Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a crucial feature often overlooked when considering the interaction of a drug with its target?
What is a crucial feature often overlooked when considering the interaction of a drug with its target?
- The pH of the body
- The ionic strength of the body
- The role of water (correct)
- The shape of the drug molecule
What happens to the water molecules surrounding the drug and the target binding site before they meet?
What happens to the water molecules surrounding the drug and the target binding site before they meet?
- They are stripped away (correct)
- They are ignored
- They are replaced by ions
- They are attracted to each other
Why may a drug be ineffective if the energy required to desolvate both the drug and the binding site is greater than the stabilization energy gained by the binding interactions?
Why may a drug be ineffective if the energy required to desolvate both the drug and the binding site is greater than the stabilization energy gained by the binding interactions?
- The drug is not soluble in water
- The drug is not administered correctly
- The binding site is not accessible
- The energy required to desolvate is too high (correct)
What is the benefit of removing a polar binding group from a drug in certain cases?
What is the benefit of removing a polar binding group from a drug in certain cases?
Why is it important to position polar groups in a certain way when they are added to a drug to increase its water solubility?
Why is it important to position polar groups in a certain way when they are added to a drug to increase its water solubility?
What happens to the surrounding water molecules when a hydrophobic region of a drug interacts with a hydrophobic region of a binding site?
What happens to the surrounding water molecules when a hydrophobic region of a drug interacts with a hydrophobic region of a binding site?
What is the result of the surrounding water molecules forming stronger than-usual interactions with each other next to the non-polar surface?
What is the result of the surrounding water molecules forming stronger than-usual interactions with each other next to the non-polar surface?
Why is it not possible for water to solvate the non-polar or hydrophobic regions of a drug or its target binding site?
Why is it not possible for water to solvate the non-polar or hydrophobic regions of a drug or its target binding site?
Study Notes
Role of Water in Drug-Target Interactions
- Water molecules surround both the drug and the target binding site, requiring energy to strip them away before binding interactions can occur.
- The energy required to desolvate both the drug and the binding site must be less than the stabilization energy gained by binding interactions for the drug to be effective.
- In some cases, removing a polar binding group from a drug can lower its energy of desolvation, making it more effective.
Importance of Hydrophobic Interactions
- Hydrophobic regions of a drug and its target binding site cannot be solvated by water.
- Water molecules surrounding hydrophobic regions form stronger interactions with each other, resulting in a more ordered layer of water.
- This represents a negative entropy due to the increase in order.
Strategies for Optimizing Drug-Target Interactions
- Adding polar groups to a drug can increase its water solubility, but they must be positioned to be solvent-accessible or solvent-exposed to avoid energy penalties.
- When the hydrophobic region of a drug interacts with a hydrophobic region of a binding site, surrounding water molecules are freed and become less ordered, increasing entropy.
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Description
Learn about the crucial role of water and hydrophobic interactions in the binding of drugs to their targets in the body. Understand how water molecules surround the drug and target before they interact.
