant chemical space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Grigalunas
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Annina Burhop
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sarah Zinken
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Axel Pahl
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
- Compound Management and Screening Center, Dortmund, Germany
| | - José-Manuel Gally
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
- Compound Management and Screening Center, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Niklas Wild
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Yannik Mantel
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sonja Sievers
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
- Compound Management and Screening Center, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Daniel J Foley
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
- College of Science, University of Canterbury, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Rebecca Scheel
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Carsten Strohmann
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Andrey P Antonchick
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Dortmund, Germany
- College of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Dortmund, Germany.
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23
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Pathania S, Singh PK. Analyzing FDA-approved drugs for compliance of pharmacokinetic principles: should there be a critical screening parameter in drug designing protocols? Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2020; 17:351-354. [PMID: 33320017 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2021.1865309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shelly Pathania
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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24
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Hamilton DJ, Dekker T, Klein HF, Janssen GV, Wijtmans M, O'Brien P, de Esch IJP. Escape from planarity in fragment-based drug discovery: A physicochemical and 3D property analysis of synthetic 3D fragment libraries. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2020; 38:77-90. [PMID: 34895643 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) has grown into a well-established approach in the pursuit of new therapeutics. Key to the success of FBDD is the low molecular complexity of the initial hits and this has resulted in fragment libraries that mainly contain compounds with a two-dimensional (2D) shape. In an effort to increase the chemical diversity and explore the impact of increased molecular complexity on the hit rate of fragment library screening, several academic and industrial groups have designed and synthesised novel fragments with a three-dimensional (3D) shape. This review provides an overview of 25 synthetic 3D fragment libraries from the recent literature. We calculate and compare physicochemical properties and descriptors that are typically used to measure molecular three-dimensionality such as fraction sp3 (Fsp3), plane of best fit (PBF) scores and principal moment of inertia (PMI) plots. Although the libraries vary widely in structure and properties, some key common features can be identified which may have utility in designing the next generation of 3D fragment libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Hamilton
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom Dekker
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hanna F Klein
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Guido V Janssen
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maikel Wijtmans
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter O'Brien
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Iwan J P de Esch
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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25
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Wollenhaupt J, Metz A, Barthel T, Lima GMA, Heine A, Mueller U, Klebe G, Weiss MS. F2X-Universal and F2X-Entry: Structurally Diverse Compound Libraries for Crystallographic Fragment Screening. Structure 2020; 28:694-706.e5. [PMID: 32413289 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2020.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Crystallographic fragment screening (CFS) provides excellent starting points for projects concerned with drug discovery or biochemical tool compound development. One of the fundamental prerequisites for effective CFS is the availability of a versatile fragment library. Here, we report on the assembly of the 1,103-compound F2X-Universal Library and its 96-compound sub-selection, the F2X-Entry Screen. Both represent the available fragment chemistry and are highly diverse in terms of their 3D-pharmacophore variations. Validation of the F2X-Entry Screen in CFS campaigns using endothiapepsin and the Aar2/RNaseH complex yielded hit rates of 30% and 21%, respectively, and revealed versatile binding sites. Dry presentation of the libraries allows CFS campaigns to be carried out with or without the co-solvent DMSO present. Most of the hits in our validation campaigns could be reproduced also in the absence of DMSO. Consequently, CFS can be carried out more efficiently and for a wider range of conditions and targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Wollenhaupt
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Design Group, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Macromolecular Crystallography, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Metz
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Design Group, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Tatjana Barthel
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Macromolecular Crystallography, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Structural Biochemistry Group, Takustr. 5, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gustavo M A Lima
- MAX IV Laboratory, Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Andreas Heine
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Design Group, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Mueller
- MAX IV Laboratory, Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Design Group, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Manfred S Weiss
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Macromolecular Crystallography, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
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26
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Glöckner S, Heine A, Klebe G. A Proof-of-Concept Fragment Screening of a Hit-Validated 96-Compounds Library against Human Carbonic Anhydrase II. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10040518. [PMID: 32235320 PMCID: PMC7226012 DOI: 10.3390/biom10040518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fragment screening is a powerful tool to identify and characterize binding pockets in proteins. We herein present the results of a proof-of-concept screening campaign of a versatile 96-entry fragment library from our laboratory against the drug target and model protein human carbonic anhydrase II. The screening revealed a novel chemotype for carbonic anhydrase inhibition, as well as less common non-covalent interaction types and unexpected covalent linkages. Lastly, different runs of the PanDDA tool reveal a practical hint for its application.
