Textbook in PDF format
This English-language textbook, based on the successful German edition 'Wirkstoffdesign', brings the subject of drug design back to the cutting edge of research. The reader learns about new methods in genetic engineering and the expanded range of structural biological methods. Especially in the last 10 years, many complex target structures such as G-protein coupled receptors or ion channels have been elucidated by using these methods. The reader learns how these long-sought complex structures with classical drugs look like and how the therapeutic effect is achieved.
This textbook is aimed at students of pharmacy, chemistry and the life sciences, but also at career changers and medicinal chemists in research and development departments of the pharmaceutical industry. Conceptually, it is very different from classical textbooks on pharmaceutical chemistry. It focuses on the path to a new drug substance. The selection of case studies is based on didactic aspects and attempts to give a broad overview of methods and strategies without forgetting to look back at the beginnings of this field of work. Thus, the arc spans from the history of drug research, the mechanisms of action of drugs and the methods for lead structure search and optimisation to structure determination methods, modelling, molecular dynamics and QSAR methods to structure- and computer-aided design.
Foundations in Drug Research
Drug Research: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
In the Beginning, There Was Serendipity
Classical Drug Research
Protein–Ligand Interactions as the Basis for Drug Action
Optical Activity and Biological Effect
The Search for the Lead Structure
The Classical Search for Lead Structures
Screening Technologies for Lead Structure Discovery.
Optimization of Lead Structures
Designing Prodrugs
Peptidomimetics
Experimental and Theoretical Methods
Combinatorics: Chemistry with Big Numbers
Gene Technology in Drug Research
Experimental Methods of Structure Determination
Three-Dimensional Structure of Biomolecules
Molecular Modeling
Conformational Analysis
Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships and Design Approaches
Pharmacophore Hypotheses and Molecular Comparisons
Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationships
From In Vitro to In Vivo: Optimization of ADME and Toxicology Properties
Protein Modeling and Structure-Based Drug Design
A Case Study: Structure-Based Inhibitor Design for tRNA-Guanine Transglycosylase
Drugs and Drug Action: Sucesses of Structure-Based Design
How Drugs Act: Concepts for Therapy
Inhibitors of Hydrolases with an Acyl–Enzyme Intermediate
Aspartic Protease Inhibitors
Inhibitors of Hydrolyzing Metalloenzymes
Transferase Inhibitors
Oxidoreductase Inhibitors
Agonists and Antagonists of Nuclear Receptors
Agonists and Antagonists of Membrane-Bound Receptors
Ligands for Channels, Pores, and Transporters
Ligands for Surface Receptors
Biologicals: Peptides, Proteins, Nucleotides, and Macrolides as Drugs