Biomolecular simulations in structure-based drug discovery / edited by Francesco L. Gervasio and Vojtech Spiwok. - 1 online resource. - - Methods and principles in medicinal chemistry ; volume 75. . - Methods and principles in medicinal chemistry ; volume 75. .

Table of Contents
Foreword xiii

Part I Principles 1

1 Predictive Power of Biomolecular Simulations 3
Vojtech Spiwok

1.1 Design of Biomolecular Simulations 4

1.2 Collective Variables and Trajectory Clustering 6

1.3 Accuracy of Biomolecular Simulations 8

1.4 Sampling 10

1.5 Binding Free Energy 14

1.6 Convergence of Free Energy Estimates 16

1.7 Future Outlook 20

References 21

2 Molecular Dynamics–Based Approaches Describing Protein Binding 29
Andrea Spitaleri and Walter Rocchia

2.1 Introduction 29

2.1.1 Protein Binding: Molecular Dynamics Versus Docking 30

2.1.2 Molecular Dynamics –The Current State of the Art 31

2.2 Protein–Protein Binding 32

2.3 Protein–Peptide Binding 34

2.4 Protein–Ligand Binding 36

2.5 Future Directions 38

2.5.1 Modeling of Cation-p Interactions 38

2.6 Grand Challenges 39

References 39

Part II Advanced Algorithms 43

3 Modeling Ligand–Target Binding with Enhanced Sampling Simulations 45
Federico Comitani and Francesco L. Gervasio

3.1 Introduction 45

3.2 The Limits of Molecular Dynamics 46

3.3 TemperingMethods 47

3.4 Multiple Replica Methods 48

3.5 Endpoint Methods 50

3.5.1 Alchemical Methods 50

3.6 Collective Variable-Based Methods 51

3.6.1 Metadynamics 52

3.7 Binding Kinetics 57

3.8 Conclusions 59

References 60

4 Markov State Models in Drug Design 67
Bettina G. Keller, Stevan Aleksic, and Luca Donati

4.1 Introduction 67

4.2 Markov State Models 68

4.2.1 MD Simulations 68

4.2.2 The Molecular Ensemble 69

4.2.3 The Propagator 69

4.2.4 The Dominant Eigenspace 70

4.2.5 The Markov State Model 72

4.3 Microstates 75

4.4 Long-Lived Conformations 77

4.5 Transition Paths 79

4.6 Outlook 81

Acknowledgments 82

References 82

5 Monte Carlo Techniques for Drug Design: The Success Case of PELE 87
Joan F. Gilabert, Daniel Lecina, Jorge Estrada, and Victor Guallar

5.1 Introduction 87

5.1.1 First Applications 88

5.1.2 Free Energy Calculations 88

5.1.3 Optimization 88

5.1.4 MC and MD Combinations 89

5.2 The PELE Method 90

5.2.1 MC Sampling Procedure 91

5.2.2 Ligand Perturbation 91

5.2.3 Receptor Perturbation 91

5.2.4 Side-Chain Adjustment 93

5.2.5 Minimization 93

5.2.6 Coordinate Exploration 93

5.2.7 Energy Function 94

5.3 Examples of PELE’s Applications 94

5.3.1 Mapping Protein Ligand and Biomedical Studies 94

5.3.2 Enzyme Characterization 96

Acknowledgments 97

References 97

6 Understanding the Structure and Dynamics of Peptides and Proteins Through the Lens of Network Science 105
Mathieu Fossepre, Laurence Leherte, Aatto Laaksonen, and Daniel P. Vercauteren

