Discovery of novel low-molecular-weight HIV-1 inhibitors interacting with cyclophilin A using in silico screening and biological evaluations

J Mol Model. 2013 Jan;19(1):465-75. doi: 10.1007/s00894-012-1560-7. Epub 2012 Sep 5.

Abstract

Cyclophilin A has attracted attention recently as a new target of anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drugs. However, so far no drug against HIV-1 infection exhibiting this mechanism of action has been approved. To identify new potent candidates for inhibitors, we performed in silico screening of a commercial database of more than 1,300 drug-like compounds by using receptor-based docking studies. The candidates selected from docking studies were subsequently tested using biological assays to assess anti-HIV activities. As a result, two compounds were identified as the most active. Specifically, both exhibited anti-HIV activity against viral replication at a low concentration and relatively low cytotoxicity at the effective concentration inhibiting viral growth by 50%. Further modification of these molecules may lead to the elucidation of potent inhibitors of HIV-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cyclophilin A / metabolism*
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Weight
  • Thermodynamics
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Ligands
  • Cyclophilin A