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27
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Hassaan E, Eriksson P, Geschwindner S, Heine A, Klebe G. Fragments as Novel Starting Points for tRNA-Guanine Transglycosylase Inhibitors Found by Alternative Screening Strategies. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:324-337. [PMID: 31808981 PMCID: PMC7687107 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201900604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Crystallography provides structural information crucial for fragment optimization, however several criteria must be met to screen directly on protein crystals as soakable, well-diffracting specimen must be available. We screened a 96-fragment library against the tRNA-modifying enzyme TGT using crystallography. Eight hits, some with surprising binding poses, were detected. However, the amount of data collection, reduction and refinement is assumed substantial. Therefore, having a reliable cascade of fast and cost-efficient methods available for pre-screening before embarking to elaborate crystallographic screening appears beneficial. This allows filtering of compounds to the most promising hits, available to rapidly progress from hit-to-lead. But how to ensure that this workflow is reliable? To answer this question, we also applied SPR and NMR to the same screening sample to study whether identical hits are retrieved. Upon hit-list comparisons, crystallography shows with NMR and SPR, only one overlapping hit and all three methods shared no common hits. This questions a cascade-type screening protocol at least in the current example. Compared to crystallography, SPR and NMR detected higher percentages of non-active-site binders suggesting the importance of running reporter ligand-based competitive screens in SPR and NMR, a requirement not needed in crystallography. Although not specific, NMR proved a more sensitive method relative to SPR and crystallography, as it picked up the highest numbers of binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Engi Hassaan
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps University MarburgMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
| | - Per‐Olof Eriksson
- Structure, Biophysics and Fragment-based Lead GenerationDiscovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca431 83GothenburgSweden
| | - Stefan Geschwindner
- Structure, Biophysics and Fragment-based Lead GenerationDiscovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca431 83GothenburgSweden
| | - Andreas Heine
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps University MarburgMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Institute of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps University MarburgMarbacher Weg 635032MarburgGermany
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28
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Cremosnik GS, Liu J, Waldmann H. Guided by evolution: from biology oriented synthesis to pseudo natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 37:1497-1510. [DOI: 10.1039/d0np00015a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This review provides an overview and historical context to two concepts for the design of natural product-inspired compound libraries and highlights the used synthetic methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor S. Cremosnik
- Department of Chemical Biology
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology
- 44227 Dortmund
- Germany
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Chemical Biology
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology
- 44227 Dortmund
- Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Department of Chemical Biology
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology
- 44227 Dortmund
- Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
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29
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Bosc D, Camberlein V, Gealageas R, Castillo-Aguilera O, Deprez B, Deprez-Poulain R. Kinetic Target-Guided Synthesis: Reaching the Age of Maturity. J Med Chem 2019; 63:3817-3833. [PMID: 31820982 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Kinetic target-guided synthesis (KTGS) is an original discovery strategy allowing a target to catalyze the irreversible synthesis of its own ligands from a pool of reagents. Although pioneered almost two decades ago, it only recently proved its usefulness in medicinal chemistry, as exemplified by the increasing number of protein targets used, the wider range of target and pocket types, and the diversity of therapeutic areas explored. In recent years, two new leads for in vivo studies were released. Amidations and multicomponent reactions expanded the armamentarium of reactions beyond triazole formation and two new examples of in cellulo KTGS were also disclosed. Herein, we analyze the origins and the chemical space of both KTGS ligands and warhead-bearing reagents. We review the KTGS timeline focusing on recent cases in order to give medicinal chemists the full scope of this strategy which has great potential for hit discovery and hit or lead optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Bosc
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177-Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Virgyl Camberlein
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177-Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Ronan Gealageas
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177-Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Omar Castillo-Aguilera
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177-Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Benoit Deprez
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177-Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Rebecca Deprez-Poulain
