Qualitative structure-activity relationships

An area of great interest in the polymer chemistry field is structure-activity relationships. In the simplest form, these can be qualitative descriptions, such as the observation that branched polymers are more biodegradable than straight-chain polymers. Computational simulations are more often directed toward the quantitative prediction of properties, such as the tensile strength of the bulk material. 

Predictions based on structure-activity relationships (SARs), including qualitative and quantitative mathematical models, and the use of read-across data from related chemicals. 

Qualitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) methods (see Sect. 5.2). 

The concept of the similarity of molecules has important ramifications for physical, chemical, and biological systems. Grunwald (7) has recently pointed out the constraints of molecular similarity on linear free energy relations and observed that Their accuracy depends upon the quality of the molecular similarity. The use of quantitative structure-activity relationships (2-6) is based on the assumption that similar molecules have similar properties. Herein we present a general and rigorous definition of molecular structural similarity. Previous research in this field has usually been concerned with sequence comparisons of macromolecules, primarily proteins and nucleic acids (7-9). In addition, there have appeared a number of ad hoc definitions of molecular similarity (10-15), many of which are subsumed in the present work. Difficulties associated with attempting to obtain precise numerical indices for qualitative molecular structural concepts have already been extensively discussed in the literature and will not be reviewed here. 

A Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) is the relationship of the molecular structure of a chemical with a physico-chemical property, environmental fate attribute, and/or specific effect on human health or an environmental species. These correlations may be qualitative (simple SAR) or quantitative (QSAR) (OECD 2002). 

It is important to consider the molecular interactions in liquids that are responsible for their physicochemical properties (such as boiling point, melting point, heat of vaporization, surface tension, etc.), which enables one to both describe and relate the different properties of matter in a more clear manner (both qualitatively and quantitatively). These ideas form the basis for quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR Birdi, 2002). This approach toward analysis and application is becoming more common due to the enormous help available from computers. 

The structure-activity relationships of thyroid hormones and related structural analogs have been studied using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including the Hansch correlation. The structural requirements for receptor binding, and therefore hormone activity, are ... 

The toxicology of a solvent is determined by many factors, such as bioavailabihty, metabolism, and the presence of structural features that may attenuate or enhance the reactivity of the parent molecule. Despite the structure-activity data available for many classes of commercial chemical substances, chemists have not recognized the use of structure-activity relations as a rational approach for choosing or designing new, less toxic commercial chemical substances. With qualitative structure-activity relationships, comparing the structures of the substances in the series with corresponding effects on the toxicity makes the correlation between toxic effect and structure. Through these, it may then be possible to predict a relationship between structure and toxicity... 

With qualitative structure-activity relationships (SARs), the correlation of toxic effect with structure is made by visual comparison of the structures of the chemicals in a series of congeneric substances and the corresponding effects their structural differences have on toxic potency, for example, as represented by their LD50 values. From qualitative examination of structure-activity data the chemist may be able to see a relationship between structure and toxicity, and identify the least toxic members of the class as possible commercial alternatives to the more toxic members. 

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies including qualitative and quantitative SAR. 

Quantitative structure-activity relationship studies are of great importance in modern chemistry. From their origin in the study of organic chemistry dating back to the 19th century, these studies have relied on some empirical and qualitative rules about the reactivity similarities of compounds with similar structures. The most significant development in QSARs occurred with the work of Louis Hammett (1894-1987), who correlated some electronic properties of organic acids and bases with their equilibrium constants and reactivity (Johnson, 1973). Hammett postulated that the effect... 

In contrast to the qualitative better and worse approach of traditional SAR, many researchers have sought to develop a method that is able to quantitatively link molecular structure changes to biological activity, a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR). As a method, QSAR strives to develop a mathematical formula to relate biological activity as a function of molecular or substituent properties. 

In the specific case of the evaluation of a qualitative relationship, for instance, between the presence of a certain chemical fragment and the occurrence of a certain toxicity effect, the typical name is structure-activity relationship (SAR). Here, we will discuss QSAR and SAR together. 

In particular for human toxicity, information shall be generated whenever possible by means other than vertebrate animal tests, through the use of alternative methods, for example, in vitro methods or qualitative or quantitative structure-activity relationship models or from information from structurally related substances (grouping or read-across). 

In addition to using PMs, predictions of toxic hazard can also be made by using structure-activity relationships (SARs). A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) can be defined as any mathematical model for predicting biological activity from the structure or physicochemical properties of a chemical. In this chapter, the premodifer quantitative is used in accordance with the recommendation of Livingstone (1995) to indicate that a quantitative measure of chemical structure is used. In contrast, a SAR is simply a (qualitative) association between a specific molecular (sub)structure and biological activity. 

Structure-activity relationships (SARs) and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs), referred to collectively as QSARs, can be used for the prediction of physicochemical properties, environmental fate parameters (e.g., accumulation and biodegradation), human health effects, and ecotoxicological effects. A SAR is a (qualitative) association between a chemical substructure and the potential of a chemical containing the substructure to exhibit a certain physical or biological effect. A QS AR is a mathematical model that relates a quantitative measure of chemical structure (e.g., a physicochemical property) to a physical property or to a biological effect (e.g., a toxicological endpoint). 

Another approach to predict toxicity is basing on structure-activity-relationship (SAR), which means the qualitative relationship between a specific chemical structure and their biological/toxicological activity, e.g. the expert system DEREK is based on SAR prediction. In SAR the occurrence of specific substructures in a molecule are correlated to be responsible and necessary for a biological/toxicological activity. 

The very heterogeneous chemical structure of the compounds with MDR reversal activity has prevented structure-activity studies, although most MDR-inhibiting molecules share a basic structural pattern comprising a cationic protonable site linked to an aromatic lipophilic part by a spacer of variable length [61]. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies yielded only qualitative indications [62-64] unless very homogeneous series of molecules are studied [65]. 

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