title: Computer-Aided Drug Discovery and Design Targeting Ion Channels.
abstract: Ion channels are widely expressed in living cells and play critical roles in various cellular biological functions. Dysfunctional ion channels can cause a variety of diseases, making ion channels attractive targets for drug discovery. Computational approaches, such as molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations, provide economic and efficient tools for finding modulators of ion channels and for elucidating the action mechanisms of small molecules. In this review, we focus primarily on four types of ion channels (voltage-gated, ligand-gated, acid-sensing, and virus matrix 2 ion channels). The current advancements in computer-aided drug discovery and design targeting ion channels are summarized. First, ligand-based studies for drug design are briefly outlined. Then, we focus on the structurebased studies targeting pore domains, endogenous binding sites and allosteric sites of ion channels. Moreover, we also review the contribution of computational methods to the field of ligand binding and unbinding pathways of ion channels. Finally, we propose future developments for the field.
authors.forename: Qiansen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of MateriaMedica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China. zbgao@simm.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Zhaobing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China. hyyang@simm.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Huaiyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels