Five Key Criteria for Identifying Optimal Therapeutic Targets in Protein-Mediated Diseases

Abstract

Therapeutic trends involve designing ligands to target proteins in various diseases, but no parallel filters have been established to prioritize pathological proteins within pathogens for optimal inhibition. This study unveils that in order for a protein to serve as an optimal target for therapeutic intervention, it must exhibit five key attributes. It should have a druggable site with a recognized cleft in which a ligand can be fitted with high specificity. It should possess a unique structure, with distinct sequences having low similarity with other non-targeted proteins. It should be dispensable for the pathogenesis of a disease, and in the case of microbial infection, it must be crucial for the survival of infectious organisms. It should be available in a crystallized 3D structure to enable high-throughput screening of candidate ligands. It should occupy an accessible localization to provide an easy route for the ligand to reach its target with less effort. The study justifies five rules as essential filters for considering a protein as an ideal therapeutic target for any protein-mediated dysfunction. When these rules of targeting proteins are found in a protein, eradicating the intended ailment can primarily be enhanced in less time, money, and effort.