Abstract
The TRAnsient Pockets in Proteins (TRAPP) webserver provides an automated workflow that allows users to explore the dynamics of a protein binding site and to detect pockets or sub-pockets that may transiently open due to protein internal motion. These transient or cryptic sub-pockets may be of interest in the design and optimization of small molecular inhibitors for a protein target of interest. The TRAPP workflow consists of the following three modules: (i) TRAPP structure— generation of an ensemble of structures using one or more of four possible molecular simulation methods; (ii) TRAPP analysis—superposition and clustering of the binding site conformations either in an ensemble of structures generated in step (i) or in PDB structures or trajectories uploaded by the user; and (iii) TRAPP pocket—detection, analysis, and visualization of the binding pocket dynamics and characteristics, such as volume, solvent-exposed area or properties of surrounding residues. A standard sequence conservation score per residue or a differential score per residue, for comparing on- and off-targets, can be calculated and displayed on the binding pocket for an uploaded multiple sequence alignment file, and known protein sequence annotations can be displayed simultaneously. The TRAPP webserver is freely available at http://trapp.h-its.org.
Highlights
Protein flexibility plays a key role in molecular recognition but is often neglected in protein structure-based drug design projects
We illustrate the capabilities of the TRAnsient Pockets in Proteins (TRAPP) webserver by means of the following example application case
The development of selective anti-parasitic antifolates without side effects is hindered by the fact that the binding pocket of trypanosomatid Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is very similar to that of human DHFR
Summary
Protein flexibility plays a key role in molecular recognition but is often neglected in protein structure-based drug design projects. Consideration of pocket dynamics in p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase helped to find an inhibitor [2]. Another example is the identification of a cryptic pocket in HIV integrase, adjacent to the known active site, in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations [3]. This pocket was exploited in the discovery of HIV integrase inhibitors, leading to the development of the drug Raltegravir [4]. MD simulations have revealed a transient and potentially druggable binding pocket at the dimeric interface of HIV-1 protease [5]
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