Molecular modeling was performed by a combined use of conformational analys
is and 3D-QSAR methods to distinguish structural attributes common to serie
s of azole antifungal agents. Apex-3D program was used to recognize the com
mon biophoric structural patterns of 13 diverse sets of azole antifungal co
mpounds demonstrating different magnitudes of biological activity. Apex-3D
identified three common biophoric features significant for activity: N1 ato
m of azole ring, the aromatic ring centroid 1, and aromatic ring centroid 2
. A common biophore model proposed from the Apex-3D analysis can be useful
for the design of novel cytochrome P-450(14 alpha DM), inhibiting antifunga
l agents.