PREDICTION OF BINDING AFFINITIES FOR DNA INTERCALATORS BY MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATIONS

Abstract

The computer modelling and simulation methods are widely used in rational drug design to obtain information necessary for understanding interactions between a ligand (drug molecule) and its cellular macromolecular target on molecular level. The determination of free energies of binding for ligand-target complexes is one of the crucial points in those studies. In recent years several methods have been proposed to solve this problem. The majority of them use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Two, most popular methods: (i) a free energy perturbation method (FEP), and (ii) a linear response (LR) method, are shortly presented in this paper together with their limitations and advantages. In this work I presented the first attempt to use LR approach to 10 anti tumour agents able to intercalate into DNA. The LR relationship obtained in the present study indicated that in the system studied the electrostatic term has no influence on the free energy of binding. The relationship is now successfully used in our research group in further molecular modelling studies concerning DNA intercalators with similar structure.