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Ribaudo G, Ongaro A, Oselladore E, Memo M, Gianoncelli A. Combining Electrospray Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) and Computational Techniques in the Assessment of G-Quadruplex Ligands: A Hybrid Approach to Optimize Hit Discovery. J Med Chem 2021; 64:13174-13190. [PMID: 34510895 PMCID: PMC8474113 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00962] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
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Guanine-rich sequences
forming G-quadruplexes (GQs) are present
in several genomes, ranging from viral to human. Given their peculiar
localization, the induction of GQ formation or GQ stabilization with
small molecules represents a strategy for interfering with crucial
biological functions. Investigating the recognition event at the molecular
level, with the aim of fully understanding the triggered pharmacological
effects, is challenging. Native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
(ESI-MS) is being optimized to study these noncovalent assemblies.
Quantitative parameters retrieved from ESI-MS studies, such as binding
affinity, the equilibrium binding constant, and sequence selectivity,
will be overviewed. Computational experiments supporting the ESI-MS
investigation and boosting its efficiency in the search for GQ ligands
will also be discussed with practical examples. The combination of
ESI-MS and in silico techniques in a hybrid high-throughput-screening
workflow represents a valuable tool for the medicinal chemist, providing
data on the quantitative and structural aspects of ligand–GQ
interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Ribaudo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Ongaro
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Erika Oselladore
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Memo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gianoncelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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Molecular dynamics simulations of G-quadruplexes: The basic principles and their application to folding and ligand binding. ANNUAL REPORTS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.armc.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Monsen RC, Trent JO. G-quadruplex virtual drug screening: A review. Biochimie 2018; 152:134-148. [PMID: 29966734 PMCID: PMC6134840 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2018.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Over the past two decades biologists and bioinformaticians have unearthed substantial evidence supporting a role for G-quadruplexes as important mediators of biological processes. This includes telomere damage signaling, transcriptional activity, and splicing. Both their structural heterogeneity and their abundance in oncogene promoters makes them ideal targets for drug discovery. Currently, there are hundreds of deposited DNA and RNA quadruplex atomic structures which have allowed researchers to begin using in silico drug screening approaches to develop novel stabilizing ligands. Here we provide a review of the past decade of G-quadruplex virtual drug discovery approaches and campaigns. With this we introduce relevant virtual screening platforms followed by a discussion of best practices to assist future G4 VS campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Monsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40206, USA
| | - John O Trent
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40206, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40206, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40206, USA.
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Yang L, Wang Y, Li B, Jin Y. High-throughput identification of telomere-binding ligands based on the fluorescence regulation of DNA-copper nanoparticles. Biosens Bioelectron 2016; 87:915-920. [PMID: 27664411 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2016.09.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Formation of the G-quadruplex in the human telomeric DNA is an effective way to inhibit telomerase activity. Therefore, screening ligands of G-quadruplex has potential applications in the treatment of cancer by inhibit telomerase activity. Although several techniques have been explored for screening of telomeric G-quadruplexes ligands, high-throughput screening method for fast screening telomere-binding ligands from the large compound library is still urgently needed. Herein, a label-free fluorescence strategy has been proposed for high-throughput screening telomere-binding ligands by using DNA-copper nanoparticles (DNA-CuNPs) as a signal probe. In the absence of ligands, human telomeric DNA (GDNA) hybridized with its complementary DNA (cDNA) to form double stranded DNA (dsDNA) which can act as an efficient template for the formation of DNA-CuNPs, leading to the high fluorescence of DNA-CuNPs. In the presence of ligands, GDNA folded into G-quadruplex. Single-strdanded cDNA does not support the formation of DNA-CuNP, resulting in low fluorescence of DNA-CuNPs. Therefore, telomere-binding ligands can be high-throughput screened by monitoring the change in the fluorescence of DNA-CuNPs. Thirteen traditional chinese medicines were screened. Circular dichroism (CD) measurements demonstrated that the selected ligands could induce single-stranded telomeric DNA to form G-quadruplex. The telomere repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay demonstrated that the selected ligands can effectively inhibit telomerase activity. Therefore, it offers a cost-effective, label-free and reliable high-throughput way to identify G-quadruplex ligands, which holds great potential in discovering telomerase-targeted anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luzhu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Yanjun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Baoxin Li
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Yan Jin
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
