Descripción del proyecto
Desvelar el papel de las ADN helicasas en las patologías humanas podría dar lugar a nuevas terapias
Watson y Crick concluyeron en 1953, casi cien años después de que se identificara por primera vez el ADN en los años sesenta de hace dos siglos, que la molécula de ADN tiene una estructura de doble hélice tridimensional. Ahora sabemos que ADN helicasas (enzimas que desenrollan el ADN) desempeñan un papel fundamental en la replicación, al descomprimir las dos hebras de ADN que van copiarse. Dado que están presentes en muchos tipos celulares como las bacterianas, las virales y las eucariotas, las ADN helicasas son dianas importantes para nuevos medicamentos. Sin embargo, todavía queda mucho por conocer sobre sus estructuras, funciones y mecanismos de acción. AntiHelix está formando a una nueva generación de científicos para arrojar luz sobre los papeles de las ADN helicasas en las patologías humanas con el fin de desarrollar nuevos inhibidores altamente específicos como nuevos medicamentos.
Objetivo
Helicases are ubiquitous enzymes, found in viruses, Bacteria, Archaea and eukaryotic cells. They act as motor proteins to separate or remodel DNA or RNA duplexes, using ATP as an energy source. Helicases play a key role in a variety of cellular processes, including DNA replication/repair/recombination, as well as RNA translation and transport. They are emerging as an important class of targets for antiviral, antibiotic and anti-cancer drugs. To date, several genetic and biochemical studies have revealed the molecular and physiological functions of DNA helicases. Moreover, protein three-dimension structural studies coupled with single molecule biophysical approaches have provided insights into structure-function relationships and reaction mechanisms of some key DNA helicases. With a consortium including experts with complementary competence and expertise in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Clinical Oncology, and a strong commitment of companies involved in drug discovery or in the development of state-of-the-art biophysical instrumentation, we aim to: 1. obtain a detailed picture of the mechanism of action and the physiological role of a number of DNA helicases that are implicated in human diseases; 2. discover specific inhibitors of those enzymes, which can then be tested as novel therapeutic drugs, especially for cancers; 3. address the need for training next generation scientists with complementary approaches and diverse techniques by secondments in different laboratories of the consortium; 4. promote a culture of collaboration between academic and private sectors and provide young scientists with the necessary experience and skills to exploit the full potential of research findings; 5. provide early stage researchers with greater opportunities to access an increasingly competitive job market; 6. promote the values of Open Science and educate young scientists on the importance of a culture of openness, transparency, accessibility, integrity and reproducibility.
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MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinador
00185 Roma
Italia