6.1 Insight into the Rise of Network Science 105

6.2 Networks of Protein Structures: Topological Features and Applications 107

6.2.1 Topological Features and Analysis of Networks: A Brief Overview 107

6.2.2 Centrality Measures and Protein Structures 110

6.2.3 Software 114

6.3 Networks of Protein Dynamics: Merging Molecular Simulation Methods and Network Theory 117

6.3.1 Molecular Simulations: A Brief Overview 117

6.3.2 How Can Network Science Help in the Analysis of Molecular Simulations? 118

6.3.3 Software 119

6.4 Coarse-Graining and Elastic Network Models: Understanding Protein Dynamics with Networks 120

6.4.1 Coarse-Graining: A Brief Overview 120

6.4.2 Elastic Network Models: General Principles 123

6.4.3 Elastic Network Models: The Design of Residue Interaction Networks 124

6.5 Network Modularization to Understand Protein Structure and Function 128

6.5.1 Modularization of Residue Interaction Networks 128

6.5.2 Toward the Design of Meso scale Protein Models with Network Modularization Techniques 130

6.6 Laboratory Contributions in the Field of Network Science 131

6.6.1 Graph Reduction of Three-Dimensional Molecular Fields of Peptides and Proteins 132

6.6.2 Design of Multi scale Elastic Network Models to Study Protein Dynamics 135

6.7 Conclusions and Perspectives 140

Acknowledgments 142

References 142

Part III Applications and Success Stories 163

7 From Computers to Bedside: Computational Chemistry Contributing to FDA Approval 165
Christina Athanasiou and Zoe Cournia

7.1 Introduction 165

7.2 Rationalizing the Drug Discovery Process: Early Days 166

7.2.1 Captopril (Capoten®) 167

7.2.2 Saquinavir (Invirase®) 167

7.2.3 Ritonavir (Norvir®) 168

7.3 Use of Computer-Aided Methods in the Drug Discovery Process 168

7.3.1 Ligand-Based Methods 169

7.3.1.1 Overlay of Structures 169

7.3.1.2 Pharmacophore Modeling 171

7.3.1.3 Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationships (QSAR) 172

7.3.2 Structure-Based Methods 173

7.3.2.1 Molecular Docking – Virtual Screening 175

7.3.2.2 Flexible Receptor Molecular Docking 179

7.3.2.3 Molecular Dynamics Simulations 179

7.3.2.4 De Novo Drug Design 180

7.3.2.5 Protein Structure Prediction 181

7.3.2.6 Rucaparib (Zepatier®) 184

7.3.3 Ab InitioQuantumChemical Methods 185

7.4 Future Outlook 186

References 190

8 Application of Biomolecular Simulations to G Protein–Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) 205
Mariona Torrens-Fontanals, TomaszM. Stepniewski, Ismael Rodriguez-Espigares, and Jana Selent

8.1 Introduction 205

8.2 MD Simulations for Studying the Conformational Plasticity of GPCRs 207

8.2.1 Challenges in GPCR Simulations: The Sampling Problem and Simulation Timescales 208

8.2.2 Making Sense Out of Simulation Data 209

8.3 Application of MD Simulations to GPCR Drug Design:Why Should We Use MD? 210

8.4 Evolution of MD Timescales 214

8.5 Sharing MD Data via a Public Database 216

8.6 Conclusions and Perspectives 216

Acknowledgments 217

References 217

9 Molecular Dynamics Applications to GPCR Ligand Design 225
Andrea Bortolato, Francesca Deflorian, Giuseppe Deganutti, Davide Sabbadin,StefanoMoro, and Jonathan S.Mason

9.1 Introduction 225

9.2 The Role of Water in GPCR Structure-Based Ligand Design 226

9.2.1 WaterMap and WaterFLAP 228

9.3 Ligand-Binding Free Energy 230

9.4 Ligand-Binding Kinetics 233

9.4.1 Supervised Molecular Dynamics (SuMD) 235

9.4.2 Adiabatic Bias Metadynamics 238

9.5 Conclusion 241

References 242

10 Ion Channel Simulations 247
Saurabh Pandey, Daniel Bonhenry, and Rudiger H. Ettrich

10.1 Introduction 247

10.2 Overview of Computational Methods Applied to Study Ion Channels 248

10.2.1 Homology Modeling 248

10.2.2 All-atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations 249

10.2.2.1 Force Fields 250

10.2.3 Methods for Calculation of Free Energy 251

10.2.3.1 Free Energy Perturbation 251

10.2.3.2 Umbrella Sampling 251

10.2.3.3 Metadynamics 252

10.2.3.4 Adaptive Biased Force Method 252

10.3 Properties of Ion Channels Studied by Computational Modeling 253

10.3.1 A Refined Atomic Scale Model of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae K+-translocation Protein Trk1p 253

