RNA-ligand molecular docking: Advances and challenges

With rapid advances in computer algorithms and hardware, fast and accurate virtual screening has led to a drastic acceleration in selecting potent small molecules as drug candidates. Computational modeling of RNA-small molecule interactions has become an indispensable tool for RNA-targeted drug discovery. The current models for RNA-ligand binding have mainly focused on the docking-and-scoring method. Accurate docking and scoring should tackle four crucial problems: (1) conformational flexibility of ligand, (2) conformational flexibility of RNA, (3) efficient sampling of binding sites and binding poses, and (4) accurate scoring of different binding modes. Moreover, compared with the problem of protein-ligand docking, predicting ligand binding to RNA, a negatively charged polymer, is further complicated by additional effects such as metal ion effects. Thermodynamic models based on physics-based and knowledge-based scoring functions have shown highly encouraging success in predicting ligand binding poses and binding affinities. Recently, kinetic models for ligand binding have further suggested that including dissociation kinetics (residence time) in ligand docking would result in improved performance in estimating in vivo drug efficacy. More recently, the rise of deep-learning approaches has led to new tools for predicting RNA-small molecule binding. In this review, we present an overview of the recently developed computational methods for RNA-ligand docking and their advantages and disadvantages. This article is categorized under: Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics

Automated summary

The rapid advancement in computer algorithms and hardware has drastically accelerated the selection of potent small molecule drug candidates through fast and accurate virtual screening. Computational modeling of RNA-small molecule interactions is essential for RNA-targeted drug discovery, with a focus on docking-and-scoring methods. Challenges in accurate docking and scoring include addressing issues like the flexibility of ligands and RNA, efficient sampling of binding sites and poses, and accurate scoring of different binding modes. Additionally, the complexity of predicting ligand binding to RNA, a negatively charged polymer, is further complicated by factors such as metal ion effects.