In Silico Analyzes for the Inhibition of HIV Protease by Ritonavir and Indinavir

Introduction: This research was conducted to investigate the molecular interaction of HIV protease inhibitor drugs using molecular docking. HIV protease is responsible for processing gag and gag-polyproteins during virion maturation. The activity of this enzyme is essential against viral infections and has beneficial therapeutic effects on HIV treatment. Materials and Methods: To meet the aim of the study, indinavir and ritonavir were selected as HIV Protease inhibitor drugs. The necessary information on molecular docking was collected through information servers, such as Drug bank and Program database (PDB). Then, molecular docking was performed using Molegro virtual docker software. In order to check the stability of the resulting complex structure and its cellular penetration, a molecular dynamics simulation was run for 50 nanoseconds using GROMACS2019.6 package and Amber99SB force force field. During the molecular dynamics simulation, root mean square deviations (RMSD), root mean square fluctuations (RMSF), the radius of gyration (RG), hydrogen bonds, and distance between ligands and complex were investigated. Results: The obtained results indicated that the RMSD of the complex of the ligands and HIV protease at the end of 50 nanoseconds had a linear slope. Hydrogen bonds decreased at beginning of simulation but they increase at the end of simulation However RG was decreased at the end of the simulation Also the RMSF was decreased at the end of simulation rather than beginning of simulation, So all the obtained results showing the stability and strength of the structure. Conclusion: Molecular docking method can indicate the relationship between structure-activity and the effectiveness of ligands on HIV protease based on the level of interaction between the ligands and the receptors.