WaterMap-Guided Structure-Based Virtual Screening for Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors

Structure-based virtual screening of the Enamine database of 1.7 million compounds followed by WaterMap calculations (a molecular-dynamics-simulation-based method) was applied to identify novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. The inhibitory potency of 29 selected compounds against electric eel (ee) AChE was determined using Ellman's method. Three compounds were found to be active (success rate 10 %). For the most potent compound (∼40 % inhibition at 10 μM), 20 derivatives were discovered based on the Enamine similarity search. Finally, five compounds were found to be promising (IC₅₀ ranged from 6.3 μM to 17.5 μM) inhibitors of AChE. The performed similarity and fragment analysis confirmed significant structural novelty for these AChE inhibitors. Toxicity/safety of selected compounds was determined in zebrafish model.