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Bump and Hole approach to elucidate function of individual bromodomains of BET proteins

Objective

Small molecules can be used to probe for biological function of individual proteins. Achieving high selectivity with small molecules against structurally similar paralogues is a challenging task that makes it difficult to characterize function of individual member in the same protein family or individual domain in protein containing multiple target domains. The Bromo and Extra-Terminal (BET) proteins play important roles in transcriptional regulation by controlling networks of genes involved in cellular proliferation and cell cycle regulation. Key to the functions of BET proteins is a pair of highly homologous bromodomains (BD) in tandem, which bind and recognize histone acetylation on its tail. Elucidation of the process controlled by BET proteins would benefit greatly from chemical probes that perturb individual BD with high selectivity. Development of small molecules, including clinical candidate drug I-BET, builds a foundation for us to utilize this chemical probe approach, however lack of selectivity of I-BET against individual BD renders it inapplicable to serve as a chemical probe for individual protein or domain. Recently, we had demonstrated the feasibility of a “bump-and-hole” approach to engineer BD of BET proteins and I-BET molecule to achieve high selectivity. Here we propose to enhance the selectivity of BD and I-BET derivative pair to apply this technology and to probe for the function of individual BD in a cell-based model. Interaction between modified I-BET and selected BD variant, which retain its histone binding functionality, will be further optimized to achieve >100 fold selectivity against all wildtype BD. After that, a cell-based model will be built to substitute endogenous BET protein with exogenous BET containing BD variant. The ultimate goal is to develop a general chemical biology tool to elucidate the role of any individual BD-containing proteins by targeting specifically the engineered BD without affecting any other BD.

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MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2014

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 183 454,80
Address
Nethergate
DD1 4HN Dundee
United Kingdom

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Region
Scotland Eastern Scotland Angus and Dundee City
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 183 454,80
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