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Wang M, Wu Z, Wang J, Weng G, Kang Y, Pan P, Li D, Deng Y, Yao X, Bing Z, Hsieh CY, Hou T. Genetic Algorithm-Based Receptor Ligand: A Genetic Algorithm-Guided Generative Model to Boost the Novelty and Drug-Likeness of Molecules in a Sampling Chemical Space. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:1213-1228. [PMID: 38302422 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Deep learning-based de novo molecular design has recently gained significant attention. While numerous DL-based generative models have been successfully developed for designing novel compounds, the majority of the generated molecules lack sufficiently novel scaffolds or high drug-like profiles. The aforementioned issues may not be fully captured by commonly used metrics for the assessment of molecular generative models, such as novelty, diversity, and quantitative estimation of the drug-likeness score. To address these limitations, we proposed a genetic algorithm-guided generative model called GARel (genetic algorithm-based receptor-ligand interaction generator), a novel framework for training a DL-based generative model to produce drug-like molecules with novel scaffolds. To efficiently train the GARel model, we utilized dense net to update the parameters based on molecules with novel scaffolds and drug-like features. To demonstrate the capability of the GARel model, we used it to design inhibitors for three targets: AA2AR, EGFR, and SARS-Cov2. The results indicate that GARel-generated molecules feature more diverse and novel scaffolds and possess more desirable physicochemical properties and favorable docking scores. Compared with other generative models, GARel makes significant progress in balancing novelty and drug-likeness, providing a promising direction for the further development of DL-based de novo design methodology with potential impacts on drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Zhengjian Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
- School of Computer Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, Hubei ,China
| | - Jike Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Gaoqi Weng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Yu Kang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Peichen Pan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Dan Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Yafeng Deng
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Xiaojun Yao
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Zhitong Bing
- Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Chang-Yu Hsieh
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang ,China
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2
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Fragment-Based Lead Discovery Strategies in Antimicrobial Drug Discovery. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12020315. [PMID: 36830226 PMCID: PMC9951956 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12020315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragment-based lead discovery (FBLD) is a powerful application for developing ligands as modulators of disease targets. This approach strategy involves identification of interactions between low-molecular weight compounds (100-300 Da) and their putative targets, often with low affinity (KD ~0.1-1 mM) interactions. The focus of this screening methodology is to optimize and streamline identification of fragments with higher ligand efficiency (LE) than typical high-throughput screening. The focus of this review is on the last half decade of fragment-based drug discovery strategies that have been used for antimicrobial drug discovery.
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3
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Wang M, Wang J, Weng G, Kang Y, Pan P, Li D, Deng Y, Li H, Hsieh CY, Hou T. ReMODE: a deep learning-based web server for target-specific drug design. J Cheminform 2022; 14:84. [PMID: 36510307 PMCID: PMC9743675 DOI: 10.1186/s13321-022-00665-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep learning (DL) and machine learning contribute significantly to basic biology research and drug discovery in the past few decades. Recent advances in DL-based generative models have led to superior developments in de novo drug design. However, data availability, deep data processing, and the lack of user-friendly DL tools and interfaces make it difficult to apply these DL techniques to drug design. We hereby present ReMODE (Receptor-based MOlecular DEsign), a new web server based on DL algorithm for target-specific ligand design, which integrates different functional modules to enable users to develop customizable drug design tasks. As designed, the ReMODE sever can construct the target-specific tasks toward the protein targets selected by users. Meanwhile, the server also provides some extensions: users can optimize the drug-likeness or synthetic accessibility of the generated molecules, and control other physicochemical properties; users can also choose a sub-structure/scaffold as a starting point for fragment-based drug design. The ReMODE server also enables users to optimize the pharmacophore matching and docking conformations of the generated molecules. We believe that the ReMODE server will benefit researchers for drug discovery. ReMODE is publicly available at http://cadd.zju.edu.cn/relation/remode/ .
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Wang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInnovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China ,CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Jike Wang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInnovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China ,CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Gaoqi Weng
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInnovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China ,CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Kang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInnovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Peichen Pan
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInnovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan Li
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInnovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Yafeng Deng
- CarbonSilicon AI Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310018 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Honglin Li
- grid.28056.390000 0001 2163 4895Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai, 200237 People’s Republic of China
| | - Chang-Yu Hsieh
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInnovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XInnovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 Zhejiang People’s Republic of China
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4
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Kumar R, Sharma A, Alexiou A, Ashraf GM. Artificial Intelligence in De novo Drug Design: Are We Still There? Curr Top Med Chem 2022; 22:2483-2492. [PMID: 36263480 DOI: 10.2174/1568026623666221017143244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted design of drug candidates with novel structures and desired properties has received significant attention in the recent past, so related areas of forward prediction that aim to discover chemical matters worth synthesizing and further experimental investigation. OBJECTIVES The purpose behind developing AI-driven models is to explore the broader chemical space and suggest new drug candidate scaffolds with promising therapeutic value. Moreover, it is anticipated that such AI-based models may not only significantly reduce the cost and time but also decrease the attrition rate of drug candidates that fail to reach the desirable endpoints at the final stages of drug development. In an attempt to develop AI-based models for de novo drug design, numerous methods have been proposed by various study groups by applying machine learning and deep learning algorithms to chemical datasets. However, there are many challenges in obtaining accurate predictions, and real breakthroughs in de novo drug design are still scarce. METHODS In this review, we explore the recent trends in developing AI-based models for de novo drug design to assess the current status, challenges, and opportunities in the field. CONCLUSION The consistently improved AI algorithms and the abundance of curated training chemical data indicate that AI-based de novo drug design should perform better than the current models. Improvements in the performance are warranted to obtain better outcomes in the form of potential drug candidates, which can perform well in in vivo conditions, especially in the case of more complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajnish Kumar
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Campus, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anju Sharma
- Department of Applied Science, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, 2770 NSW, Australia.,AFNP Med Austria, 1010 Wien, Austria
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- Pre-Clinical Research Unit (PCRU), King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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5
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Menon D, Ranganathan R. A Generative Approach to Materials Discovery, Design, and Optimization. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:25958-25973. [PMID: 35936396 PMCID: PMC9352221 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite its potential to transform society, materials research suffers from a major drawback: its long research timeline. Recently, machine-learning techniques have emerged as a viable solution to this drawback and have shown accuracies comparable to other computational techniques like density functional theory (DFT) at a fraction of the computational time. One particular class of machine-learning models, known as "generative models", is of particular interest owing to its ability to approximate high-dimensional probability distribution functions, which in turn can be used to generate novel data such as molecular structures by sampling these approximated probability distribution functions. This review article aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the underlying mathematical principles of popular generative models such as recurrent neural networks, variational autoencoders, and generative adversarial networks and discuss their state-of-the-art applications in the domains of biomaterials and organic drug-like materials, energy materials, and structural materials. Here, we discuss a broad range of applications of these models spanning from the discovery of drugs that treat cancer to finding the first room-temperature superconductor and from the discovery and optimization of battery and photovoltaic materials to the optimization of high-entropy alloys. We conclude by presenting a brief outlook of the major challenges that lie ahead for the mainstream usage of these models for materials research.
