Receptor-based 3D QSAR analysis of estrogen receptor ligands – merging the accuracy of receptor-based alignments with the computational efficiency of ligand-based methods

One of the major challenges in computational approaches to drug design is the accurate prediction of binding affinity of biomolecules. In the present study several prediction methods for a published set of estrogen receptor ligands are investigated and compared. The binding modes of 30 ligands were determined using the docking program AutoDock and were compared with available X-ray structures of estrogen receptor-ligand complexes. On the basis of the docking results an interaction energy-based model, which uses the information of the whole ligand-receptor complex, was generated. Several parameters were modified in order to analyze their influence onto the correlation between binding affinities and calculated ligand-receptor interaction energies. The highest correlation coefficient (r ² = 0.617, q ² _LOO = 0.570) was obtained considering protein flexibility during the interaction energy evaluation. The second prediction method uses a combination of receptor-based and 3D quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D QSAR) methods. The ligand alignment obtained from the docking simulations was taken as basis for a comparative field analysis applying the GRID/GOLPE program. Using the interaction field derived with a water probe and applying the smart region definition (SRD) variable selection, a significant and robust model was obtained (r ² = 0.991, q ² _LOO = 0.921). The predictive ability of the established model was further evaluated by using a test set of six additional compounds. The comparison with the generated interaction energy-based model and with a traditional CoMFA model obtained using a ligand-based alignment (r ² = 0.951, q ² _LOO = 0.796) indicates that the combination of receptor-based and 3D QSAR methods is able to improve the quality of the underlying model.     

A comparative study of quantitative structure-activity relationship methods based on gallic acid derivatives

By using hologram quantitative structure-activity relationship (HQSAR) and comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) methods, the relationships between the structures of 49 gallic acid derivatives and their analgesic activity have been investigated to yield statistically reliable models with considerable predictive power. The best HQSAR model was generated using atoms, bond and connectivity as fragment distinction parameters and fragment size 5-7 from a hologram length of 307 with 3 components. High conventional r2 (r2 = 0.825) and cross-validation r2 (r2(cv) = 0.726) values were obtained. CoMFA analyses varying lattice size and location, grid spacing, probe charges and using, Tripos standard and Indicator force field were performed. The best model was developed with 4 components using sp3-hybridized carbon atom with +1.0 charge as probe, grid spacing (2 A), lattice offset (1.0, 3.0, -2.5). The CoMFA model showed a conventional correlation coefficient r2 of 0.889 and across-validation r2(cv) equals to 0.633. The robustness and predictive ability of the HQSAR and CoMFA models have been validated by means of an external test set. The results indicate that both models possess high statistical quality in the prediction of analgesic potency of novel gallic acid analogs.     

Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) of thiazolone derivatives as hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase allosteric inhibitors

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models for a series of thiazolone derivatives as novel inhibitors bound to the allosteric site of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase were developed based on CoMFA and CoMSIA analyses. Two different conformations of the template molecule and the combinations of different CoMSIA field/fields were considered to build predictive CoMFA and CoMSIA models. The CoMFA and CoMSIA models with best predictive ability were obtained by the use of the template conformation from X-ray crystal structures. The best CoMFA and CoMSIA models gave q (2) values of 0.621 and 0.685, and r (2) values of 0.950 and 0.940, respectively for the 51 compounds in the training set. The predictive ability of the two models was also validated by using a test set of 16 compounds which gave r (pred) (2) values of 0.685 and 0.822, respectively. The information obtained from the CoMFA and CoMSIA 3D contour maps enables the interpretation of their structure-activity relationship and was also used to the design of several new inhibitors with improved activity.     

3 D-QSAR Analysis of Agonists of nAChRs： Epibatidine Analogues

A 3 D-QSAR about nAChRs agonists epibatidine analogues was performed using theCoMFA and CoMSIA. The correlation coefficients were R2cv = 0.546, R2cv = 0.907 in CoMFA andR2cv = 0.655, R2,~ = 0.962 in CoMSIA of the final model. The prediction using the final models tothe test set was r2 = 0.675 in CoMFA and r2 = 0.462 in CoMSIA. This model will be useful in thedesign of novel compounds with high affinity.     

