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The Chemical Educator
ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 18
(2013) pp 259-262
DOI 10.1007/s00897132508
Demonstrating Rational Drug Design using Free Docking Software
Elizabeth A. Bartholomew, Stephen J. Savioli, Maya M. West, Brent D. Feske, Mitch H. Weiland and Clifford W. Padgett*
Department of Chemistry and Physics, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah GA, 31419, Clifford.Padgett@armstrong.edu
Received May 17, 2013. Accepted August 7, 2013.
Published: 23 September 2013
Abstract. Students in the biochemistry and physical chemistry laboratories computationally modeled the docking of the HIV protease inhibitor Indinavir, a current therapeutic marketed by Merck. Students then hypothesized how to improve upon this inhibitor by searching for new interactions between the drug and HIV protease. Once their new, rationally designed inhibitor was built, its binding to HIV protease was modeled. The changes were evaluated through comparisons of calculated binding energies. This laboratory exercise offers an excellent approach, for either biochemistry or computational chemistry courses, to expose students to the role computers play in the pharmaceutical industry toward the design of new therapeutic agents. This simulation generates student interest through visual analysis of the interactions formed between the drug and enzyme, while showcasing the challenges associated with rational drug design. The experiment utilizes free software that can run on any Microsoft Windows operating system.
Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; physical chemistry; biochemistry
(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: Clifford.Padgett@armstrong.edu)
Article in PDF format (257 KB) HTML format
Supporting Materials:
Instructor’s notes, and handouts for students are available (1.35 MB).
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