Structural Biology in Drug Discovery: Methods, Techniques, and Practices

Structure–based drug discovery allows scientists to analyze the three–dimensional framework of biological molecules to enhance the process and outcome of drug design and development. With knowledge of structural biology scientists can utilize modern techniques to characterize target molecules and develop efficient therapeutic drugs. Over the last few years, there have been significant improvements and advances in the field, leading to faster and more effective drug development at preclinical and clinical stages. Today, pharmacologists and scientists derive several drugs from structure–based design programs and continue to discover breakthrough methods in this fast–growing field.

With the most comprehensive and up–to–date overview of structure–based drug discovery and using experimental and computational approaches, Structural Biology in Drug Discovery: Methods, Techniques, and Practices covers principles, methods, applications, and emerging paradigms of structural biology as a tool for more efficient drug development. Coverage includes successful examples, academic and industry insights, novel concepts, and advances in a fast–growing field.

The combined chapters, by authors writing from the frontlines of structural biology and drug research, give readers a valuable reference and resource that:

    Presents the benefits, limitations, and potentiality of novel techniques in the field, like complex crystallization, X–ray diffraction, NMR, mass spectrometry, and computational chemistry
    Assesses macromolecular structures with experimental, analytical, and therapeutic approaches to reveal a successful, multidisciplinary perspective to drug development
    Includes detailed chapters on concepts, like protein dynamics, structure–based chemogenomics and polypharmacology, and fragment–based drug design
    Illustrates advances in biomolecular targeting using case studies and emerging examples: epigenetic proteins, HCV inhibitors, HIV–1 inhibitors, ribosomes, and antibodies

Jean–Paul Renaud, PhD, is the founder and directs RiboStruct, which focuses on rational drug design based on the eukaryotic ribosome. Previously, he was Chief Scientific Officer at NovAliX and the CNRS Research Director in the Structural Biology and Genomics Department at the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology. Dr. Renaud has over 20 years of research experience, along with several book chapters and articles and 3 patents to his credit.