Ligand-binding prediction for ErbB2, a key molecule in the pathogenesis of leprosy.
OBJECTIVE
Mycobacterium leprae is an obligate intracellular pathogen. Ligand-binding is an important factor in the success of chemoprevention and chemotherapy. A new drug that can inhibit M. leprae binding to and activation of, ErbB2 and Erk1/2 in primary Schwann cells is the new therapeutic option. However, the ligand-binding pattern of ErbB2 has never been clarified.


METHODS
In this work, the author performed a ligand-binding prediction for ErbB2 using a new bioinformatics tool.


RESULTS
According to this study, nine strong possible ligands can be identified.


CONCLUSIONS
These sites can be useful for further drug-development studies.
Wiwanitkit
Viroj
V
Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. wviroj@yahoo.com
D001665:Binding Sites; D019295:Computational Biology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011485:Protein Binding; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014774:Virulence
D008024:Ligands; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human