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Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology
Medknow Publications on behalf of The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL)
ISSN: 0378-6323 EISSN: 0973-3922
Vol. 74, Num. 3, 2008, pp. 273-274
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Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Vol. 74, No. 3, May-June, 2008, pp. 273-274
Letter To Editor
Authors' reply
Wiwanitkit Viroj
Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330
Correspondence Address:Wiwanitkit House, Bangkhae, Bangkok 10160
wviroj@yahoo.com
Code Number: dv08113
Related articles: dv08009 , dv08112
Sir,
The accuracy of prediction of relative or absolute ligand-binding affinities is challenging in both theoretical and practical aspects. [1] Receptor-ligand docking simulation for membrane proteins is widely used in structural bioinformatics. [2] Ligand-binding site prediction is useful in antagonist-type drug search. [3],[4] Ligand-binding site prediction for ErbB2, a membrane protein, was discussed in a previous report. [5]
The generation of highly effective signalling inhibitors targeting members of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases, EGFR and ErbB-2 has been discussed for a few years. [6] Of interest, Rambukkana et al. mentioned that during Microbacterium leprae -induced demyelination, Schwann cells proliferated significantly and generated a more nonmyelinated phenotype, thereby securing the intracellular niche for M. Leprae. [7] Recently, Tapinos et al. provided evidence that M. leprae -induced demyelination was a result of direct bacterial ligation to and activation of ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) without ErbB2-ErbB3 heterodimerization, a previously unknown mechanism that bypasses the neuregulin-ErbB3-mediated ErbB2 phosphorylation. [8] Therefore, it might be concluded that an ErbB2 antagonist could be useful in leprosy therapy, especially as a dedifferentiation signal in leprosy. [9]
References
| 1. | Huang N, Jacobson MP. Physics-based methods for studying protein-ligand interactions. Curr Opin Drug Discov Dev 2007;10:325-31. Back to cited text no. 1 |
| 2. | Hirokawa T. Receptor-ligand docking simulation for membrane proteins. Yakugaku Zasshi 2007;127:123-31. Back to cited text no. 2 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 3. | Mattos C, Ringe D. Locating and characterizing binding sites on proteins. Nat Biotechnol 1996;14:595-9. Back to cited text no. 3 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 4. | Singh J, Deng Z, Narale G, Chuaqui C. Structural interaction fingerprints: A new approach to organizing, mining, analyzing and designing protein-small molecule complexes. Chem Biol Drug Des 2006;67:5-12. Back to cited text no. 4 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 5. | Wiwanitkit V. Ligand-binding prediction for ErbB2, a key molecule in the pathogenesis of leprosy. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2008;74:32-4. Back to cited text no. 5 |
| 6. | Lackey KE. Lessons from the drug discovery of lapatinib, a dual ErbB1/2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Curr Top Med Chem 2006;6:435-60. Back to cited text no. 6 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 7. | Rambukkana A, Zanazzi G, Tapinos N, Salzer JL. Contact-dependent demyelination by Mycobacterium leprae in the absence of immune cells. Science 2002;296:927-31. Back to cited text no. 7 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 8. | Tapinos N, Ohnishi M, Rambukkana A. ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase signaling mediates early demyelination induced by leprosy bacilli. Nat Med 2006;12:961-6. Back to cited text no. 8 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 9. | Noon LA, Lloyd AC. Treating leprosy: An Erb-al remedy? Trends Pharmacol Sci 2007;28:103-5. Back to cited text no. 9 [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
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