GRID formalism for the comparative molecular surface analysis: application to the CoMFA benchmark steroids, azo dyes, and HEPT derivatives.

Shape analysis is a powerful tool in chemistry and drug design, and molecular surface defines shape in the molecular scale. In the current publication we presented a novel formalism for the comparative molecular surface analysis (s-CoMSA). The method enables both quantitative modeling of 3D-QSAR and finding possible pharmacophoric sites. The method provides very predictive models for the CBG activity of the benchmark steroid series, tinctorial properties of the heterocyclic azo dyes and anti-HIV activity of the HEPT series.