Druggability predictions: methods, limitations, and applications

TitleDruggability predictions: methods, limitations, and applications
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsBarril, X
JournalWiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Computational Molecular Science
Volume3
Issue4
Pagination327 - 338
Date Published2013/07//
AbstractPharmacological treatment with small organic molecules offers important medical, economic, and practical advantages over other therapeutic approaches. However, such small molecules can only elicit an effect when they bind to a biological component at the appropriate site and with sufficient affinity to modify its behavior. Druggability predictions assess the ability of a given binding site to host drug-like organic molecules. Combined with information about the involvement of such component in a disease, druggability predictions can be used to prioritize therapeutic targets and are particularly useful when moving beyond the traditional target classes. In the last few years, significant progress has been made to understand the molecular basis of druggability, to compile datasets of targets with various degrees of druggability, and to develop a diverse set of computational prediction methods. These tools offer a better prospect for target-based drug discovery. C 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
URLhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/wcms.1134