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1177-Drugs and Molecules for Living Systems, F-59000 Lille, France.,Institut Universitaire de France, F- 75005 Paris, France
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30
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Giordanetto F, Jin C, Willmore L, Feher M, Shaw DE. Fragment Hits: What do They Look Like and How do They Bind? J Med Chem 2019; 62:3381-3394. [PMID: 30875465 PMCID: PMC6466478 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
![]()
A “fragment hit”, a
molecule of low molecular weight
that has been validated to bind to a target protein, can be an effective
chemical starting point for a drug discovery project. Our ability
to find and progress fragment hits could potentially be improved by
enhancing our understanding of their binding properties, which to
date has largely been based on tacit knowledge and reports from individual
projects. In the work reported here, we systematically analyzed the
molecular and binding properties of fragment hits using 489 published
protein–fragment complexes. We identified a number of notable
features that these hits tend to have in common, including preferences
in buried surface area upon binding, hydrogen bonding and other directional
interactions with the protein targets, structural topology, functional-group
occurrence, and degree of carbon saturation. In the future, taking
account of these preferences in designing and selecting fragments
to screen against protein targets may increase the chances of success
in fragment screening campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chentian Jin
- D. E. Shaw Research , New York , New York 10036 , United States
| | | | - Miklos Feher
- D. E. Shaw Research , New York , New York 10036 , United States
| | - David E Shaw
- D. E. Shaw Research , New York , New York 10036 , United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics , Columbia University , New York , New York 10032 , United States
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31
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Sarkar A, Sen S. A Comparative Analysis of the Molecular Interaction Techniques for In Silico Drug Design. Int J Pept Res Ther 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-019-09830-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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32
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Abstract
Ligand efficiency is a widely used design parameter in drug discovery. It is calculated by scaling affinity by molecular size and has a nontrivial dependency on the concentration unit used to express affinity that stems from the inability of the logarithm function to take dimensioned arguments. Consequently, perception of efficiency varies with the choice of concentration unit and it is argued that the ligand efficiency metric is not physically meaningful nor should it be considered to be a metric. The dependence of ligand efficiency on the concentration unit can be eliminated by defining efficiency in terms of sensitivity of affinity to molecular size and this is illustrated with reference to fragment-to-lead optimizations. Group efficiency and fit quality are also examined in detail from a physicochemical perspective. The importance of examining relationships between affinity and molecular size directly is stressed throughout this study and an alternative to ligand efficiency for normalization of affinity with respect to molecular size is presented.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter W Kenny
- Berwick-on-Sea, North Coast Road, Blanchisseuse, Saint George, Trinidad and Tobago.
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33
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Bian Y, Xie XQS. Computational Fragment-Based Drug Design: Current Trends, Strategies, and Applications. AAPS JOURNAL 2018; 20:59. [PMID: 29633051 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-018-0216-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Fragment-based drug design (FBDD) has become an effective methodology for drug development for decades. Successful applications of this strategy brought both opportunities and challenges to the field of Pharmaceutical Science. Recent progress in the computational fragment-based drug design provide an additional approach for future research in a time- and labor-efficient manner. Combining multiple in silico methodologies, computational FBDD possesses flexibilities on fragment library selection, protein model generation, and fragments/compounds docking mode prediction. These characteristics provide computational FBDD superiority in designing novel and potential compounds for a certain target. The purpose of this review is to discuss the latest advances, ranging from commonly used strategies to novel concepts and technologies in computational fragment-based drug design. Particularly, in this review, specifications and advantages are compared between experimental and computational FBDD, and additionally, limitations and future prospective are discussed and emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuemin Bian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA.,NIH National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA.,Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA
| | - Xiang-Qun Sean Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Computational Chemical Genomics Screening Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA. .,NIH National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA. .,Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA. .,Department of Computational Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA. .,Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, USA.
