Repositioning Dequalinium as Potent Muscarinic Allosteric Ligand by Combining Virtual Screening Campaigns and Experimental Binding Assays
Repositioning Dequalinium as Potent Muscarinic Allosteric Ligand by Combining Virtual Screening Campaigns and Experimental Binding Assays
Structure-based virtual screening is a truly productive repurposing approach provided that reliable target structures are available. Recent progresses in the structural resolution of the G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) render these targets amenable for structure-based repurposing studies. Hence, the present study describes structure-based virtual screening campaigns with a view to repurposing known drugs as potential allosteric (and/or orthosteric) ligands for the hM2 muscarinic subtype which was indeed resolved in complex with an allosteric modulator thus allowing a precise identification of this binding cavity. First, a docking protocol was developed and optimized based on binding space concept and enrichment factor optimization algorithm (EFO) consensus approach by using a purposely collected database including known allosteric modulators. The so-developed consensus models were then utilized to virtually screen the DrugBank database. Based on the computational results, six promising molecules were selected and experimentally tested and four of them revealed interesting affinity data; in particular, dequalinium showed a very impressive allosteric modulation for hM2. Based on these results, a second campaign was focused on bis-cationic derivatives and allowed the identification of other two relevant hM2 ligands. Overall, the study enhances the understanding of the factors governing the hM2 allosteric modulation emphasizing the key role of ligand flexibility as well as of arrangement and delocalization of the positively charged moieties.
- University of Milan Italy
- New York University Italy
- University of Florence Italy
Cholinergic Agents, CHO Cells, Ligands, Article, Cricetulus, binding space, Allosteric Regulation, Cricetinae, Animals, Humans, muscarinic receptors, drug repurposing, Drug Repositioning, virtual screening, consensus function, Receptors, Muscarinic, Molecular Docking Simulation, Dequalinium, Allosteric modulators; Binding space; Consensus function; Drug repurposing; Muscarinic receptors; Virtual screening, Anti-Infective Agents, Local, allosteric modulators, Allosteric Site, Protein Binding
Cholinergic Agents, CHO Cells, Ligands, Article, Cricetulus, binding space, Allosteric Regulation, Cricetinae, Animals, Humans, muscarinic receptors, drug repurposing, Drug Repositioning, virtual screening, consensus function, Receptors, Muscarinic, Molecular Docking Simulation, Dequalinium, Allosteric modulators; Binding space; Consensus function; Drug repurposing; Muscarinic receptors; Virtual screening, Anti-Infective Agents, Local, allosteric modulators, Allosteric Site, Protein Binding
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