CoMFA and CoMSIA studies on 1,3-bis(benzylidene)-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalen-2-one, 2,6-bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanone, and 3,5-bis(benzylidene)-4-piperidone series of cytotoxic compounds

A number of 1,3-bis(benzylidene)-3,4-dihydro-1H-naphthalen-2-ones, 2,6-bis(benzylidene)cyclohexanones, and 3,5-bis(benzylidene)-4-piperidones possess significant potencies toward L1210, Molt 4/C8, and CEM cell lines. The objective of the current 3D QSAR study is to discover some of the structural parameters which govern cytotoxic potencies. The CoMFA models with steric and electrostatic fields provided satisfactory statistical data [(r2cv = 0.485, r2ncv = 0.834, r2pred = 0.591), (r2cv = 0.532, r2ncv = 0.850, r2pred = 0.729), and (r2cv = 0.561, r2ncv = 0.864, r2pred = 0.666)] in regard to the cytotoxic potencies observed toward L1210, Molt 4/C8, and CEM cell lines, respectively. The CoMSIA model with steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic, and H-bond donor fields exhibited r2cv = 0.513, r2ncv = 0.833, and r2pred = 0.562 for cytotoxic activity toward L1210 cells, while the best CoMSIA models were obtained by a combination of steric, electrostatic, and hydrophobic fields which yielded statistically significant data [(r2cv = 0.531, r2ncv = 0.828, r2pred = 0.652) and (r2cv = 0.560, r2ncv = 0.841, r2pred = 0.729)] to explain the cytotoxicity toward Molt 4/C8 and CEM cells, respectively. The information obtained from the CoMFA and CoMSIA 3D contour maps can be used in the design of more potent cytotoxins.     

Design of novel FLT-3 inhibitors based on dual-layer 3D-QSAR model and fragment-based compounds in silico

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT-3) is strongly correlated with acute myeloid leukemia, but no FLT-3-inhibitor cocomplex structure is available to assist the design of therapeutic inhibitors. Hence, we propose a dual-layer 3D-QSAR model for FLT-3 that integrates the pharmacophore, CoMFA, and CoMSIA. We then coupled the model with the fragment-based design strategy to identify novel FLT-3 inhibitors. In the first layer, the previously established model, Hypo02, was evaluated in terms of its correlation coefficient (r), RMS, cost difference, and configuration cost, with values of 0.930, 1.24, 106.45, and 16.44, respectively. Moreover, Fischer's cross-validation test of data generated by Hypo02 yielded a 98% confidence level, and the validation of the testing set yielded a best r value of 0.87. The features of Hypo02 were separated into two parts and then used to screen the MiniMaybridge fragment compound database. Nine novel FLT-3 inhibitors were generated in this layer. In the second layer, Hypo02 was subjected to an alignment rule to generate CoMFA- and CoMSIA-based models, for which the partial least-squares validation method was utilized. The values of q(2), r(2), and predictive r(2) were 0.58, 0.98, and 0.76, respectively, derived from the CoMFA model with steric and electrostatic fields. The CoMSIA model with five different fields yielded values of 0.54, 0.97, and 0.76 for q(2), r(2), and predictive r(2), respectively. The CoMFA and CoMSIA models were used to constrain 3D structures of the nine novel FLT-3 inhibitors. This dual-layer 3D-QSAR model constitutes a valuable tool to easily and quickly screen and optimize novel potential FLT-3 inhibitors for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.     

