Hybrid 2D/3D-quantitative structure-activity relationship and modeling studies perspectives of pepstatin A analogs as cathepsin D inhibitors

Aim: Cathepsin D, one of the attractive targets in the treatment of breast cancer, has been implicated in HIV neuropathogenesis with potential proteolytic effects on chemokines. Methodology/result: Diverse modeling tools were used to reveal the key structural features affecting the inhibitory activities of 78 pepstatin A analogs. Analyses were performed to investigate the stability, rationality and fluctuation of the analogs. Results showed a clear correlation between the experimental and predicted activities of the analogs as well as the variation in their activities relative to structural modifications. Conclusion: The insight gained from this study offers theoretical references for understanding the mechanism of action of cathepsin D and will aid in the design of more potent and clinically-relevant drugs.