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6
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Wang M, Hsieh CY, Wang J, Wang D, Weng G, Shen C, Yao X, Bing Z, Li H, Cao D, Hou T. RELATION: A Deep Generative Model for Structure-Based De Novo Drug Design. J Med Chem 2022; 65:9478-9492. [PMID: 35713420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Deep learning (DL)-based de novo molecular design has recently gained considerable traction. Many DL-based generative models have been successfully developed to design novel molecules, but most of them are ligand-centric and the role of the 3D geometries of target binding pockets in molecular generation has not been well-exploited. Here, we proposed a new 3D-based generative model called RELATION. In the RELATION model, the BiTL algorithm was specifically designed to extract and transfer the desired geometric features of the protein-ligand complexes to a latent space for generation. The pharmacophore conditioning and docking-based Bayesian sampling were applied to efficiently navigate the vast chemical space for the design of molecules with desired geometric properties and pharmacophore features. As a proof of concept, the RELATION model was used to design inhibitors for two targets, AKT1 and CDK2. The calculation results demonstrated that the RELATION model could efficiently generate novel molecules with favorable binding affinity and pharmacophore features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Wang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Chang-Yu Hsieh
- Tencent, Tencent Quantum Lab, Shenzhen 518057, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Jike Wang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Dong Wang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Gaoqi Weng
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Chao Shen
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojun Yao
- Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa 999078, Macau, P. R. China
| | - Zhitong Bing
- Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Honglin Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Dongsheng Cao
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
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7
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Bai Q, Liu S, Tian Y, Xu T, Banegas‐Luna AJ, Pérez‐Sánchez H, Huang J, Liu H, Yao X. Application advances of deep learning methods for de novo drug design and molecular dynamics simulation. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qifeng Bai
- Key Lab of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
| | - Shuo Liu
- School of Pharmacy Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
| | - Yanan Tian
- School of Pharmacy Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
| | - Tingyang Xu
- Tencent AI Lab, Shenzhen Tencent Computer Ltd Shenzhen China
| | - Antonio Jesús Banegas‐Luna
- Structural Bioinformatics and High Performance Computing Research Group (BIO‐HPC), Computer Engineering Department UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - Horacio Pérez‐Sánchez
- Structural Bioinformatics and High Performance Computing Research Group (BIO‐HPC), Computer Engineering Department UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia Murcia Spain
| | - Junzhou Huang
- Tencent AI Lab, Shenzhen Tencent Computer Ltd Shenzhen China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- School of Pharmacy Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
| | - Xiaojun Yao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Lanzhou University Lanzhou Gansu China
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8
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Rodríguez-Pérez R, Miljković F, Bajorath J. Machine Learning in Chemoinformatics and Medicinal Chemistry. Annu Rev Biomed Data Sci 2022; 5:43-65. [PMID: 35440144 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biodatasci-122120-124216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In chemoinformatics and medicinal chemistry, machine learning has evolved into an important approach. In recent years, increasing computational resources and new deep learning algorithms have put machine learning onto a new level, addressing previously unmet challenges in pharmaceutical research. In silico approaches for compound activity predictions, de novo design, and reaction modeling have been further advanced by new algorithmic developments and the emergence of big data in the field. Herein, novel applications of machine learning and deep learning in chemoinformatics and medicinal chemistry are reviewed. Opportunities and challenges for new methods and applications are discussed, placing emphasis on proper baseline comparisons, robust validation methodologies, and new applicability domains. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biomedical Data Science, Volume 5 is August 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Rodríguez-Pérez
- Department of Life Science Informatics, B-IT (Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology), Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Program Unit, LIMES (Life and Medical Sciences Institute), Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany; .,Current affiliation: Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Novartis Campus, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Filip Miljković
- Department of Life Science Informatics, B-IT (Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology), Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Program Unit, LIMES (Life and Medical Sciences Institute), Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany; .,Current affiliation: Data Science and AI, Imaging and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jürgen Bajorath
- Department of Life Science Informatics, B-IT (Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology), Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Program Unit, LIMES (Life and Medical Sciences Institute), Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany;
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9
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Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools find increasing application in drug discovery supporting every stage of the Design-Make-Test-Analyse (DMTA) cycle. The main focus of this chapter is the application in molecular generation with the aid of deep neural networks (DNN). We present a historical overview of the main advances in the field. We analyze the concepts of distribution and goal-directed learning and then highlight some of the recent applications of generative models in drug design with a focus into research work from the biopharmaceutical industry. We present in some more detail REINVENT which is an open-source software developed within our group in AstraZeneca and the main platform for AI molecular design support for a number of medicinal chemistry projects in the company and we also demonstrate some of our work in library design. Finally, we present some of the main challenges in the application of AI in Drug Discovery and different approaches to respond to these challenges which define areas for current and future work.
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10
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Machine learning & deep learning in data-driven decision making of drug discovery and challenges in high-quality data acquisition in the pharmaceutical industry. Future Med Chem 2021; 14:245-270. [PMID: 34939433 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2021-0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Predicting novel small molecule bioactivities for the target deconvolution, hit-to-lead optimization in drug discovery research, requires molecular representation. Previous reports have demonstrated that machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) have substantial implications in virtual screening, peptide synthesis, drug ADMET screening and biomarker discovery. These strategies can increase the positive outcomes in the drug discovery process without false-positive rates and can be achieved in a cost-effective way with a minimum duration of time by high-quality data acquisition. This review substantially discusses the recent updates in AI tools as cheminformatics application in medicinal chemistry for the data-driven decision making of drug discovery and challenges in high-quality data acquisition in the pharmaceutical industry while improving small-molecule bioactivities and properties.