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34
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Nagamani S, Gaur AS, Tanneeru K, Muneeswaran G, Madugula SS, Consortium M, Druzhilovskiy D, Poroikov VV, Sastry GN. Molecular property diagnostic suite (MPDS): Development of disease-specific open source web portals for drug discovery. SAR AND QSAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 28:913-926. [PMID: 29206500 DOI: 10.1080/1062936x.2017.1402819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Molecular property diagnostic suite (MPDS) is a Galaxy-based open source drug discovery and development platform. MPDS web portals are designed for several diseases, such as tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, and other metabolic disorders, specifically aimed to evaluate and estimate the drug-likeness of a given molecule. MPDS consists of three modules, namely data libraries, data processing, and data analysis tools which are configured and interconnected to assist drug discovery for specific diseases. The data library module encompasses vast information on chemical space, wherein the MPDS compound library comprises 110.31 million unique molecules generated from public domain databases. Every molecule is assigned with a unique ID and card, which provides complete information for the molecule. Some of the modules in the MPDS are specific to the diseases, while others are non-specific. Importantly, a suitably altered protocol can be effectively generated for another disease-specific MPDS web portal by modifying some of the modules. Thus, the MPDS suite of web portals shows great promise to emerge as disease-specific portals of great value, integrating chemoinformatics, bioinformatics, molecular modelling, and structure- and analogue-based drug discovery approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Nagamani
- a Centre for Molecular Modeling , CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology , Hyderabad , India
| | - A S Gaur
- a Centre for Molecular Modeling , CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology , Hyderabad , India
| | - K Tanneeru
- a Centre for Molecular Modeling , CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology , Hyderabad , India
| | - G Muneeswaran
- a Centre for Molecular Modeling , CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology , Hyderabad , India
| | - S S Madugula
- a Centre for Molecular Modeling , CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology , Hyderabad , India
| | | | | | - V V Poroikov
- b Institute of Biomedical Chemistry , Moscow , Russia
| | - G N Sastry
- a Centre for Molecular Modeling , CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology , Hyderabad , India
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35
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Svensson F, Bender A, Bailey D. Fragment-Based Drug Discovery of Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2017; 61:1415-1424. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Svensson
- IOTA Pharmaceuticals, St Johns
Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge CB4 0WS, U.K
- Centre
for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Andreas Bender
- Centre
for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - David Bailey
- IOTA Pharmaceuticals, St Johns
Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge CB4 0WS, U.K
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36
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Drwal MN, Jacquemard C, Perez C, Desaphy J, Kellenberger E. Do Fragments and Crystallization Additives Bind Similarly to Drug-like Ligands? J Chem Inf Model 2017; 57:1197-1209. [PMID: 28414463 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.6b00769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The success of fragment-based drug design (FBDD) hinges upon the optimization of low-molecular-weight compounds (MW < 300 Da) with weak binding affinities to lead compounds with high affinity and selectivity. Usually, structural information from fragment-protein complexes is used to develop ideas about the binding mode of similar but drug-like molecules. In this regard, crystallization additives such as cryoprotectants or buffer components, which are highly abundant in crystal structures, are frequently ignored. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the information present in protein complexes with fragments as well as those with additives and how they relate to the binding modes of their drug-like counterparts. We present a thorough analysis of the binding modes of crystallographic additives, fragments, and drug-like ligands bound to four diverse targets of wide interest in drug discovery and highly represented in the Protein Data Bank: cyclin-dependent kinase 2, β-secretase 1, carbonic anhydrase 2, and trypsin. We identified a total of 630 unique molecules bound to the catalytic binding sites, among them 31 additives, 222 fragments, and 377 drug-like ligands. In general, we observed that, independent of the target, protein-fragment interaction patterns are highly similar to those of drug-like ligands and mostly cover the residues crucial for binding. Crystallographic additives are also able to show conserved binding modes and recover the residues important for binding in some of the cases. Moreover, we show evidence that the information from fragments and drug-like ligands can be applied to rescore docking poses in order to improve the prediction of binding modes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata N Drwal
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique UMR 7200, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg , 74 Route du Rhin, 674000 Illkirch, France
| | - Célien Jacquemard
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique UMR 7200, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg , 74 Route du Rhin, 674000 Illkirch, France
| | - Carlos Perez
- Eli Lilly Research Laboratories , Avenida de la Industria 30, 28108 Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jérémy Desaphy
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Esther Kellenberger
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique UMR 7200, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg , 74 Route du Rhin, 674000 Illkirch, France
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37