Mapping the binding site of a large set of quinazoline type EGF-R inhibitors using molecular field analyses and molecular docking studies

In the current work, three-dimensional QSAR studies for one large set of quinazoline type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) inhibitors were conducted using two types of molecular field analysis techniques: comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA). These compounds belonging to six different structural classes were randomly divided into a training set of 122 compounds and a test set of 13 compounds. The statistical results showed that the 3D-QSAR models derived from CoMFA were superior to those generated from CoMSIA. The most optimal CoMFA model after region focusing bears significant cross-validated r(2)(cv) of 0.60 and conventional r(2) of 0.92. The predictive power of the best CoMFA model was further validated by the accurate estimation to these compounds in the external test set, and the mean agreement of experimental and predicted log(IC(50)) values of the inhibitors is 0.6 log unit. Separate CoMFA models were conducted to evaluate the influence of different partial charges (Gasteiger-Marsili, Gasteiger-Hückel, MMFF94, ESP-AM1, and MPA-AM1) on the statistical quality of the models. The resulting CoMFA field map provides information on the geometry of the binding site cavity and the relative weights of various properties in different site pockets for each of the substrates considered. Moreover, in the current work, we applied MD simulations combined with MM/PBSA (Molecular mechanics/Possion-Boltzmann Surface Area) to determine the correct binding mode of the best inhibitor for which no ligand-protein crystal structure was present. To proceed, we define the following procedure: three hundred picosecond molecular dynamics simulations were first performed for the four binding modes suggested by DOCK 4.0 and manual docking, and then MM/PBSA was carried out for the collected snapshots. The most favorable binding mode identified by MM/PBSA has a binding free energy about 10 kcal/mol more favorable than the second best one. The most favorable binding mode identified by MM/PBSA can give satisfactory explanation of the SAR data of the studied molecules and is in good agreement with the contour maps of CoMFA. The most favorable binding mode suggests that with the quinazoline-based inhibitor, the N3 atom is hydrogen-bonded to a water molecule which, in turn, interacts with Thr 766, not Thr 830 as proposed by Wissner et al. (J. Med. Chem. 2000, 43, 3244). The predicted complex structure of quinazoline type inhibitor with EGF-R as well as the pharmacophore mapping from CoMFA can interpret the structure activities of the inhibitors well and afford us important information for structure-based drug design.     

Comparing the quality and predictiveness between 3D QSAR models obtained from manual and automated alignment

A set of 113 flexible cyclic urea inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus protease (HIV-1 PR) was used to compare the quality and predictive power of CoMFA and CoMSIA models for manually or automatically aligned inhibitor set. Inhibitors that were aligned automatically with molecular docking were in agreement with information obtained from existing X-ray structures. Both alignment methods produced statistically significant CoMFA and CoMSIA models, with the best q(2) value being 0.649 and the best predictive r(2) being 0.754. The manual alignment gave statistically higher values, whereas the automated alignment gave more robust models for predicting the activities of an external inhibitor set. Both models utilized similar amino acids in the HIV-1 PR active site, supporting the idea that hydrogen bonds form between an inhibitor and the backbone carbonyl oxygens of Gly48 and Gly48' and also the backbone NH group of Asp30, Gly48, Asp29', and Gly48' of the enzyme. These results suggest that an automated inhibitor alignment can yield predictive 3D QSAR models that are well comparable to manual methods. Thus, an automated alignment method in creating 3D QSAR models is encouragable when a well-characterized structure of the target protein is available.     

含呋喃环双酰脲类衍生物的三维定量构效关系研究

采用比较分子力场分析法(CoMFA)和比较分子相似性指数分析法(CoMSIA), 对27个新型双酰基脲类化合物的杀蚊幼虫(Aedes aegypti L.)活性进行三维定量构效关系(3D-QSAR)研究. 在CoMFA研究中, 考察了网格点步长对统计结果的影响. 在CoMSIA研究中, 系统考察了各种分子场组合、网格点步长和衰减因子对模型统计结果的影响, 发现立体场和氢键供体场的组合得到最佳模型. 所建立的CoMFA和CoMSIA模型的非交叉验证相关系数r2值分别为0.828和0.841, 并都具有较强的预测能力. CoMFA和CoMSIA模型的三维等值图不仅直观地解释了结构与活性的关系, 而且为后续优化该系列化合物提供了理论依据.     

Development of novel 3D-QSAR combination approach for screening and optimizing B-Raf inhibitors in silico

B-Raf is a member of the RAF family of serine/threonine kinases: it mediates cell division, differentiation, and apoptosis signals through the RAS-RAF-MAPK pathway. Thus, B-Raf is of keen interest in cancer therapy, such as melanoma. In this study, we propose the first combination approach to integrate the pharmacophore (PhModel), CoMFA, and CoMSIA models for B-Raf, and this approach could be used for screening and optimizing potential B-Raf inhibitors in silico. Ten PhModels were generated based on the HypoGen BEST algorithm with the flexible fit method and diverse inhibitor structures. Each PhModel was designated to the alignment rule and screening interface for CoMFA and CoMSIA models. Therefore, CoMFA and CoMSIA models could align and recognize diverse inhibitor structures. We used two quality validation methods to test the predication accuracy of these combination models. In the previously proposed combination approaches, they have a common factor in that the number of training set inhibitors is greater than that of testing set inhibitors. In our study, the 189 known diverse series B-Raf inhibitors, which are 7-fold the number of training set inhibitors, were used as a testing set in the partial least-squares validation. The best validation results were made by the CoMFA09 and CoMSIA09 models based on the Hypo09 alignment model. The predictive r(2)(pred) values of 0.56 and 0.56 were derived from the CoMFA09 and CoMSIA09 models, respectively. The CoMFA09 and CoMSIA09 models also had a satisfied predication accuracy of 77.78% and 80%, and the goodness of hit test score of 0.675 and 0.699, respectively. These results indicate that our combination approach could effectively identify diverse B-Raf inhibitors and predict the activity.     

HLA-A*0201限制性CTL表位肽的三维定量构效关系的研究

运用比较分子力场(CoMFA)和比较分子相似性指数分析(CoMFA)方法研究了50个HLA-A^*0201限制性CTL表位九肽结构与亲和性间的关系，另外15个表位九肽作为预测集用于检验模型的预测能力.结果表明采用CoMSIA得到的构效关系模型(q^2=0.628，r^2=0.997，F=840.419)要明显优于采用CoMFA得到的构效关系模型.在CoMSIA计算中，当引入疏水场时，三维构效关系模型得到明显改善，通过该三维构效关系模型，可较精确地估算预测集中15个CTL表位肽与HLA-A^*0201间的亲和力(r^2pred=0.743).通过分析分子场等值面图在空间的分布，可以观察到表位肽分子周围的立体及疏水特征对表位肽与HLA-A^*0201间结合亲和力的影响，从而为进一步对CTL表位肽进行结构改造并基于此进行治疗性疫苗分子设计提供理论基础.     

化合物的空间取向对CoMFA结果的影响

Our work shows that different compound orientations have different results in Comparative Molecular Field Analysis(CoMFA).For three analyzed compound series, the squared correlation coefficients of cross-validation(q2)could vary as largely as 0.30～0.40 among all possible orientations. The reason for this comes from the routine adopted by CoMFA which uses discrete, regularly arrayed grids to represent the molecular field. Therefore, different orientations may map their molecular fields differently onto the grid and accordingly give different results from partial least square (PLS)analyses. We have developed a method all-orientation searching, to seek for the orientation with the best CoMFA result. And ,we suggest that all-orientation searching should be incorporated into the standard CoMFA procedure.     

QSAR analyses on avian influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitors using CoMFA, CoMSIA, and HQSAR

The recent wide spreading of the H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) in Asia, Europe and Africa and its ability to cause fatal infections in human has raised serious concerns about a pending global flu pandemic. Neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors are currently the only option for treatment or prophylaxis in humans infected with this strain. However, drugs currently on the market often meet with rapidly emerging resistant mutants and only have limited application as inadequate supply of synthetic material. To dig out helpful information for designing potent inhibitors with novel structures against the NA, we used automated docking, CoMFA, CoMSIA, and HQSAR methods to investigate the quantitative structure-activity relationship for 126 NA inhibitors (NIs) with great structural diversities and wide range of bioactivities against influenza A virus. Based on the binding conformations discovered via molecular docking into the crystal structure of NA, CoMFA and CoMSIA models were successfully built with the cross-validated q (2) of 0.813 and 0.771, respectively. HQSAR was also carried out as a complementary study in that HQSAR technique does not require 3D information of these compounds and could provide a detailed molecular fragment contribution to the inhibitory activity. These models also show clearly how steric, electrostatic, hydrophobicity, and individual fragments affect the potency of NA inhibitors. In addition, CoMFA and CoMSIA field distributions are found to be in well agreement with the structural characteristics of the corresponding binding sites. Therefore, the final 3D-QSAR models and the information of the inhibitor-enzyme interaction should be useful in developing novel potent NA inhibitors.     

CoMFA and CoMSIA 3D-quantitative structure-activity relationship model on benzodiazepine derivatives, inhibitors of phosphodiesterase IV

Recently, we reported structurally novel PDE4 inhibitors based on 1,4-benzodiazepine derivatives. The main interest in developing bezodiazepine-based PDE4 inhibitors is in their lack of adverse effects of emesis with respect to rolipram-like compounds. A large effort has thus been made toward the structural optimization of this series. In the absence of structural information on the inhibitor binding mode into the PDE4 active site, 2D-QSAR (H-QSAR) and two 3D-QSAR (CoMFA and CoMSIA) methods were applied to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism controlling the PDE4 affinity of the benzodiazepine derivatives. As expected, the CoMSIA 3D contour maps have provided more information on the benzodiazepine interaction mode with the PDE4 active site whereas CoMFA has built the best tool for activity prediction. The 2D pharmacophoric model derived from CoMSIA fields is consistent with the crystal structure of the PDE4 active site reported recently. The combination of the 2D and 3D-QSAR models was used not only to predict new compounds from the structural optimization process, but also to screen a large library of bezodiazepine derivatives.     

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship of nucleosides acting at the A3 adenosine receptor: analysis of binding and relative efficacy

The binding affinity and relative maximal efficacy of human A3 adenosine receptor (AR) agonists were each subjected to ligand-based three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis. Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) used as training sets a series of 91 structurally diverse adenosine analogues with modifications at the N6 and C2 positions of the adenine ring and at the 3', 4', and 5' positions of the ribose moiety. The CoMFA and CoMSIA models yielded significant cross-validated q2 values of 0.53 (r2 = 0.92) and 0.59 (r2 = 0.92), respectively, and were further validated by an external test set (25 adenosine derivatives), resulting in the best predictive r2 values of 0.84 and 0.70 in each model. Both the CoMFA and the CoMSIA maps for steric or hydrophobic, electrostatic, and hydrogen-bonding interactions well reflected the nature of the putative binding site previously obtained by molecular docking. A conformationally restricted bulky group at the N6 or C2 position of the adenine ring and a hydrophilic and/or H-bonding group at the 5' position were predicted to increase A3AR binding affinity. A small hydrophobic group at N6 promotes receptor activation. A hydrophilic and hydrogen-bonding moiety at the 5' position appears to contribute to the receptor activation process, associated with the conformational change of transmembrane domains 5, 6, and 7. The 3D-CoMFA/CoMSIA model correlates well with previous receptor-docking results, current data of A3AR agonists, and the successful conversion of the A3AR agonist into antagonists by substitution (at N6) or conformational constraint (at 5'-N-methyluronamide).     

Discodermolide及其衍生物三维定量构效关系的研究

Discodermolide是一种新颖的作用于微管蛋白的抗肿瘤化合物, 具有良好的药用前景. 为了设计出药效更好的类似物, 我们用比较分子力场分析(CoMFA)和比较分子相似性指数分析(CoMSIA)对discodermolide及其衍生物进行了三维定量构效关系(3D-QSAR)的研究, 并建立了相关的预测模型. 其中, CoMFA模型的交叉验证相关系数(q2)为0.592, 非交叉验证相关系数(r2)为0.982, 标准偏差(SEE)为0.094, F值为119.761; CoMSIA模型的q2为0.544, r2为0.980, SEE为0.098, F值为108.715. 计算结果表明, 获得的CoMFA和CoMSIA模型具有良好的预测能力, 可以应用于指导该类化合物的设计.