Application of virtual screening and molecular dynamics for the analysis of selectivity of inhibitors of HU proteins targeted to the DNA-recognition site

DNA-Binding HU proteins are essential for the maintenance of genomic DNA supercoiling and compaction in prokaryotic cells and are promising pharmacological targets for the design of new antibacterial agents. The virtual screening for low-molecular-weight compounds capable of specifically interacting with the DNA-recognition loop of the HU protein from the mycoplasma Spiroplasma melliferum was performed. The ability of the initially selected ligands to form stable complexes with the protein target was assessed by molecular dynamics simulation. One compound, which forms an unstable complex, was eliminated by means of a combination of computational methods, resulting in a decrease in the number of compounds that will pass to the experimental test phase. This approach can be used to solve a wide range of problems related to the search for and validation of low-molecular-weight inhibitors specific for a particular protein target.