Title:Exploring the Chemical Space of P-Glycoprotein Interacting Compounds
VOLUME: 17 ISSUE: 14
Author(s):Veda Prachayasittikul, Prasit Mandi, Supaluk Prachayasittikul, Virapong Prachayasittikul and Chanin Nantasenamat*
Affiliation:Center of Data Mining and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Center of Data Mining and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Center of Data Mining and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Center of Data Mining and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700
Keywords:ADMET, chemical space, molecular substructure analysis, P-glycoprotein, physicochemical properties, promiscuity.
Abstract:Background: P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is well known for its clinical importance in the pharmacokinetics
of drugs and its role in multidrug resistance. The promiscuity of Pgp that arises from its ability
to extrude a wide range of lipophilic and structurally unrelated compounds from cells, render the
classification and understanding of its interacting compounds a great challenge.
Method: In this study, a data set of Pgp-interacting compounds including 1463 inhibitors, 1085 noninhibitors,
308 substrates and 126 non-substrates was retrieved and subjected to a combination of analyses,
including exploration of chemical space, statistical analysis of descriptor values and molecular
fragment analysis, to obtain insight into distinct physicochemical properties and important chemical
substructures which may govern the biological activity of investigated compounds toward Pgp. Statistical
analysis of descriptor values and molecular fragment analysis indicated that particular size, shape,
functional groups and molecular fragments may govern the classification of Pgp-interacting compounds
by influencing their physicochemical properties and their interaction with Pgp. Overall, the interacting
compounds (i.e., substrates and inhibitors) are larger in size, more flexible, more lipophilic, and less
charged than non-interacting compounds (i.e., non-substrates and non-inhibitors).
Conclusion: The fragment analysis suggested that methyl and amino groups may be involved in Pgp
inhibition and/or transport. The 2-methoxyphenol fragment was noted to be a potential substructure for
designing Pgp inhibitors, whereas the 2-sulfanylidene-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-
yl]-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carbonitrile substructure was implied for avoiding transport by Pgp. Hence,
this study could provide a comprehensive understanding of this drug transporter, which could benefit an
early ADMET screening as well as drug design and development.
