3D-QSAR Combination with Molecular Dynamics Simulations to Effectively Design the Active Ryanodine Receptor Agonists against Spodoptera frugiperda

Computer-aided molecular modeling was applied to design a series of Spodoptera frugiperda RyR agonists. Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) were used to generate 3D-QSAR models. MD simulations in the complex with S. frugiperda native, mutant RyR, and mammalian RyR1 under physiological conditions were used to validate the detailed binding mechanism. Binding free energy calculation by molecular mechanics generalized surface area (MM-GBSA) explained the role of key amino acid residues in ligand-receptor binding. Therefore, 14 new compounds were effectively designed and synthesized, and a bioassay indicated that compounds A-2 and A-3 showed comparable activity to that of chloranthraniliprole with LC₅₀ values of 0.27, 0.18, and 0.20 mg L^-1, respectively, against S. frugiperda. Most target compounds also displayed good activity against Mythinma separata at 0.1 mg L^-1. Molecular docking and MM-GBSA calculations demonstrated that A-3 had a better binding capacity with native and mutant S. frugiperda RyRs.

3D-QSAR; MM-GBSA; Spodoptera frugiperda; molecular docking; molecular dynamics simulations; ryanodine receptor; synthesis.