Can you see the target by the structure


This week I gave a list of  fifty drug candidates that had been selected as potential neuroprotectants for the MS-SMART trial. 

You asked me if I had a list of the structures so we could see if anything would fall out. 

Whilst it could be done and you can do it if you want just type in the name and Wiki will do it and it may help if you can put an activity to the drug name...but understanding the structure. 

First it helps if you are a chemist because they understand the language as it is not just a bond here and a bond there. They look at the structure and see shapes, entry into the CNS, the compound is brick dust and won't dissolve in anything etc. 

Now look at the two compounds the top one binds to the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptor with high affinity, the bottom one blocks the NMDA glutamate receptor . The only difference in structure is that in one the hydrogen sticks out from the screen where as the other points into the screen. So it is not always easy. Can you spot what the compounds look like...Yep Tetrahydrocannabinol.

 The substance in cannabis that gets you high. It binds to CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors so there is a similarity

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