Identification of novel potential inhibitor of thymidylate kinase from Variola virus

A hit compound was designed using Fragment Based Drug Designing (FBDD) approach, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to find the structural and electronic properties. Additionally, pharmacokinetic properties were studied to understand the biological response of the compound. Docking studies were carried out with the protein structure of VrTMPK and HssTMPK with the reported hit compound. The favored docked complex was further carried to perform MD simulations; the RMSD plot and H-bond analysis was done for 200 ns. Also, MM-PBSA was done to understand the binding energy constituents and stability of the complex. A comparative study of the designed hit compound was done with FDA approved Tecovirimat. As a result, it was found that the reported compound (POX-A)is a potential selective inhibitor for Variola virus. Hence, it can be used to study further in vivo and in vitro behavior of the compound.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.