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Falconer RJ. Applications of isothermal titration calorimetry - the research and technical developments from 2011 to 2015. J Mol Recognit 2016; 29:504-15. [PMID: 27221459 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Isothermal titration calorimetry is a widely used biophysical technique for studying the formation or dissociation of molecular complexes. Over the last 5 years, much work has been published on the interpretation of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) data for single binding and multiple binding sites. As over 80% of ITC papers are on macromolecules of biological origin, this interpretation is challenging. Some researchers have attempted to link the thermodynamics constants to events at the molecular level. This review highlights work carried out using binding sites characterized using x-ray crystallography techniques that allow speculation about individual bond formation and the displacement of individual water molecules during ligand binding and link these events to the thermodynamic constants for binding. The review also considers research conducted with synthetic binding partners where specific binding events like anion-π and π-π interactions were studied. The revival of assays that enable both thermodynamic and kinetic information to be collected from ITC data is highlighted. Lastly, published criticism of ITC research from a physical chemistry perspective is appraised and practical advice provided for researchers unfamiliar with thermodynamics and its interpretation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Falconer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ChELSI Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
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Pagano B, Amato J, Iaccarino N, Cingolani C, Zizza P, Biroccio A, Novellino E, Randazzo A. Looking for efficient G-quadruplex ligands: evidence for selective stabilizing properties and telomere damage by drug-like molecules. ChemMedChem 2015; 10:640-9. [PMID: 25694275 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201402552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
There is currently significant interest in the development of G-quadruplex-interactive compounds, given the relationship between the ability to stabilize these non-canonical DNA structures and anticancer activity. In this study, a set of biophysical assays was applied to evaluate the binding of six drug-like ligands to DNA G-quadruplexes with different folding topologies. Interestingly, two of the investigated ligands showed selective G-quadruplex-stabilizing properties and biological activity. These compounds may represent useful leads for the development of more potent and selective ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Pagano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli (Italy)
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Zhang H, Wei K, Zhang M, Liu R, Chen Y. Assessing the mechanism of DNA damage induced by lead through direct and indirect interactions. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2014; 136:46-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2014.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2014] [Revised: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Di Leva FS, Novellino E, Cavalli A, Parrinello M, Limongelli V. Mechanistic insight into ligand binding to G-quadruplex DNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:5447-55. [PMID: 24753420 PMCID: PMC4027208 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2013] [Revised: 03/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific guanine-rich regions in human genome can form higher-order DNA structures called G-quadruplexes, which regulate many relevant biological processes. For instance, the formation of G-quadruplex at telomeres can alter cellular functions, inducing apoptosis. Thus, developing small molecules that are able to bind and stabilize the telomeric G-quadruplexes represents an attractive strategy for antitumor therapy. An example is 3-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-7-hydroxy-8-((4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl)-2H-chromen-2-one (compound 1: ), recently identified as potent ligand of the G-quadruplex [d(TGGGGT)]4 with promising in vitro antitumor activity. The experimental observations are suggestive of a complex binding mechanism that, despite efforts, has defied full characterization. Here, we provide through metadynamics simulations a comprehensive understanding of the binding mechanism of 1: to the G-quadruplex [d(TGGGGT)]4. In our calculations, the ligand explores all the available binding sites on the DNA structure and the free-energy landscape of the whole binding process is computed. We have thus disclosed a peculiar hopping binding mechanism whereas 1: is able to bind both to the groove and to the 3' end of the G-quadruplex. Our results fully explain the available experimental data, rendering our approach of great value for further ligand/DNA studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Saverio Di Leva
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego, 30, I-16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", via D. Montesano, 49, I-80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego, 30, I-16163 Genoa, Italy Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro, 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Parrinello
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, and Facoltà di Informatica, Istituto di Scienze Computazionali, Università della Svizzera Italiana, via G. Buffi, 13, CH-6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Vittorio Limongelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", via D. Montesano, 49, I-80131 Naples, Italy
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Di Leva FS, Zizza P, Cingolani C, D'Angelo C, Pagano B, Amato J, Salvati E, Sissi C, Pinato O, Marinelli L, Cavalli A, Cosconati S, Novellino E, Randazzo A, Biroccio A. Exploring the chemical space of G-quadruplex binders: discovery of a novel chemotype targeting the human telomeric sequence. J Med Chem 2013; 56:9646-54. [PMID: 24256368 DOI: 10.1021/jm401185b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent findings have unambiguously demonstrated that DNA G-rich sequences can adopt a G-quadruplex folding in living cells, thus further validating them as crucial targets for anticancer therapy. Herein, to identify new potent G4 binders as antitumor drug candidates, we have targeted a 24-nt G4-forming telomeric sequence employing a receptor-based virtual screening approach. Among the best candidates, in vitro binding experiments allowed identification of three novel G4 ligands. Among them, the best compound features an unprecedented binding selectivity for the human telomeric DNA G-quadruplex with no detectable binding for other G4-forming sequences present at different genomic sites. This behavior correlates with the detected ability to generate DNA damage response in tumor cells at the telomeric level and efficient antiproliferative effect on different tumor cell lines at low micromolar concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Saverio Di Leva
