A hybrid virtual screening protocol based on binding mode similarity

Abstract

In structure-based virtual screening (SBVS), a scoring function is usually applied to rank a database of docked compounds. Docking programs are often successful in reproducing experimental binding modes; however, the estimation of binding affinity still is the Achilles’ heel of docking. The integration of SB and ligand-based (LB) methods is considered a promising strategy to increase hit rates in VS. Herein, we describe a hybrid protocol that is based on the assessment of binding mode similarity between docked compounds and a bound reference ligand. In this context, both experimental and computationally modeled poses have been successfully used as references for three-dimensional (3D) similarity calculations. In this chapter, the methods applied in recent validation studies are described.