Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: TRP

Title: Computational modeling of the p7 monomer from HCV and its interaction with small molecule drugs.

Authors: Yi-Ting Wang, Hao-Jen Hsu, Wolfgang B Fischer

Journal, date & volume: Springerplus, 2013 , 2, 324

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23961398

Abstract
Hepatitis C virus p7 protein is a 63 amino acid polytopic protein with two transmembrane domains (TMDs) and one of the prime targets for anti HCV drug development. A bio-inspired modeling pathway is used to generate plausible computational models of the two TMDs forming the monomeric protein model. A flexible region between Leu-13 and Gly-15 is identified for TMD11-32 and a region around Gly-46 to Trp-48 for TMD236-58. Mutations of the tyrosine residues in TMD236-58 into phenylalanine and serine are simulated to identify their role in shaping TMD2. Lowest energy structures of the two TMDs connected with the loop residues are used for a posing study in which small molecule drugs BIT225, amantadine, rimantadine and NN-DNJ, are identified to bind to the loop region. BIT225 is identified to interact with the backbone of the functionally important residues Arg-35 and Trp-36.