Four molecular descriptors were selected from a pool of variables using genetic algorithm, and then used to built a QSAR model for a series of 1-(azacyclyl)-3-arylsulfonyl-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines as 5-HT(6) receptor agonists or antagonists, useful for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. Simple multiple linear regression (MLR) and a nonlinear method, artificial neural network (ANN), were used to model the bioactivities of the compounds; while MLR gave an acceptable model for predictions, the ANN-based model improved significantly the predictive ability, being more reliable for the prediction and design of novel 5-HT(6) receptor ligands. Topology and molecular/group sizes are important requirements to take into account during the development of novel analogs.
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