10.3.2 Homology Modeling, Docking, and Mutagenesis Studies of Human Melatonin Receptors 254

10.3.3 Selectivity and Permeation in Voltage-Gated Sodium (NaV) Channels 254

10.3.4 Study of Ion Conduction Mechanism, Favorable Translocation Path,and Ion Selectivity in KcsA Using Free Energy Perturbation and Umbrella Sampling 257

10.3.5 Ion Conductance Calculations 260

10.3.5.1 Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel (VDAC) 261

10.3.5.2 Calculation of Ion Conduction in Low-Conductance GLIC Channel 261

10.3.6 Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Channels 263

10.4 Free Energy Methods Applied to Channels Bearing Hydrophobic Gates 264

10.5 Conclusion 270

Acknowledgments 271

References 271

11 Understanding Allostery to Design New Drugs 281
Giulia Morra and Giorgio Colombo

11.1 Introduction 281

11.2 Protein Allostery: Basic Concepts and Theoretical Framework 282

11.2.1 The Classic View of Allostery 283

11.2.2 The Thermodynamic Two-State Model of Allostery 283

11.2.3 From Thermodynamics to Protein Structure and Dynamics 285

11.2.4 Entropy in Allostery: The Ensemble Allostery Model 287

11.3 Exploiting Allostery in Drug Discovery and Design 288

11.3.1 Computational Prediction of Allosteric Behavior and Application to Drug Discovery 288

11.3.2 Identification of Allosteric Binding Sites Through Structural and Dynamic approaches 289

11.4 Chaperones 291

11.5 Kinases 293

11.6 GPCRs 294

11.7 Conclusions 296

References 296

12 Structure and Stability of Amyloid Protofibrils of Polyglutamine and Polyasparagine from Molecular Dynamics Simulations 301
Viet HoangMan, Yuan Zhang, Christopher Roland, and Celeste Sagui

12.1 Introduction 301

12.2 Polyglutamine Protofibrils and Aggregates 303

12.2.1 Investigations of Oligomeric Q8 Structures 303

12.2.2 Time Evolution, Steric Zippers, and Crystal Structures of 4 × 4 Q8Aggregates 306

12.2.3 Monomeric Q40 Protofibrils 308

12.3 Amyloid Models of Asparagine (N) and Glutamine(Q) 311

12.3.1 Initial Structures 313

12.3.2 Monomeric PolyQ βHairpinsAre More Stable than PolyN Hairpins 314

12.3.3 N-rich Oligomers Are Most Stable in Class 1 Steric Zippers with 2-by-2 Interdigitation 315

12.3.4 PolyQ Oligomers Are Most Stable in Antiparallel Stranded β Sheets with 1-by-1 Steric Zippers 316

12.3.5 PolyQ Structures Show Higher Stability than Most Stable PolyN Structures 317

12.3.6 Thermodynamic Considerations of Aggregate Formation 318

12.4 Summary 319

Acknowledgments 320

References 320

13 Using Biomolecular Simulations to Target Cdc34 in Cancer 325
Miriam Di Marco, Matteo Lambrughi, and Elena Papaleo

13.1 Background 325

13.2 Families of E2 Enzymes 327

13.3 Cdc34 Protein Sequence and Structure 328

13.4 Cdc34 Heterogeneous Conformational Ensemble in Solution 329

13.5 Long-Range Communication in Family 3 Enzymes: A Structural Path from the Ub-Binding Site to the E3 Recognition Site 330

13.6 Cdc34 Modulation by Phosphorylation: From Phenotype to Structure 331

13.7 The Dual Role of the Acidic Loop of Cdc34: Regulator of Activity and Interface for E3 Binding 332

13.8 Different Strategies to Target Cdc34 with Small Molecules 333

13.9 Conclusions and Perspectives 334

Acknowledgments 336

References 336

Index 343


About the Author
Francesco Luigi Gervasio holds a chair in Biomolecular Modelling and is professor of Chemistry and professor of Structural and Molecular Biology at University College London (UK).

Vojtech Spiwok is a researcher of University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (Czech Republic). He has authored numerous scientific publications on biomolecular simulations with a special emphasis on development and application of enhanced sampling techniques.

9783527342655 9783527806843 3527806849 9783527806850 3527806857 9783527806836 3527806830


Pharmacogenomics.


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