From laptop to benchtop to bedside: structure-based drug design on protein targets

Curr Pharm Des. 2012;18(9):1217-39. doi: 10.2174/138161212799436386.

Abstract

As an important aspect of computer-aided drug design, structure-based drug design brought a new horizon to pharmaceutical development. This in silico method permeates all aspects of drug discovery today, including lead identification, lead optimization, ADMET prediction and drug repurposing. Structure-based drug design has resulted in fruitful successes drug discovery targeting proteinligand and protein-protein interactions. Meanwhile, challenges, noted by low accuracy and combinatoric issues, may also cause failures. In this review, state-of-the-art techniques for protein modeling (e.g. structure prediction, modeling protein flexibility, etc.), hit identification/ optimization (e.g. molecular docking, focused library design, fragment-based design, molecular dynamic, etc.), and polypharmacology design will be discussed. We will explore how structure-based techniques can facilitate the drug discovery process and interplay with other experimental approaches.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Computer-Aided Design*
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Discovery / methods
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Conformation
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Proteins