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van der Vlag R, Hirsch A. Analytical Methods in Protein-Templated Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry. COMPREHENSIVE SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY II 2017. [PMCID: PMC7150222 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-409547-2.12559-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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38
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Radeva N, Schiebel J, Wang X, Krimmer SG, Fu K, Stieler M, Ehrmann FR, Metz A, Rickmeyer T, Betz M, Winquist J, Park AY, Huschmann FU, Weiss MS, Mueller U, Heine A, Klebe G. Active Site Mapping of an Aspartic Protease by Multiple Fragment Crystal Structures: Versatile Warheads To Address a Catalytic Dyad. J Med Chem 2016; 59:9743-9759. [PMID: 27726357 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Crystallography is frequently used as follow-up method to validate hits identified by biophysical screening cascades. The capacity of crystallography to directly screen fragment libraries is often underestimated, due to its supposed low-throughput and need for high-quality crystals. We applied crystallographic fragment screening to map the protein-binding site of the aspartic protease endothiapepsin by individual soaking experiments. Here, we report on 41 fragments binding to the catalytic dyad and adjacent specificity pockets. The analysis identifies already known warheads but also reveals hydrazide, pyrazole, or carboxylic acid fragments as novel functional groups binding to the dyad. A remarkable swapping of the S1 and S1' pocket between structurally related fragments is explained by either steric demand, required displacement of a well-bound water molecule, or changes of trigonal-planar to tetrahedral geometry of an oxygen functional group in a side chain. Some warheads simultaneously occupying both S1 and S1' are promising starting points for fragment-growing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nedyalka Radeva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Schiebel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefan G Krimmer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Kan Fu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin Stieler
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Frederik R Ehrmann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Metz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Rickmeyer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael Betz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Johan Winquist
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Ah Young Park
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Franziska U Huschmann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Macromolecular Crystallography (HZB-MX), Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Manfred S Weiss
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Macromolecular Crystallography (HZB-MX), Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Mueller
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Macromolecular Crystallography (HZB-MX), Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany.,MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University , Fotongatan 2, 225 94 Lund, Sweden
| | - Andreas Heine
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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39
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Mondal M, Unver MY, Pal A, Bakker M, Berrier SP, Hirsch AKH. Fragment-Based Drug Design Facilitated by Protein-Templated Click Chemistry: Fragment Linking and Optimization of Inhibitors of the Aspartic Protease Endothiapepsin. Chemistry 2016; 22:14826-14830. [PMID: 27604032 PMCID: PMC5095814 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201603001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for the development of efficient methodologies that accelerate drug discovery. We demonstrate that the strategic combination of fragment linking/optimization and protein-templated click chemistry is an efficient and powerful method that accelerates the hit-identification process for the aspartic protease endothiapepsin. The best binder, which inhibits endothiapepsin with an IC50 value of 43 μm, represents the first example of triazole-based inhibitors of endothiapepsin. Our strategy could find application on a whole range of drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milon Mondal
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - M Yagiz Unver
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Asish Pal
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Sector 64, Mohali, Punjab, 160062, India
| | - Matthijs Bakker
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Stephan P Berrier
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna K H Hirsch
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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40
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Radeva N, Krimmer SG, Stieler M, Fu K, Wang X, Ehrmann FR, Metz A, Huschmann FU, Weiss MS, Mueller U, Schiebel J, Heine A, Klebe G. Experimental Active-Site Mapping by Fragments: Hot Spots Remote from the Catalytic Center of Endothiapepsin. J Med Chem 2016; 59:7561-75. [PMID: 27463859 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Successful optimization of a given lead scaffold requires thorough binding-site mapping of the target protein particular in regions remote from the catalytic center where high conservation across protein families is given. We screened a 361-entry fragment library for binding to the aspartic protease endothiapepsin by crystallography. This enzyme is frequently used as a surrogate for the design of renin and β-secretase inhibitors. A hit rate of 20% was achieved, providing 71 crystal structures. Here, we discuss 45 binding poses of fragments accommodated in pockets remote from the catalytic dyad. Three major hot spots are discovered in remote binding areas: Asp81, Asp119, and Phe291. Compared to the dyad binders, bulkier fragments occupy these regions. Many of the discovered fragments suggest an optimization concept on how to grow them into larger ligands occupying adjacent binding pockets that will possibly endow them with the desired selectivity for one given member of a protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nedyalka Radeva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefan G Krimmer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin Stieler
