COMPUTER-AIDED DRUG DISCOVERY

The role of computers in drug discovery depends on just how much is known about the target macro-molecule. If atomic detail of the receptor is known, binding free energy differences between drug variants may be computed. Major effort is being expended in extending the area of applicability of such studies by predicting protein structure based on homologies with known protein crystal data. Where no target structure is available, computational methods can provide leads by defining transition state structures and then using the approach of molecular similarity to define stable mimics to act as blockers.