3D QSAR CoMFA/CoMSIA, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies of fullerene-based HIV-1 PR inhibitors

For the first time, a set of experimentally reported [60] fullerene derivatives were subjected to the 3D-QSAR/CoMFA and CoMSIA studies. The aim of this study is to propose a series of novel [60] fullerene-based inhibitors with optimal binding affinity for the HIV-1 PR enzyme. The position of the template molecule at the cavity of HIV-1 PR was optimized and 3D QSAR models were developed. Relative contributions of steric/electrostatic fields of the 3D-QSAR/CoMFA and CoMSIA models have shown that steric effects govern the bioactivity of the compounds, but electrostatic interactions play also an important role.The de novo drug design Leapfrog simulations provided a series of novel compounds with predicted improved inhibition effect.