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Exploring the Lead Compounds for Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 Protein: an e-Pharmacophore-Based Approach
Rohini K, Agarwal P, Preethi B, ,
Published in Springer Science and Business Media LLC
2019
PMID: 29911269
Volume: 187
   
Issue: 1
Pages: 194 - 210
Abstract
The rapid spread of the Zika virus and its association with the abnormal brain development constitute a global health emergency. With a continuing spread of the mosquito vector, the exposure is expected to accelerate in the coming years. Despite number of efforts, there is still no proper vaccine or medicine to combat this virus. Of note, the NS2B-NS3 protein is proven to be the potential target for the Zika virus therapeutics. Hence, e-pharmacophore-based drug design strategy was employed to identify potent inhibitors of NS2B-NS3 protein from ASINEX database consisting of 467,802 molecules. A 3D e-pharmacophore model was generated using PHASE module of Schrödinger Suite. The generated model consists of one hydrogen bond acceptor (A), two hydrogen bond donors (D), and two aromatic rings (R), ADDRR. The model was further evaluated for its ability to screen actives using enrichment analysis. Subsequently, high-throughput virtual screening protocol was employed, and the resultant hit molecules were also examined for its binding free energies and ADME properties using Prime MM-GBSA and Qikprop module of Schrodinger packages, respectively. Finally, the screened hit molecule was subjected to molecular dynamics simulation to examine its stability. Overall, the results from our analysis suggest that compound BAS 19192837 could be a potent inhibitor for the NS2B-NS3 protein of the Zika virus. It is also noteworthy to mention that our results are in good agreement with literature evidences. We hope that this result is of immense importance in designing potential drug molecules to combat the spread of Zika virus in the near future. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
About the journal
JournalData powered by TypesetApplied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
PublisherData powered by TypesetSpringer Science and Business Media LLC
ISSN0273-2289
Open Access0