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11
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Piticchio SG, Martínez-Cartró M, Scaffidi S, Rachman M, Rodriguez-Arevalo S, Sanchez-Arfelis A, Escolano C, Picaud S, Krojer T, Filippakopoulos P, von Delft F, Galdeano C, Barril X. Discovery of Novel BRD4 Ligand Scaffolds by Automated Navigation of the Fragment Chemical Space. J Med Chem 2021; 64:17887-17900. [PMID: 34898210 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is a very effective hit identification method. However, the evolution of fragment hits into suitable leads remains challenging and largely artisanal. Fragment evolution is often scaffold-centric, meaning that its outcome depends crucially on the chemical structure of the starting fragment. Considering that fragment screening libraries cover only a small proportion of the corresponding chemical space, hits should be seen as probes highlighting privileged areas of the chemical space rather than actual starting points. We have developed an automated computational pipeline to mine the chemical space around any specific fragment hit, rapidly finding analogues that share a common interaction motif but are structurally novel and diverse. On a prospective application on the bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), starting from a known fragment, the platform yields active molecules with nonobvious scaffold changes. The procedure is fast and inexpensive and has the potential to uncover many hidden opportunities in FBDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena G Piticchio
- Departament de Farmacia i Tecnología Farmacèutica, i Fisicoquímica, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Míriam Martínez-Cartró
- Departament de Farmacia i Tecnología Farmacèutica, i Fisicoquímica, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvatore Scaffidi
- Departament de Farmacia i Tecnología Farmacèutica, i Fisicoquímica, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Moira Rachman
- Departament de Farmacia i Tecnología Farmacèutica, i Fisicoquímica, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergio Rodriguez-Arevalo
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ainoa Sanchez-Arfelis
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Escolano
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah Picaud
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 7DQ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tobias Krojer
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 7DQ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Panagis Filippakopoulos
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 7DQ Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Frank von Delft
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 7DQ Oxford, United Kingdom.,Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom.,Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, United Kingdom.,Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
| | - Carles Galdeano
- Departament de Farmacia i Tecnología Farmacèutica, i Fisicoquímica, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Barril
- Departament de Farmacia i Tecnología Farmacèutica, i Fisicoquímica, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona 08010, Spain
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12
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Wang M, Sun H, Wang J, Pang J, Chai X, Xu L, Li H, Cao D, Hou T. Comprehensive assessment of deep generative architectures for de novo drug design. Brief Bioinform 2021; 23:6470970. [PMID: 34929743 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, deep learning (DL)-based de novo drug design represents a new trend in pharmaceutical research, and numerous DL-based methods have been developed for the generation of novel compounds with desired properties. However, a comprehensive understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of these methods is still lacking. In this study, the performances of different generative models were evaluated by analyzing the properties of the generated molecules in different scenarios, such as goal-directed (rediscovery, optimization and scaffold hopping of active compounds) and target-specific (generation of novel compounds for a given target) tasks. In overall, the DL-based models have significant advantages over the baseline models built by the traditional methods in learning the physicochemical property distributions of the training sets and may be more suitable for target-specific tasks. However, both the baselines and DL-based generative models cannot fully exploit the scaffolds of the training sets, and the molecules generated by the DL-based methods even have lower scaffold diversity than those generated by the traditional models. Moreover, our assessment illustrates that the DL-based methods do not exhibit obvious advantages over the genetic algorithm-based baselines in goal-directed tasks. We believe that our study provides valuable guidance for the effective use of generative models in de novo drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Wang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Huiyong Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Jike Wang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jinping Pang
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Xin Chai
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Lei Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Honglin Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Dongsheng Cao
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, P. R. China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
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13
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Fragment-to-lead tailored in silico design. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2021; 40:44-57. [PMID: 34916022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) emerged as a disruptive technology and became established during the last two decades. Its rationality and low entry costs make it appealing, and the numerous examples of approved drugs discovered through FBDD validate the approach. However, FBDD still faces numerous challenges. Perhaps the most important one is the transformation of the initial fragment hits into viable leads. Fragment-to-lead (F2L) optimization is resource-intensive and is therefore limited in the possibilities that can be actively pursued. In silico strategies play an important role in F2L, as they can perform a deeper exploration of chemical space, prioritize molecules with high probabilities of being active and generate non-obvious ideas. Here we provide a critical overview of current in silico strategies in F2L optimization and highlight their remarkable impact. While very effective, most solutions are target- or fragment- specific. We propose that fully integrated in silico strategies, capable of automatically and systematically exploring the fast-growing available chemical space can have a significant impact on accelerating the release of fragment originated drugs.
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14
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Turner LD, Trinh CH, Hubball RA, Orritt KM, Lin CC, Burns JE, Knowles MA, Fishwick CWG. From Fragment to Lead: De Novo Design and Development toward a Selective FGFR2 Inhibitor. J Med Chem 2021; 65:1481-1504. [PMID: 34780700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are implicated in a range of cancers with several pan-kinase and selective-FGFR inhibitors currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Pan-FGFR inhibitors often cause toxic side effects and few examples of subtype-selective inhibitors exist. Herein, we describe a structure-guided approach toward the development of a selective FGFR2 inhibitor. De novo design was carried out on an existing fragment series to yield compounds predicted to improve potency against the FGFRs. Subsequent iterative rounds of synthesis and biological evaluation led to an inhibitor with nanomolar potency that exhibited moderate selectivity for FGFR2 over FGFR1/3. Subtle changes to the lead inhibitor resulted in a complete loss of selectivity for FGFR2. X-ray crystallographic studies revealed inhibitor-specific morphological differences in the P-loop which were posited to be fundamental to the selectivity of these compounds. Additional docking studies have predicted an FGFR2-selective H-bond which could be utilized to design more selective FGFR2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis D Turner
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Chi H Trinh
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Ryan A Hubball
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Kyle M Orritt
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Chi-Chuan Lin
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Julie E Burns
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS9 7TF, U.K
| | - Margaret A Knowles
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS9 7TF, U.K
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15
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Deep Learning Applied to Ligand-Based De Novo Drug Design. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2021; 2390:273-299. [PMID: 34731474 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1787-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In the latest years, the application of deep generative models to suggest virtual compounds is becoming a new and powerful tool in drug discovery projects. The idea behind this review is to offer an updated view on de novo design approaches based on artificial intelligent (AI) algorithms, with a particular focus on ligand-based methods. We start this review by reporting a brief overview of the most relevant de novo design approaches developed before the use of AI techniques. We then describe the nowadays most common neural network architectures employed in ligand-based de novo design, together with an up-to-date list of more than 100 deep generative models found in the literature (2017-2020). In order to show how deep generative approaches are applied into drug discovery context, we report all the now available studies in which generated compounds have been synthetized and their biological activity tested. Finally, we discuss what we envisage as beneficial future directions for further application of deep generative models in de novo drug design.
