Protein–Protein Interaction for Drug Discovery

Proteins can function as independent molecules or interact with other proteins in a functional network for the regulation of natural biological processes in the cell. Protein complexes can also be involved in the development of pathologies and searching for inhibitors of the protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is a promising field for drug discovery. Strategies for the development of PPIs inhibitors can be based on its direct interaction with the binding interface of the partner proteins. There is a considerable diversity in the structure of protein interfaces and identification of the suitable ones for drug targets has been a focus of investigation. Computational tools of interaction prediction and virtual libraries have been applied to design more diverse sets of compounds and perform in silico screens. This chapter aims to show that targeting PPIs can be a field to develop new drugs for medical purposes.