Receptor-based virtual screening of EGFR kinase inhibitors from the NCI diversity database

Molecules. 2010 Jun 4;15(6):4041-54. doi: 10.3390/molecules15064041.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) abnormalities have been associated with several types of human cancer. The crystal structures of its tyrosine kinase domain (EGFR-TK) complexed with small molecule inhibitors revealed the kinase inhibition modes, prompting us to search for novel anti-cancer drugs. A total of 1,990 compounds from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) diversity set with nonredundant structures have been tested to inhibit cancer cell lines with unknown mechanism. Cancer inhibition through EGFR-TK is one of the mechanisms of these compounds. In this work, we performed receptor-based virtual screening against the NCI diversity database. Using two different docking algorithms, AutoDock and Gold, combined with subsequent post-docking analyses, we found eight candidate compounds with high scoring functions that all bind to the ATP-competitive site of the kinase. None of these compounds belongs to the main group of the currently known EGFR-TK inhibitors. Binding mode analyses revealed that the way these compounds complexed with EGFR-TK differs from quinazoline inhibitor binding and the interaction mainly involves hydrophobic interactions. Also, the common kinase-inhibitor (NH---N and CO---HC) hydrogen bonds between the hinge region and the hit compounds are rarely observed. Our results suggest that these molecules could be developed as novel lead compounds in anti-cancer drug design.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Databases, Factual*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / chemistry
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Molecular Structure
  • National Cancer Institute (U.S.)*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • United States

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors