Virtual Screening of a Natural Compound Library at
Orthosteric and Allosteric Binding Sites of the Neurotensin Receptor
Abstract:
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using the AMBER force field
has been performed on the neurotensin receptor,
a class A type G-protein coupled receptor in its activated conformation
co-crystallized with the non-peptide agonists.
For structure-based hit molecule identification via
natural chemical compound library, orthosteric sites on
neurotensin receptor have been mapped by docking using
AutoDock4.0 and Vina with the known agonists and antagonists
SR48692, SR142948, ML301 and ML314 of the receptor.
Furthermore, clustering analysis on the MD trajectories by
SIMULAID has been performed to filter receptor conformations
for the allosteric binders from the Otava natural compound library.
Comparative mappings of contrasting binding region patterns
have been done between the crystal structure orthosteric sites
as well as the binding regions in the SIMULAID-based
cluster center conformations from MD trajectories with the
FTmap server using the small organic molecule fragments as the probes.
The distinct binding region in the cluster-based conformations in the
extra-cellular region of the receptor has been identified for
targeted docking by Otava natural chemical compound library
using AutoDock4.0 and Vina docking suites to obtain
putative allosteric binders.
A group of compounds from the Otava library has been identified
as showing high free energy in both AutoDock4.0 and Vina docking suites.
Biophysical assessments on the natural compound computational
hit molecules will be done to identify lead structures from the hit molecules.