Exploring the Binding Pathway of Novel Nonpeptidomimetic Plasmepsin V Inhibitors

J Chem Inf Model. 2023 Nov 13;63(21):6890-6899. doi: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00826. Epub 2023 Oct 6.

Abstract

Predicting the interaction modes and binding affinities of virtual compound libraries is of great interest in drug development. It reduces the cost and time of lead compound identification and selection. Here we apply path-based metadynamics simulations to characterize the binding of potential inhibitors to the Plasmodium falciparum aspartic protease plasmepsin V (plm V), a validated antimalarial drug target that has a highly mobile binding site. The potential plm V binders were identified in a high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) campaign and were experimentally verified in a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay. Our simulations allowed us to estimate compound binding energies and revealed relevant states along binding/unbinding pathways in atomistic resolution. We believe that the method described allows the prioritization of compounds for synthesis and enables rational structure-based drug design for targets that undergo considerable conformational changes upon inhibitor binding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials* / chemistry
  • Antimalarials* / pharmacology
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Binding Sites
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Protease Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • plasmepsin
  • Antimalarials
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Protease Inhibitors