Virtual Screening for Lead Discovery -- Computer-Aided Drug Discovery and Development -- Using Active Site Mapping and Receptor-Based Pharmacophore Tools: Prelude to Docking and De Novo/Fragment-Based Ligand Design -- Methods for Evaluation of Structural and Biological Properties of Anti-Invasive Natural Products -- Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis Using Microwave Irradiation -- Fluorescent and Lanthanide Labeling for Ligand Screens, Assays, and Imaging -- DNA-Directed Assembly Microarray for Protein and Small Molecule Inhibitor Screening -- Selection of Peptide Ligands for Human Placental Transcytosis Systems Using In vitro Phage Display -- Optimization of the Tetrazolium Dye (MTT) Colorimetric Assay for Cellular Growth and Viability -- Imaging NF- κB Signaling in Mice for Screening Anti-Cancer Drugs -- Evaluation of Anticancer Agents Using Flow Cytometry Analysis of Cancer Stem Cells -- Chemical Screening with Zebrafish Embryos.- iTRAQTM Labeling Coupled with LC-MALDI Mass Spectrometry for Monitoring Temporal Response of Colorectal Cancer Cells to Butyrate Treatment -- Heterotypic Cell Adhesion Assay for the Study of Cell Adhesion Inhibition -- Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Proteins and Peptides Using a Specific Animal Model for Wound Healing -- In vitro Immunogenicity Risk Assessment of Therapeutic Proteins in Preclinical Setting.

Research in the pharmaceutical sciences and medicinal chemistry has taken an important new direction in the past two decades with a focus on large molecules, especially peptides and proteins, as well as DNA therapeutics.  In Drug Design and Discovery: Methods and Protocols, leading experts provide an in-depth view of key protocols that are commonly used in drug discovery laboratories.  Covering both classic and cutting-edge techniques, this volume explores computational docking, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR), peptide synthesis, labeling of peptides and proteins with fluorescent labels, DNA-microarray, zebrafish model for drug screening, and other analytical screening and biological assays that are routinely used during the drug discovery process.  Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.   Thorough and accessible, Drug Design and Discovery: Methods and Protocols serve as a vital laboratory reference for pharmaceutical chemists, medicinal chemists, and pharmacologists as well as for molecular biologists.