Virtual Screening to Identify Potent Sepiapterin Reductase Inhibitors

Abstract Sepiapterin reductase has been identified as a potential drug target for neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Virtual screening was executed against a publicly available x-ray crystal structure of sepiapterin reductase. A set of structurally diverse and potent sepiapterin reductase inhibitors was identified. This set of compounds with favorable ligand efficiency and lipophilic efficiency are tractable for further optimization. An SAR follow-up library was synthesized based on one of the virtual screening hits exploring SAR.