Application of 'inductive' QSAR descriptors for quantification of antibacterial activity of cationic polypeptides

On the basis of the inductive QSAR descriptors we have created a neural network-based solution enabling quantification of antibacterial activity in the series of 101 synthetic cationic polypeptides (CAMEL-s). The developed QSAR model allowed 80% correct categorical classification of antibacterial potencies of the CAMEL-s both in the training and the validation sets. The accuracy of the activity predictions demonstrates that a narrow set of 3D sensitive 'inductive' descriptors can adequately describe the aspects of intra- and intermolecular interactions that are relevant for antibacterial activity of the cationic polypeptides. The developed approach can be further expanded for the larger sets of biologically active peptides and can serve as a useful quantitative tool for rational antibiotic design and discovery.