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16
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Cincilla G, Masoni S, Blobel J. Individual and collective human intelligence in drug design: evaluating the search strategy. J Cheminform 2021; 13:80. [PMID: 34635158 PMCID: PMC8507178 DOI: 10.1186/s13321-021-00556-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, individual and collective human intelligence, defined as the knowledge, skills, reasoning and intuition of individuals and groups, have been used in combination with computer algorithms to solve complex scientific problems. Such approach was successfully used in different research fields such as: structural biology, comparative genomics, macromolecular crystallography and RNA design. Herein we describe an attempt to use a similar approach in small-molecule drug discovery, specifically to drive search strategies of de novo drug design. This is assessed with a case study that consists of a series of public experiments in which participants had to explore the huge chemical space in silico to find predefined compounds by designing molecules and analyzing the score associate with them. Such a process may be seen as an instantaneous surrogate of the classical design-make-test cycles carried out by medicinal chemists during the drug discovery hit to lead phase but not hindered by long synthesis and testing times. We present first findings on (1) assessing human intelligence in chemical space exploration, (2) comparing individual and collective human intelligence performance in this task and (3) contrasting some human and artificial intelligence achievements in de novo drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Cincilla
- Molomics, Barcelona Science Park, c/Baldiri i Reixac 4-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Simone Masoni
- Molomics, Barcelona Science Park, c/Baldiri i Reixac 4-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jascha Blobel
- Molomics, Barcelona Science Park, c/Baldiri i Reixac 4-12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Meyers J, Fabian B, Brown N. De novo molecular design and generative models. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:2707-2715. [PMID: 34082136 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Molecular design strategies are integral to therapeutic progress in drug discovery. Computational approaches for de novo molecular design have been developed over the past three decades and, recently, thanks in part to advances in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), the drug discovery field has gained practical experience. Here, we review these learnings and present de novo approaches according to the coarseness of their molecular representation: that is, whether molecular design is modeled on an atom-based, fragment-based, or reaction-based paradigm. Furthermore, we emphasize the value of strong benchmarks, describe the main challenges to using these methods in practice, and provide a viewpoint on further opportunities for exploration and challenges to be tackled in the upcoming years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nathan Brown
- BenevolentAI, 4-8 Maple Street, London W1T 5HD, UK
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18
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Mouchlis VD, Afantitis A, Serra A, Fratello M, Papadiamantis AG, Aidinis V, Lynch I, Greco D, Melagraki G. Advances in de Novo Drug Design: From Conventional to Machine Learning Methods. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1676. [PMID: 33562347 PMCID: PMC7915729 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
. De novo drug design is a computational approach that generates novel molecular structures from atomic building blocks with no a priori relationships. Conventional methods include structure-based and ligand-based design, which depend on the properties of the active site of a biological target or its known active binders, respectively. Artificial intelligence, including machine learning, is an emerging field that has positively impacted the drug discovery process. Deep reinforcement learning is a subdivision of machine learning that combines artificial neural networks with reinforcement-learning architectures. This method has successfully been employed to develop novel de novo drug design approaches using a variety of artificial networks including recurrent neural networks, convolutional neural networks, generative adversarial networks, and autoencoders. This review article summarizes advances in de novo drug design, from conventional growth algorithms to advanced machine-learning methodologies and highlights hot topics for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antreas Afantitis
- Department of ChemoInformatics, NovaMechanics Ltd., Nicosia 1046, Cyprus;
| | - Angela Serra
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland; (A.S.); (M.F.); (D.G.)
- BioMEdiTech Institute, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Michele Fratello
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland; (A.S.); (M.F.); (D.G.)
- BioMEdiTech Institute, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Anastasios G. Papadiamantis
- Department of ChemoInformatics, NovaMechanics Ltd., Nicosia 1046, Cyprus;
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Vassilis Aidinis
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Fleming 34, 16672 Athens, Greece;
| | - Iseult Lynch
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Dario Greco
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland; (A.S.); (M.F.); (D.G.)
- BioMEdiTech Institute, Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Center for Alternative Methods (FICAM), Tampere University, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Georgia Melagraki
- Division of Physical Sciences & Applications, Hellenic Military Academy, 16672 Vari, Greece
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19
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Zhumagambetov R, Molnár F, Peshkov VA, Fazli S. Transmol: repurposing a language model for molecular generation. RSC Adv 2021; 11:25921-25932. [PMID: 35479483 PMCID: PMC9037129 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra03086h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in convolutional neural networks have inspired the application of deep learning to other disciplines. Even though image processing and natural language processing have turned out to be the most successful, there are many other domains that have also benefited; among them, life sciences in general and chemistry and drug design in particular. In concordance with this observation, from 2018 the scientific community has seen a surge of methodologies related to the generation of diverse molecular libraries using machine learning. However to date, attention mechanisms have not been employed for the problem of de novo molecular generation. Here we employ a variant of transformers, an architecture recently developed for natural language processing, for this purpose. Our results indicate that the adapted Transmol model is indeed applicable for the task of generating molecular libraries and leads to statistically significant increases in some of the core metrics of the MOSES benchmark. The presented model can be tuned to either input-guided or diversity-driven generation modes by applying a standard one-seed and a novel two-seed approach, respectively. Accordingly, the one-seed approach is best suited for the targeted generation of focused libraries composed of close analogues of the seed structure, while the two-seeds approach allows us to dive deeper into under-explored regions of the chemical space by attempting to generate the molecules that resemble both seeds. To gain more insights about the scope of the one-seed approach, we devised a new validation workflow that involves the recreation of known ligands for an important biological target vitamin D receptor. To further benefit the chemical community, the Transmol algorithm has been incorporated into our cheML.io web database of ML-generated molecules as a second generation on-demand methodology. A novel molecular generation pipeline employing an attention-based neural network.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Rustam Zhumagambetov
- Department of Computer Science
- School of Engineering and Digital Sciences
- Nazarbayev University
- Nur-Sultan
- Kazakhstan
| | - Ferdinand Molnár
- Department of Biology
- School of Sciences and Humanities
- Nazarbayev University
- Nur-Sultan
- Kazakhstan
| | - Vsevolod A. Peshkov
- Department of Chemistry
- School of Sciences and Humanities
- Nazarbayev University
- Nur-Sultan
- Kazakhstan
| | - Siamac Fazli
- Department of Computer Science
- School of Engineering and Digital Sciences
- Nazarbayev University
- Nur-Sultan
- Kazakhstan
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20
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Huang Y, Wei L, Han X, Chen H, Ren Y, Xu Y, Song R, Rao L, Su C, Peng C, Feng L, Wan J. Discovery of novel allosteric site and covalent inhibitors of FBPase with potent hypoglycemic effects. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 184:111749. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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21
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Yang X, Wang Y, Byrne R, Schneider G, Yang S. Concepts of Artificial Intelligence for Computer-Assisted Drug Discovery. Chem Rev 2019; 119:10520-10594. [PMID: 31294972 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 329] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI), and, in particular, deep learning as a subcategory of AI, provides opportunities for the discovery and development of innovative drugs. Various machine learning approaches have recently (re)emerged, some of which may be considered instances of domain-specific AI which have been successfully employed for drug discovery and design. This review provides a comprehensive portrayal of these machine learning techniques and of their applications in medicinal chemistry. After introducing the basic principles, alongside some application notes, of the various machine learning algorithms, the current state-of-the art of AI-assisted pharmaceutical discovery is discussed, including applications in structure- and ligand-based virtual screening, de novo drug design, physicochemical and pharmacokinetic property prediction, drug repurposing, and related aspects. Finally, several challenges and limitations of the current methods are summarized, with a view to potential future directions for AI-assisted drug discovery and design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital , Sichuan University , Chengdu , Sichuan 610041 , China
| | - Yifei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital , Sichuan University , Chengdu , Sichuan 610041 , China
| | - Ryan Byrne
- ETH Zurich , Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences , Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4 , CH-8093 Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Gisbert Schneider
- ETH Zurich , Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences , Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4 , CH-8093 Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Shengyong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital , Sichuan University , Chengdu , Sichuan 610041 , China
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22
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Abstract
Introduction: The development of drug candidates with a defined selectivity profile and a unique molecular structure is of fundamental interest for drug discovery. In contrast to the costly screening of large substance libraries, the targeted de novo design of a drug by using structural information of either the biological target and/or structure-activity relationship data of active modulators offers an efficient and intellectually appealing alternative. Areas covered: This review provides an overview on the different techniques of de novo drug design (ligand-based drug design, structure-based drug design, and fragment-based drug design) and highlights successful examples of this targeted approach toward selective modulators of therapeutically relevant targets. Expert opinion: De novo drug design has established itself as a very efficient method for the development of potent and selective modulators for a variety of different biological target classes. The ever-growing wealth of structural data on therapeutic targets will certainly further enhance the importance of de novo design for the drug discovery process in the future. However, a consistent use of the terminology of de novo drug design in the scientific literature should be sought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Fischer
- a Center of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology , Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW , Wädenswil , Switzerland
| | - Silvia Gazzola
- b Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia , Università degli Studi dell'Insubria , Como , Italy
| | - Rainer Riedl
- a Center of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology , Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW , Wädenswil , Switzerland
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23
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Schneider G, Clark DE. Automated De Novo Drug Design: Are We Nearly There Yet? Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:10792-10803. [PMID: 30730601 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201814681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Medicinal chemistry and, in particular, drug design have often been perceived as more of an art than a science. The many unknowns of human disease and the sheer complexity of chemical space render decision making in medicinal chemistry exceptionally demanding. Computational models can assist the medicinal chemist in this endeavour. Provided here is an overview of recent examples of automated de novo molecular design, a discussion of the concepts and computational approaches involved, and the daring prediction of some of the possibilities and limitations of drug design using machine intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisbert Schneider
- ETH Zurich, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, RETHINK, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David E Clark
- Charles River, 6-9 Spire Green Centre, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5TR, UK
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24
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Schneider G, Clark DE. Automated De Novo Drug Design: Are We Nearly There Yet? Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201814681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gisbert Schneider
- ETH ZurichDepartment of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, RETHINK Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4 8093 Zurich Switzerland
| | - David E. Clark
- Charles River 6–9 Spire Green Centre Harlow Essex CM19 5TR UK
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25
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Brown N, Fiscato M, Segler MHS, Vaucher AC. GuacaMol: Benchmarking Models for de Novo Molecular Design. J Chem Inf Model 2019; 59:1096-1108. [PMID: 30887799 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.8b00839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
De novo design seeks to generate molecules with required property profiles by virtual design-make-test cycles. With the emergence of deep learning and neural generative models in many application areas, models for molecular design based on neural networks appeared recently and show promising results. However, the new models have not been profiled on consistent tasks, and comparative studies to well-established algorithms have only seldom been performed. To standardize the assessment of both classical and neural models for de novo molecular design, we propose an evaluation framework, GuacaMol, based on a suite of standardized benchmarks. The benchmark tasks encompass measuring the fidelity of the models to reproduce the property distribution of the training sets, the ability to generate novel molecules, the exploration and exploitation of chemical space, and a variety of single and multiobjective optimization tasks. The benchmarking open-source Python code and a leaderboard can be found on https://benevolent.ai/guacamol .
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Brown
- BenevolentAI , 4-8 Maple Street , W1T 5HD London , U.K
| | - Marco Fiscato
- BenevolentAI , 4-8 Maple Street , W1T 5HD London , U.K
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26
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Sommer K, Flachsenberg F, Rarey M. NAOMInext – Synthetically feasible fragment growing in a structure-based design context. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 163:747-762. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.11.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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27
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Xiao S, Wei L, Hong Z, Rao L, Ren Y, Wan J, Feng L. Design, synthesis and algicides activities of thiourea derivatives as the novel scaffold aldolase inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:805-812. [PMID: 30711311 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
By using a new Fragment-Based Virtual Screen strategy, two series of novel FBA-II inhibitors (thiourea derivatives) were de novo discovered based on the active site of fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate aldolase from Cyanobacterial (CyFBA). In comparison, most of the N-(2-benzoylhydrazine-1-carbonothioyl) benzamide derivatives (L14∼L22) exhibit higher CyFBA-II inhibitory activities compared to N-(phenylcarbamothioyl) benzamide derivatives (L1∼L13). Especially, compound L14 not only shows higher CyFBA-II activity (Ki = 0.65 μM), but also exhibits most potent in vivo activity against Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (EC50 = 0.09 ppm), higher (7-fold) than that of our previous inhibitor (EC50 = 0.6 ppm). The binding modes of compound L14 and CyFBA-II were further elucidated by jointly using DOX computational protocol, MM-PBSA and site-directed mutagenesis assays. The positive results suggest that strategy adopted in this study was promising to rapidly discovery the potent inhibitors with novel scaffolds. The satisfactory algicide activities suggest that the thiourea derivatives is very likely to be a promising lead for the development of novel specific algicides to solve Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Xiao
- International Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis (Hubei), Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Lin Wei
- International Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis (Hubei), Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Zongqin Hong
- International Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis (Hubei), Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Li Rao
- International Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis (Hubei), Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Yanliang Ren
- International Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis (Hubei), Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
| | - Jian Wan
- International Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis (Hubei), Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
| | - Lingling Feng
- International Cooperation Base of Pesticide and Green Synthesis (Hubei), Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
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28