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Kan Fu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Frederik R Ehrmann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Metz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Franziska U Huschmann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, BESSY II , Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Manfred S Weiss
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, BESSY II , Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Mueller
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, BESSY II , Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany.,MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University , Fotongatan 2, 225 94 Lund, Sweden
| | - Johannes Schiebel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Heine
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg , Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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41
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Mondal M, Radeva N, Fanlo-Virgós H, Otto S, Klebe G, Hirsch AKH. Fragment Linking and Optimization of Inhibitors of the Aspartic Protease Endothiapepsin: Fragment-Based Drug Design Facilitated by Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 55:9422-6. [PMID: 27400756 PMCID: PMC5113778 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201603074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Fragment-based drug design (FBDD) affords active compounds for biological targets. While there are numerous reports on FBDD by fragment growing/optimization, fragment linking has rarely been reported. Dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) has become a powerful hit-identification strategy for biological targets. We report the synergistic combination of fragment linking and DCC to identify inhibitors of the aspartic protease endothiapepsin. Based on X-ray crystal structures of endothiapepsin in complex with fragments, we designed a library of bis-acylhydrazones and used DCC to identify potent inhibitors. The most potent inhibitor exhibits an IC50 value of 54 nm, which represents a 240-fold improvement in potency compared to the parent hits. Subsequent X-ray crystallography validated the predicted binding mode, thus demonstrating the efficiency of the combination of fragment linking and DCC as a hit-identification strategy. This approach could be applied to a range of biological targets, and holds the potential to facilitate hit-to-lead optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milon Mondal
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nedyalka Radeva
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Marbach Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Hugo Fanlo-Virgós
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sijbren Otto
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Marbach Weg 6, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Anna K H Hirsch
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747, AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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42
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Schiebel J, Krimmer SG, Röwer K, Knörlein A, Wang X, Park AY, Stieler M, Ehrmann FR, Fu K, Radeva N, Krug M, Huschmann FU, Glöckner S, Weiss MS, Mueller U, Klebe G, Heine A. High-Throughput Crystallography: Reliable and Efficient Identification of Fragment Hits. Structure 2016; 24:1398-1409. [PMID: 27452405 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2016.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Today the identification of lead structures for drug development often starts from small fragment-like molecules raising the chances to find compounds that successfully pass clinical trials. At the heart of the screening for fragments binding to a specific target, crystallography delivers structural information essential for subsequent drug design. While it is common to search for bound ligands in electron densities calculated directly after an initial refinement cycle, we raise the important question whether this strategy is viable for fragments characterized by low affinities. Here, we describe and provide a collection of high-quality diffraction data obtained from 364 protein crystals treated with diverse fragments. Subsequent data analysis showed that ∼25% of all hits would have been missed without further refining the resulting structures. To enable fast and reliable hit identification, we have designed an automated refinement pipeline that will inspire the development of optimized tools facilitating the successful application of fragment-based methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Schiebel
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefan G Krimmer
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Karine Röwer
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, HZB, BESSY II, Abteilung Makromolekulare Kristallographie, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Knörlein
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Ah Young Park
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin Stieler
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Frederik R Ehrmann
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Kan Fu
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Nedyalka Radeva
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Michael Krug
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, HZB, BESSY II, Abteilung Makromolekulare Kristallographie, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska U Huschmann
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, HZB, BESSY II, Abteilung Makromolekulare Kristallographie, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Steffen Glöckner
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Manfred S Weiss
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, HZB, BESSY II, Abteilung Makromolekulare Kristallographie, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Mueller
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, HZB, BESSY II, Abteilung Makromolekulare Kristallographie, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Heine
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35032 Marburg, Germany.
