24720 - Molecular Medicinal Chemistry

Learning outcomes

The course is centered on the role of molecular recognition in drug design. In particular,the design of enzyme inhibitors and drugs for particular cellular targets such as ion channels and receptors will be investigated following the "target family approach".

Course contents

Molecular medicinal chemistry

Biological macromolecules as drug targets: proteins, (structural and carrier proteins, enzymes, ion pumps, ion channels, membrane and intracellular receptors), nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates.

Ligand gated ion channel receptor superfamily : classification and models. The nicotinic receptor: channel structural and functional organization; design of competitive and non-competitive agonists.

GPCR superfamily : classification and models. The muscarinic receptor: structural organization and functional domains; design of competitive agonists for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Intracellular receptor superfamily : classification and models. The estrogen receptor: structural organization of the ligand binding pocket (LBP) and receptor conformational states; design of agonists, antagonists and partial agonists.

Tyrosine kinase receptor superfamily : classification and models. The epidermal growth factor receptor: ATP binding site topology; design of catalytic site inhibitors.

The acetylcholinesterase : structure and non-classical functions; design of “dual-binding site” inhibitors as multivalent ligands case study.

Readings/Bibliography

Lesson notes; selected references will be provided during the class

Chemical Biology: From Small Molecules to Systems Biology and Drug Design

• Edited by Stuart Schreiber, Tarun Kapoor & Günther Wess
• Wiley, : 2007 1280 pp., 3 vol
• ISBN 9783527311507

Assessment methods

A comprehensive oral final exam is given at the end of the semester.

You must book your exam using AlmaEsami.

Teaching tools

Video-projector, PC, slides, Internet

Office hours

See the website of Maria Laura Bolognesi