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Marchand JR, Caflisch A. In silico fragment-based drug design with SEED. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 156:907-917. [PMID: 30064119 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We report on two fragment-based drug design protocols, SEED2XR and ALTA, which start by high-throughput docking. SEED2XR is a two-stage protocol for fragment-based drug design. The first stage is in silico and consists of the automatic docking of 103-104 fragments using SEED, which requires about 1 s per fragment. SEED is a docking software developed specifically for fragment docking and binding energy evaluation by a force field with implicit solvent. In the second stage of SEED2XR, the 10-102 fragments with the most favorable predicted binding energies are validated by protein X-ray crystallography. The recent applications of SEED2XR to bromodomains demonstrate that the whole SEED2XR protocol can be carried out in about a week of working time, with hit rates ranging from 10% to 40%. Information on fragment-target interactions generated by the SEED2XR protocol or directly from SEED docking has been used for the discovery of hundreds of hits. ALTA is a computational protocol for screening which identifies candidate ligands that preserve the interactions between the optimal SEED fragments and the protein target. Medicinal chemistry optimization of ligands predicted by ALTA has resulted in pre-clinical candidates for protein kinases and bromodomains. The high-throughput, very low cost, sustainability, and high hit rate of the SEED-based protocols, unreachable by purely experimental techniques, make them perfectly suitable for both academic and industrial drug discovery research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Rémy Marchand
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Amedeo Caflisch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
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29
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Cain R, Brem J, Zollman D, McDonough MA, Johnson RM, Spencer J, Makena A, Abboud MI, Cahill S, Lee SY, McHugh PJ, Schofield CJ, Fishwick CWG. In Silico Fragment-Based Design Identifies Subfamily B1 Metallo-β-lactamase Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2018; 61:1255-1260. [PMID: 29271657 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Zinc ion-dependent β-lactamases (MBLs) catalyze the hydrolysis of almost all β-lactam antibiotics and resist the action of clinically available β-lactamase inhibitors. We report how application of in silico fragment-based molecular design employing thiol-mediated metal anchorage leads to potent MBL inhibitors. The new inhibitors manifest potent inhibition of clinically important B1 subfamily MBLs, including the widespread NDM-1, IMP-1, and VIM-2 enzymes; with lower potency, some of them also inhibit clinically relevant Class A and D serine-β-lactamases. The inhibitors show selectivity for bacterial MBL enzymes compared to that for human MBL fold nucleases. Cocrystallization of one inhibitor, which shows potentiation of Meropenem activity against MBL-expressing Enterobacteriaceae, with VIM-2 reveals an unexpected binding mode, involving interactions with residues from conserved active site bordering loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricky Cain
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Jürgen Brem
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford , 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - David Zollman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford , 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A McDonough
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford , 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel M Johnson
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - James Spencer
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol , Biomedical Sciences Building, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Makena
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford , 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Martine I Abboud
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford , 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Cahill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford , 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Sook Y Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford , 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom.,Department of Oncology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford , John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J McHugh
- Department of Oncology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford , John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford , 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Colin W G Fishwick
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
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30
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Turner LD, Summers AJ, Johnson LO, Knowles MA, Fishwick CWG. Identification of an Indazole-Based Pharmacophore for the Inhibition of FGFR Kinases Using Fragment-Led de Novo Design. ACS Med Chem Lett 2017; 8:1264-1268. [PMID: 29259745 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.7b00349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure-based drug design (SBDD) has become a powerful tool utilized by medicinal chemists to rationally guide the drug discovery process. Herein, we describe the use of SPROUT, a de novo-based program, to identify an indazole-based pharmacophore for the inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) kinases, which are validated targets for cancer therapy. Hit identification using SPROUT yielded 6-phenylindole as a small fragment predicted to bind to FGFR1. With the aid of docking models, several modifications to the indole were made to optimize the fragment to an indazole-containing pharmacophore, leading to a library of compounds containing 23 derivatives. Biological evaluation revealed that these indazole-containing fragments inhibited FGFR1-3 in the range of 0.8-90 μM with excellent ligand efficiencies of 0.30-0.48. Some compounds exhibited moderate selectivity toward individual FGFRs, indicating that further optimization using SBDD may lead to potent and selective inhibitors of the FGFR family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis D. Turner
- School
of Chemistry and †Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Abbey J. Summers
- School
of Chemistry and †Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Laura O. Johnson
- School
of Chemistry and †Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K
| | | | - Colin W. G. Fishwick
- School
of Chemistry and †Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, U.K
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31
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Visini R, Arús-Pous J, Awale M, Reymond JL. Virtual Exploration of the Ring Systems Chemical Universe. J Chem Inf Model 2017; 57:2707-2718. [PMID: 29019686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.7b00457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Here, we explore the chemical space of all virtually possible organic molecules focusing on ring systems, which represent the cyclic cores of organic molecules obtained by removing all acyclic bonds and converting all remaining atoms to carbon. This approach circumvents the combinatorial explosion encountered when enumerating the molecules themselves. We report the chemical universe database GDB4c containing 916 130 ring systems up to four saturated or aromatic rings and maximum ring size of 14 atoms and GDB4c3D containing the corresponding 6 555 929 stereoisomers. Almost all (98.6%) of these ring systems are unknown and represent chiral 3D-shaped macrocycles containing small rings and quaternary centers reminiscent of polycyclic natural products. We envision that GDB4c can serve to select new ring systems from which to design analogs of such natural products. The database is available for download at www.gdb.unibe.ch together with interactive visualization and search tools as a resource for molecular design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Visini
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Berne , Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Josep Arús-Pous
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Berne , Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Mahendra Awale
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Berne , Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Louis Reymond
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Berne , Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
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32
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Molecular de-novo design through deep reinforcement learning. J Cheminform 2017; 9:48. [PMID: 29086083 PMCID: PMC5583141 DOI: 10.1186/s13321-017-0235-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 468] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This work introduces a method to tune a sequence-based generative model for molecular de novo design that through augmented episodic likelihood can learn to generate structures with certain specified desirable properties. We demonstrate how this model can execute a range of tasks such as generating analogues to a query structure and generating compounds predicted to be active against a biological target. As a proof of principle, the model is first trained to generate molecules that do not contain sulphur. As a second example, the model is trained to generate analogues to the drug Celecoxib, a technique that could be used for scaffold hopping or library expansion starting from a single molecule. Finally, when tuning the model towards generating compounds predicted to be active against the dopamine receptor type 2, the model generates structures of which more than 95% are predicted to be active, including experimentally confirmed actives that have not been included in either the generative model nor the activity prediction model.. ![]()
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33
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Abstract
