Small molecule antagonists of proteins.
The identification of small molecule antagonists of protein function is at the core of the pharmaceutical industry. Successful approaches to this problem, including screening and rational design, have been developed over the years to identify antagonists of enzymes and cellular receptors. These methods have been extended to the search for inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. While the very possibility of designing a small molecule inhibitor for such interactions was once doubted, there are examples of such inhibitors that are currently marketed products and many more inhibitors in various stages of research and development. Here we review the progress in identifying and designing small molecule protein inhibitors, with particular attention to those that block protein-protein interactions. We also discuss the physical character of protein-protein interfaces, and the resulting implications for small molecule lead discovery and design.
Gadek
Thomas R
TR
Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA. gadek.tom@gene.com
Nicholas
John B
JB
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D001665:Binding Sites; D019295:Computational Biology; D015195:Drug Design; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D055672:Static Electricity
D000596:Amino Acids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011506:Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface