Abstract
The Translocator Protein (18 kDa) (TSPO), previously known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, is widely expressed in glial cells and in peripheral tissues and is involved in a variety of biological processes: steroidogenesis, cell growth and differentiation, apoptosis induction, etc. TSPO basal expression is up-regulated in a number of human pathologies, including a variety of tumors and neuropathologies, such as gliomas and neurodegenerative disorders (Huntingtons and Alzheimers diseases), as well as in various forms of brain injury and inflammation. Furthermore, changes in TSPO receptor levels have been found in anxiety and mood disorders. Nowadays, considerable efforts have been focused on the identification of new TSPO ligands characterized by high-affinity and selectivity. In this review, we report and analyze the main experimental data and the computational procedures and validation methods used for the construction of the TSPO receptor and ligand-based models, describing in detail the most successful results and the new trends.
Keywords: 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), 3D-QSAR, computational chemistry, homology model, mutagenesis data, peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor, pharmacophoric model, virtual screening, glial cells, gliomas, neurodegenerative disorders, high-affinity and selectivity, ligand-based models
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Computational Studies on Translocator Protein (TSPO) and its Ligands
Volume: 12 Issue: 4
Author(s): Gabriella Ortore, Tiziano Tuccinardi and Adriano Martinelli
Affiliation:
Keywords: 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), 3D-QSAR, computational chemistry, homology model, mutagenesis data, peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor, pharmacophoric model, virtual screening, glial cells, gliomas, neurodegenerative disorders, high-affinity and selectivity, ligand-based models
Abstract: The Translocator Protein (18 kDa) (TSPO), previously known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, is widely expressed in glial cells and in peripheral tissues and is involved in a variety of biological processes: steroidogenesis, cell growth and differentiation, apoptosis induction, etc. TSPO basal expression is up-regulated in a number of human pathologies, including a variety of tumors and neuropathologies, such as gliomas and neurodegenerative disorders (Huntingtons and Alzheimers diseases), as well as in various forms of brain injury and inflammation. Furthermore, changes in TSPO receptor levels have been found in anxiety and mood disorders. Nowadays, considerable efforts have been focused on the identification of new TSPO ligands characterized by high-affinity and selectivity. In this review, we report and analyze the main experimental data and the computational procedures and validation methods used for the construction of the TSPO receptor and ligand-based models, describing in detail the most successful results and the new trends.
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Cite this article as:
Ortore Gabriella, Tuccinardi Tiziano and Martinelli Adriano, Computational Studies on Translocator Protein (TSPO) and its Ligands, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2012; 12 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802612799078667
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156802612799078667 |
Print ISSN 1568-0266 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4294 |
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