To better understand chemical space we recently enumerated the database GDB-17 containing 166.4 billion possible molecules up to 17 atoms of C, N, O, S and halogen following the simple rules of chemical stability and synthetic feasibility. However, due to the combinatorial explosion caused by systematic enumeration GDB-17 is strongly biased toward the largest, functionally and stereochemically most complex molecules and far too large for most virtual screening tools. Herein we selected a much smaller subset of GDB-17, called the fragment database FDB-17, which contains 10 million fragmentlike molecules evenly covering a broad value range for molecular size, polarity, and stereochemical complexity. The database is available at www.gdb.unibe.ch for download and free use, together with an interactive visualization application and a Web-based nearest neighbor search tool to facilitate the selection of new fragment-sized molecules for chemical synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Visini
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Mahendra Awale
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Louis Reymond
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
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34
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Li Y, Zhao Z, Liu Z, Su M, Wang R. AutoT&T v.2: An Efficient and Versatile Tool for Lead Structure Generation and Optimization. J Chem Inf Model 2016; 56:435-53. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Collaborative
Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhixiong Zhao
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Collaborative
Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhihai Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Collaborative
Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Minyi Su
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Collaborative
Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Renxiao Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry, Collaborative
Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China
- State
Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute
for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, People’s Republic of China
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35
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36
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Shaw J, Harris M, Fishwick CWG. Identification of a lead like inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus non-structural NS2 autoprotease. Antiviral Res 2015; 124:54-60. [PMID: 26518228 PMCID: PMC4678293 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein 2 (NS2) encodes an autoprotease activity that is essential for virus replication and thus represents an attractive anti-viral target. Recently, we demonstrated that a series of epoxide-based compounds, previously identified as potent inhibitors of the clotting factor, FXIII, also inhibited NS2-mediated proteolysis in vitro and possessed anti-viral activity in cell culture models. This suggested that a selective small molecule inhibitor of the NS2 autoprotease represents a viable prospect. In this independent study, we applied a structure-guided virtual high-throughput screening approach in order to identify a lead-like small molecule inhibitor of the NS2 autoprotease. This screen identified a molecule that was able to inhibit both NS2-mediated proteolysis in vitro and NS2-dependent genome replication in a cell-based assay. A subsequent preliminary structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis shed light on the nature of the active pharmacophore in this compound and may inform further development into a more potent inhibitor of NS2 mediated proteolysis. In silico screening identified a small molecule inhibitor of hepatitis C virus NS2 autoprotease in vitro. This compound showed specific inhibition of NS2-NS3 autocleavage dependent HCV genome replication in a cell based assay. NS2 protease is a valid target for further drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Shaw
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom; School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom; Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Harris
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom; Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
| | - Colin W G Fishwick
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom; Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
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37
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Foscato M, Houghton BJ, Occhipinti G, Deeth RJ, Jensen VR. Ring Closure To Form Metal Chelates in 3D Fragment-Based de Novo Design. J Chem Inf Model 2015; 55:1844-56. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Foscato
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
| | - Benjamin J. Houghton
- Inorganic
Computational Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, Great Britain
| | - Giovanni Occhipinti
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
| | - Robert J. Deeth
- Inorganic
Computational Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, Great Britain
| | - Vidar R. Jensen
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
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38
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Firth NC, Atrash B, Brown N, Blagg J. MOARF, an Integrated Workflow for Multiobjective Optimization: Implementation, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation. J Chem Inf Model 2015; 55:1169-80. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C. Firth
- Cancer Research UK Cancer
Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SM2 5NG, U.K
| | - Butrus Atrash
- Cancer Research UK Cancer
Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SM2 5NG, U.K
| | - Nathan Brown
- Cancer Research UK Cancer
Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SM2 5NG, U.K
| | - Julian Blagg
- Cancer Research UK Cancer
Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SM2 5NG, U.K
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39
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Abstract
One of the simplest questions that can be asked about molecular diversity is how many organic molecules are possible in total? To answer this question, my research group has computationally enumerated all possible organic molecules up to a certain size to gain an unbiased insight into the entire chemical space. Our latest database, GDB-17, contains 166.4 billion molecules of up to 17 atoms of C, N, O, S, and halogens, by far the largest small molecule database reported to date. Molecules allowed by valency rules but unstable or nonsynthesizable due to strained topologies or reactive functional groups were not considered, which reduced the enumeration by at least 10 orders of magnitude and was essential to arrive at a manageable database size. Despite these restrictions, GDB-17 is highly relevant with respect to known molecules. Beyond enumeration, understanding and exploiting GDBs (generated databases) led us to develop methods for virtual screening and visualization of very large databases in the form of a "periodic system of molecules" comprising six different fingerprint spaces, with web-browsers for nearest neighbor searches, and the MQN- and SMIfp-Mapplet application for exploring color-coded principal component maps of GDB and other large databases. Proof-of-concept applications of GDB for drug discovery were realized by combining virtual screening with chemical synthesis and activity testing for neurotransmitter receptor and transporter ligands. One surprising lesson from using GDB for drug analog searches is the incredible depth of chemical space, that is, the fact that millions of very close analogs of any molecule can be readily identified by nearest-neighbor searches in the MQN-space of the various GDBs. The chemical space project has opened an unprecedented door on chemical diversity. Ongoing and yet unmet challenges concern enumerating molecules beyond 17 atoms and synthesizing GDB molecules with innovative scaffolds and pharmacophores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Louis Reymond
- Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, University of Berne, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
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40
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Devi RV, Sathya SS, Coumar MS. Evolutionary algorithms for de novo drug design – A survey. Appl Soft Comput 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.asoc.2014.09.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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41
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Kime L, Vincent HA, Gendoo DMA, Jourdan SS, Fishwick CWG, Callaghan AJ, McDowall KJ. The first small-molecule inhibitors of members of the ribonuclease E family. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8028. [PMID: 25619596 PMCID: PMC4306137 DOI: 10.1038/srep08028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The Escherichia coli endoribonuclease RNase E is central to the processing and degradation of all types of RNA and as such is a pleotropic regulator of gene expression. It is essential for growth and was one of the first examples of an endonuclease that can recognise the 5'-monophosphorylated ends of RNA thereby increasing the efficiency of many cleavages. Homologues of RNase E can be found in many bacterial families including important pathogens, but no homologues have been identified in humans or animals. RNase E represents a potential target for the development of new antibiotics to combat the growing number of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics in use currently. Potent small molecule inhibitors that bind the active site of essential enzymes are proving to be a source of potential drug leads and tools to dissect function through chemical genetics. Here we report the use of virtual high-throughput screening to obtain small molecules predicted to bind at sites in the N-terminal catalytic half of RNase E. We show that these compounds are able to bind with specificity and inhibit catalysis of Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis RNase E and also inhibit the activity of RNase G, a paralogue of RNase E.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Kime
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Helen A. Vincent