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43
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Mondal M, Radeva N, Fanlo‐Virgós H, Otto S, Klebe G, Hirsch AKH. Fragmentverknüpfung und ‐optimierung von Hemmstoffen der Aspartylprotease Endothiapepsin: Fragmentbasiertes Wirkstoffdesign beschleunigt durch dynamische kombinatorische Chemie. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201603074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Milon Mondal
- Stratingh Institute for ChemistryUniversity of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 9747 AG Groningen Niederlande
| | - Nedyalka Radeva
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Marbach Weg 6 35032 Marburg Deutschland
| | - Hugo Fanlo‐Virgós
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for ChemistryUniversity of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen Niederlande
| | - Sijbren Otto
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for ChemistryUniversity of Groningen Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen Niederlande
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Marbach Weg 6 35032 Marburg Deutschland
| | - Anna K. H. Hirsch
- Stratingh Institute for ChemistryUniversity of Groningen Nijenborgh 7 9747 AG Groningen Niederlande
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44
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Schiebel J, Radeva N, Krimmer SG, Wang X, Stieler M, Ehrmann FR, Fu K, Metz A, Huschmann FU, Weiss MS, Mueller U, Heine A, Klebe G. Six Biophysical Screening Methods Miss a Large Proportion of Crystallographically Discovered Fragment Hits: A Case Study. ACS Chem Biol 2016; 11:1693-701. [PMID: 27028906 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.5b01034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fragment-based lead discovery (FBLD) has become a pillar in drug development. Typical applications of this method comprise at least two biophysical screens as prefilter and a follow-up crystallographic experiment on a subset of fragments. Clearly, structural information is pivotal in FBLD, but a key question is whether such a screening cascade strategy will retrieve the majority of fragment-bound structures. We therefore set out to screen 361 fragments for binding to endothiapepsin, a representative of the challenging group of aspartic proteases, employing six screening techniques and crystallography in parallel. Crystallography resulted in the very high number of 71 structures. Yet alarmingly, 44% of these hits were not detected by any biophysical screening approach. Moreover, any screening cascade, building on the results from two or more screening methods, would have failed to predict at least 73% of these hits. We thus conclude that, at least in the present case, the frequently applied biophysical prescreening filters deteriorate the number of possible X-ray hits while only the immediate use of crystallography enables exhaustive retrieval of a maximum of fragment structures, which represent a rich source guiding hit-to-lead-to-drug evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Schiebel
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Nedyalka Radeva
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Stefan G. Krimmer
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin Stieler
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Frederik R. Ehrmann
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Kan Fu
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Metz
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Franziska U. Huschmann
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, HZB, BESSY II, Abteilung Makromolekulare Kristallographie,
Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Manfred S. Weiss
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, HZB, BESSY II, Abteilung Makromolekulare Kristallographie,
Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Mueller
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, HZB, BESSY II, Abteilung Makromolekulare Kristallographie,
Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Heine
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Institut
für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg
6, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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45
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Prevet H, Flipo M, Roussel P, Deprez B, Willand N. Microwave-assisted synthesis of functionalized spirohydantoins as 3-D privileged fragments for scouting the chemical space. Tetrahedron Lett 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2016.05.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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46
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Huschmann FU, Linnik J, Sparta K, Ühlein M, Wang X, Metz A, Schiebel J, Heine A, Klebe G, Weiss MS, Mueller U. Structures of endothiapepsin-fragment complexes from crystallographic fragment screening using a novel, diverse and affordable 96-compound fragment library. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2016; 72:346-55. [PMID: 27139825 PMCID: PMC4854561 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x16004623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Crystallographic screening of the binding of small organic compounds (termed fragments) to proteins is increasingly important for medicinal chemistry-oriented drug discovery. To enable such experiments in a widespread manner, an affordable 96-compound library has been assembled for fragment screening in both academia and industry. The library is selected from already existing protein-ligand structures and is characterized by a broad ligand diversity, including buffer ingredients, carbohydrates, nucleotides, amino acids, peptide-like fragments and various drug-like organic compounds. When applied to the model protease endothiapepsin in a crystallographic screening experiment, a hit rate of nearly 10% was obtained. In comparison to other fragment libraries and considering that no pre-screening was performed, this hit rate is remarkably high. This demonstrates the general suitability of the selected compounds for an initial fragment-screening campaign. The library composition, experimental considerations and time requirements for a complete crystallographic fragment-screening campaign are discussed as well as the nine fully refined obtained endothiapepsin-fragment structures. While most of the fragments bind close to the catalytic centre of endothiapepsin in poses that have been observed previously, two fragments address new sites on the protein surface. ITC measurements show that the fragments bind to endothiapepsin with millimolar affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska U. Huschmann
