Development of dual inhibitors against Alzheimer's disease using fragment-based QSAR and molecular docking

Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:979606. doi: 10.1155/2014/979606. Epub 2014 Jun 12.

Abstract

Alzheimer's (AD) is the leading cause of dementia among elderly people. Considering the complex heterogeneous etiology of AD, there is an urgent need to develop multitargeted drugs for its suppression. β-amyloid cleavage enzyme (BACE-1) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), being important for AD progression, have been considered as promising drug targets. In this study, a robust and highly predictive group-based QSAR (GQSAR) model has been developed based on the descriptors calculated for the fragments of 20 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) derivatives. A large combinatorial library of DHP analogues was created, the activity of each compound was predicted, and the top compounds were analyzed using refined molecular docking. A detailed interaction analysis was carried out for the top two compounds (EDC and FDC) which showed significant binding affinity for BACE-1 and AChE. This study paves way for consideration of these lead molecules as prospective drugs for the effective dual inhibition of BACE-1 and AChE. The GQSAR model provides site-specific clues about the molecules where certain modifications can result in increased biological activity. This information could be of high value for design and development of multifunctional drugs for combating AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / chemistry*
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / chemistry*
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Binding Sites
  • Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / methods
  • Dihydropyridines / chemistry*
  • Dihydropyridines / therapeutic use
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Docking Simulation / methods
  • Protein Binding
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Dihydropyridines
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • 1,4-dihydropyridine
  • ACHE protein, human
  • Acetylcholinesterase
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • BACE1 protein, human