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK
| | - Deena M. A. Gendoo
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Stefanie S. Jourdan
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Colin W. G. Fishwick
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Anastasia J. Callaghan
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK
| | - Kenneth J. McDowall
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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42
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Warr WA. A Short Review of Chemical Reaction Database Systems, Computer-Aided Synthesis Design, Reaction Prediction and Synthetic Feasibility. Mol Inform 2014; 33:469-76. [DOI: 10.1002/minf.201400052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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43
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Fisher M, Basak R, Kalverda AP, Fishwick CWG, Bruce Turnbull W, Nelson A. Discovery of novel FabF ligands inspired by platensimycin by integrating structure-based design with diversity-oriented synthetic accessibility. Org Biomol Chem 2014; 12:486-94. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ob41975d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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44
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Lloyd AJ, Potter NJ, Fishwick CWG, Roper DI, Dowson CG. Adenosine tetraphosphoadenosine drives a continuous ATP-release assay for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and other adenylate-forming enzymes. ACS Chem Biol 2013; 8:2157-63. [PMID: 23898887 DOI: 10.1021/cb400248f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are essential for the correct linkage of amino acids to cognate tRNAs to maintain the fidelity of protein synthesis. Tractable, continuous assays are valuable for characterizing the functions of synthetases and for their exploitation as drug targets. We have exploited the unexplored ability of these enzymes to consume adenosine tetraphosphoadenosine (diadenosine 5',5‴ P(1) P(4) tetraphosphate; Ap4A) and produce ATP to develop such an assay. We have used this assay to probe the stereoselectivity of isoleucyl-tRNA(Ile) and Valyl-tRNA(Val) synthetases and the impact of tRNA on editing by isoleucyl-tRNA(Ile) synthetase (IleRS) and to identify analogues of intermediates of these enzymes that might allow targeting of multiple synthetases. We further report the utility of Ap4A-based assays for identification of synthetase inhibitors with nanomolar to millimolar affinities. Finally, we demonstrate the broad application of Ap4A utilization with a continuous Ap4A-driven RNA ligase assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian J. Lloyd
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry,
West Midlands CV4 7AL, U.K
| | | | | | - David I. Roper
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry,
West Midlands CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Christopher G. Dowson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry,
West Midlands CV4 7AL, U.K
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45
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van Berkel SS, Brem J, Rydzik AM, Salimraj R, Cain R, Verma A, Owens RJ, Fishwick CWG, Spencer J, Schofield CJ. Assay platform for clinically relevant metallo-β-lactamases. J Med Chem 2013; 56:6945-53. [PMID: 23898798 PMCID: PMC3910272 DOI: 10.1021/jm400769b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Metallo-β-lactamases
(MBLs) are a growing threat to the use
of almost all clinically used β-lactam antibiotics. The identification
of broad-spectrum MBL inhibitors is hampered by the lack of a suitable
screening platform, consisting of appropriate substrates and a set
of clinically relevant MBLs. We report procedures for the preparation
of a set of clinically relevant metallo-β-lactamases (i.e.,
NDM-1 (New Delhi MBL), IMP-1 (Imipenemase), SPM-1 (São Paulo
MBL), and VIM-2 (Verona integron-encoded MBL)) and the identification
of suitable fluorogenic substrates (umbelliferone-derived cephalosporins).
The fluorogenic substrates were compared to chromogenic substrates
(CENTA, nitrocefin, and imipenem), showing improved sensitivity and
kinetic parameters. The efficiency of the fluorogenic substrates was
exemplified by inhibitor screening, identifying 4-chloroisoquinolinols
as potential pan MBL inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sander S van Berkel
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford , 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
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46
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Abstract
In light of the low success rate of target-based genomics and HTS (High Throughput Screening) approaches in anti-infective drug discovery, in silico structure-based drug design (SBDD) is becoming increasingly prominent at the forefront of drug discovery. In silico SBDD can be used to identify novel enzyme inhibitors rapidly, where the strength of this approach lies with its ability to model and predict the outcome of protein-ligand binding. Over the past 10 years, our group have applied this approach to a diverse number of anti-infective drug targets ranging from bacterial D-ala-D-ala ligase to Plasmodium falciparum DHODH. Our search for new inhibitors has produced lead compounds with both enzyme and whole-cell activity with established on-target mode of action. This has been achieved with greater speed and efficiency compared with the more traditional HTS initiatives and at significantly reduced cost and manpower.
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47
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Beccari AR, Cavazzoni C, Beato C, Costantino G. LiGen: a high performance workflow for chemistry driven de novo design. J Chem Inf Model 2013; 53:1518-27. [PMID: 23617275 DOI: 10.1021/ci400078g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Tools for molecular de novo design are actively sought incorporating sets of chemical rules for fast and efficient identification of structurally new chemotypes endowed with a desired set of biological properties. In this paper, we present LiGen, a suite of programs which can be used sequentially or as stand-alone tools for specific purposes. In its standard application, LiGen modules are used to define input constraints, either structure-based, through active site identification, or ligand-based, through pharmacophore definition, to docking and to de novo generation. Alternatively, individual modules can be combined in a user-defined manner to generate project-centric workflows. Specific features of LiGen are the use of a pharmacophore-based docking procedure which allows flexible docking without conformer enumeration and accurate and flexible reactant mapping coupled with reactant tagging through substructure searching. The full description of LiGen functionalities is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea R Beccari
- Dompé R&D Centre, Dompé SpA, Via Campo di Pile, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
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48
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Mok NY, Chadwick J, Kellett KAB, Casas-Arce E, Hooper NM, Johnson AP, Fishwick CWG. Discovery of Biphenylacetamide-Derived Inhibitors of BACE1 Using de Novo Structure-Based Molecular Design. J Med Chem 2013; 56:1843-52. [DOI: 10.1021/jm301127x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Yi Mok
- School of Chemistry and School of Molecular and Cellular
Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - James Chadwick
- School of Chemistry and School of Molecular and Cellular
Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Katherine A. B. Kellett
- School of Chemistry and School of Molecular and Cellular
Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Eva Casas-Arce
- School of Chemistry and School of Molecular and Cellular
Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Nigel M. Hooper
- School of Chemistry and School of Molecular and Cellular
Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - A. Peter Johnson
- School of Chemistry and School of Molecular and Cellular
Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Colin W. G. Fishwick
- School of Chemistry and School of Molecular and Cellular
Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
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49
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Young NJ, Hay BP. Structural design principles for self-assembled coordination polygons and polyhedra. Chem Commun (Camb) 2013; 49:1354-79. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cc37776d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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50
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Simmons KJ, Gotfryd K, Billesbølle CB, Loland CJ, Gether U, Fishwick CWG, Johnson AP. A virtual high-throughput screening approach to the discovery of novel inhibitors of the bacterial leucine transporter, LeuT. Mol Membr Biol 2012; 30:184-94. [PMID: 22908980 DOI: 10.3109/09687688.2012.710341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Membrane proteins are intrinsically involved in both human and pathogen physiology, and are the target of 60% of all marketed drugs. During the past decade, advances in the studies of membrane proteins using X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and NMR-based techniques led to the elucidation of over 250 unique membrane protein crystal structures. The aim of the European Drug Initiative for Channels and Transporter (EDICT) project is to use the structures of clinically significant membrane proteins for the development of lead molecules. One of the approaches used to achieve this is a virtual high-throughput screening (vHTS) technique initially developed for soluble proteins. This paper describes application of this technique to the discovery of inhibitors of the leucine transporter (LeuT), a member of the neurotransmitter:sodium symporter (NSS) family.
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