Obiettivo
Cancer cells are induced to develop by pathological disfunction of signalling pathways. These are mediated by interactions between proteins in signalling cascades. As these processes are potentially specific for cancer cells, they offer the unprecedented opportunity to selectively intervene against tumour cells, without causing harm to normal cells. As signalling pathways are mediated by interactions between diverse signalling proteins, a straightforward possibility is to selectively inhibit specific signals is to block specific protein-protein interactions.
However, the contact areas between these proteins are often large, and most conventional drugs are too small to modulate these interactions effectively. Diverse chemical-, peptide- or whole-protein-based structures can be utilized as highly specific drugs. These are expected to modulate specific signalling pathways effectively, and to have much milder side effects on the patient. This approach is critically dependent on knowing the structures of the targeted proteins. However, in many cases the structures of the proteins concerned defy experimental determination, so we are critically dependent on prediction methods. These are not yet sufficiently accurate, so we are proposing to make a serious attempt a t improving them.
Three experienced researchers, with complementary expertise at protein structure prediction methods; bioinformatics, structure analysis and experimental validation will be employed. Interaction with wet-lab researchers and previous experience in multidisciplinary environments will critically help the exchange of knowledge, results and experimental approaches. Important results in key areas of both basic science and application to cancer therapy are expected from the implementation of these strategies.
Campo scientifico
Invito a presentare proposte
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-3
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