Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Biochemical Evaluation for the Identification of Novel Trypanosoma Brucei Aldolase Inhibitors.

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Structure-Based Virtual Screening and Biochemical Evaluation for the Identification of Novel Trypanosoma Brucei Aldolase Inhibitors.

Curr Top Med Chem. 2018 Apr 27;:

Authors: Ferreira LLG, Ferreira RS, Palomino DL, Andricopulo AD

Abstract
The glycolytic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase is a validated molecular target in human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) drug discovery, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. Herein, a structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) approach to the identification of novel T. brucei aldolase inhibitors is described. Distinct molecular docking algorithms were used to screen more than 500,000 compounds against the X-ray structure of the enzyme. This SBVS strategy led to the selection of a series of molecules which were evaluated for their activity on recombinant T. brucei aldolase. The effort led to the discovery of structurally new ligands able to inhibit the catalytic activity the enzyme. The predicted binding conformations were additionally investigated in molecular dynamics simulations, which provided useful insights into the enzyme-inhibitor intermolecular interactions. The molecular modeling results along with the enzyme inhibition data generated practical knowledge to be explored in further structure-based drug design efforts in HAT drug discovery.

PMID: 29701141 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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