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
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Honarparvar B, Govender T, Maguire GEM, Soliman MES, Kruger HG. Integrated Approach to Structure-Based Enzymatic Drug Design: Molecular Modeling, Spectroscopy, and Experimental Bioactivity. Chem Rev 2013; 114:493-537. [DOI: 10.1021/cr300314q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bahareh Honarparvar
- Catalysis
and Peptide Research Unit and ‡School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Thavendran Govender
- Catalysis
and Peptide Research Unit and ‡School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Glenn E. M. Maguire
- Catalysis
and Peptide Research Unit and ‡School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Mahmoud E. S. Soliman
- Catalysis
and Peptide Research Unit and ‡School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Hendrik G. Kruger
- Catalysis
and Peptide Research Unit and ‡School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
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12
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Cosconati S, Rizzo A, Trotta R, Pagano B, Iachettini S, De Tito S, Lauri I, Fotticchia I, Giustiniano M, Marinelli L, Giancola C, Novellino E, Biroccio A, Randazzo A. Shooting for selective druglike G-quadruplex binders: evidence for telomeric DNA damage and tumor cell death. J Med Chem 2012; 55:9785-92. [PMID: 23057850 DOI: 10.1021/jm301019w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Targeting of DNA secondary structures, such as G-quadruplexes, is now considered an appealing opportunity for drug intervention in anticancer therapy. So far, efforts made in the discovery of chemotypes able to target G-quadruplexes mainly succeeded in the identification of a number of polyaromatic compounds featuring end-stacking binding properties. Against this general trend, we were persuaded that the G-quadruplex grooves can recognize molecular entities with better drug-like and selectivity properties. From this idea, a set of small molecules was identified and the structural features responsible for G-quadruplex recognition were delineated. These compounds were demonstrated to have enhanced affinity and selectivity for the G-quadruplex over the duplex structure. Their ability to induce selective DNA damage at telomeric level and to induction of apoptosis and senescence on tumor cells is herein experimentally proven.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Cosconati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Seconda Università di Napoli , 81100 Caserta, Italy
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Ma DL, Chan DSH, Fu WC, He HZ, Yang H, Yan SC, Leung CH. Discovery of a natural product-like c-myc G-quadruplex DNA groove-binder by molecular docking. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43278. [PMID: 22912844 PMCID: PMC3422278 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The natural product-like carbamide (1) has been identified as a stabilizer of the c-myc G-quadruplex through high-throughput virtual screening. NMR and molecular modeling experiments revealed a groove-binding mode for 1. The biological activity of 1 against the c-myc G-quadruplex was confirmed by its ability to inhibit Taq polymerase-mediated DNA extension and c-myc expression in vitro, demonstrating that 1 is able to control c-myc gene expression at the transcriptional level presumably through the stabilization of the c-myc promoter G-quadruplex. Furthermore, the interaction between carbamide analogues and the c-myc G-quadruplex was also investigated by in vitro experiments in order to generate a brief structure-activity relationship (SAR) for the observed potency of carbamide 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dik-Lung Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
- * E-mail: (DLM); (CHL)
| | - Daniel Shiu-Hin Chan
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai-Chung Fu
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hong-Zhang He
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu-Cheong Yan
- Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung-Hang Leung
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
- * E-mail: (DLM); (CHL)
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šponer J, Cang X, Cheatham TE. Molecular dynamics simulations of G-DNA and perspectives on the simulation of nucleic acid structures. Methods 2012; 57:25-39. [PMID: 22525788 PMCID: PMC3775459 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2012.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2012] [Revised: 04/04/2012] [Accepted: 04/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The article reviews the application of biomolecular simulation methods to understand the structure, dynamics and interactions of nucleic acids with a focus on explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations of guanine quadruplex (G-DNA and G-RNA) molecules. While primarily dealing with these exciting and highly relevant four-stranded systems, where recent and past simulations have provided several interesting results and novel insight into G-DNA structure, the review provides some general perspectives on the applicability of the simulation techniques to nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří šponer
- Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
- CEITEC – Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Campus Bohunice, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Xiaohui Cang
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Thomas E. Cheatham
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Skaggs Hall 201, 2000 East 30 South, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
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