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Janina Linnik
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karine Sparta
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Monika Ühlein
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Metz
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Schiebel
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Heine
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Klebe
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Manfred S. Weiss
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Mueller
- Macromolecular Crystallography, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
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47
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Abstract
XDSAPPis an expert system and graphical user interface (GUI) for the automated processing of diffraction images using theXDSprogram suite and other programs. The latest major update and the extension of the program are presented here. The update includes new features, as well as improvements in the GUI and the underlying decision-making system.XDSAPPis freely available for academic users.
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48
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Hanley RP, Horvath S, An J, Hof F, Wulff JE. Salicylates are interference compounds in TR-FRET assays. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 26:973-977. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.12.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 12/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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49
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Forli S. Charting a Path to Success in Virtual Screening. Molecules 2015; 20:18732-58. [PMID: 26501243 PMCID: PMC4630810 DOI: 10.3390/molecules201018732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Docking is commonly applied to drug design efforts, especially high-throughput virtual screenings of small molecules, to identify new compounds that bind to a given target. Despite great advances and successful applications in recent years, a number of issues remain unsolved. Most of the challenges and problems faced when running docking experiments are independent of the specific software used, and can be ascribed to either improper input preparation or to the simplified approaches applied to achieve high-throughput speed. Being aware of approximations and limitations of such methods is essential to prevent errors, deal with misleading results, and increase the success rate of virtual screening campaigns. In this review, best practices and most common issues of docking and virtual screening will be discussed, covering the journey from the design of the virtual experiment to the hit identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Forli
- Molecular Graphics Laboratory, Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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50
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Wasko MJ, Pellegrene KA, Madura JD, Surratt CK. A Role for Fragment-Based Drug Design in Developing Novel Lead Compounds for Central Nervous System Targets. Front Neurol 2015; 6:197. [PMID: 26441817 PMCID: PMC4566055 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars are invested in the research and development of a single drug. Lead compound development is an area ripe for new design strategies. Therapeutic lead candidates have been traditionally found using high-throughput in vitro pharmacological screening, a costly method for assaying thousands of compounds. This approach has recently been augmented by virtual screening (VS), which employs computer models of the target protein to narrow the search for possible leads. A variant of VS is fragment-based drug design (FBDD), an emerging in silico lead discovery method that introduces low-molecular weight fragments, rather than intact compounds, into the binding pocket of the receptor model. These fragments serve as starting points for “growing” the lead candidate. Current efforts in virtual FBDD within central nervous system (CNS) targets are reviewed, as is a recent rule-based optimization strategy in which new molecules are generated within a 3D receptor-binding pocket using the fragment as a scaffold. This process not only places special emphasis on creating synthesizable molecules but also exposes computational questions worth addressing. Fragment-based methods provide a viable, relatively low-cost alternative for therapeutic lead discovery and optimization that can be applied to CNS targets to augment current design strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Wasko
- Mylan School of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , Pittsburgh, PA , USA
| | - Kendy A Pellegrene
- Mylan School of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , Pittsburgh, PA , USA
| | - Jeffry D Madura
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Computational Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Duquesne University , Pittsburgh, PA , USA
| | - Christopher K Surratt
- Mylan School of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , Pittsburgh, PA , USA
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