Project description
Molecular tools for studying enzymes as drug targets
Cells have evolved a sophisticated mechanism for targeting damaged or improperly folded proteins for degradation: they modify them by adding specific ubiquitin residues. As with most post-translational modifications, ubiquitylation is reversible, and deubiquitylating (DUB) enzymes can cleave ubiquitin from proteins. DUB peptidases have a key role in many pathologies and are thus attractive drug targets. The EU-funded USP2-TD project focuses on the development of a small molecular probe against ubiquitin specific peptidase 2 (USP2) as a tool to further investigate its role in health and disease. Given the implication of USP2 in cell cycle progression and carcinogenesis, project results may open new possibilities in cancer research and treatment.
Objective
Targeting DUB enzymes has recently emerged as a promising opportunity for drug discovery that might lead to more selective, less toxic drug profiles. Target validation of these enzymes is currently a priority in the field, as we are lacking of appropriate chemical probes for most of them. A clear example is USP2, whose chemical inhibition has been barely explored, leading to a poor-quality chemical probe that has been extensively used by biologist during the last decade. Hence, this multidisciplinary project emerges to address the identified unmet need of providing the scientific community with an appropriate chemical probe for a confident interrogation and further understanding of USP2 biology and disease. This probe will be useful for a suitable validation of this promising target and can eventually feed drug discovery projects for USP2-related cancer treatments.
Herein, we aim to develop a, USP2-Targeted Degrader (USP2-TD) that overcomes the lack of selectivity and potency of its parent counterpart. This small-molecule USP2-TD will enable investigations of selective USP2 downregulation with exquisite quantitative and temporal control of protein levels. To this end, the proposed research deal with the identification of solvent-exposed region at the parent, the discovery of the USP2-TD, and its validation as chemical probe for USP2.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug discovery
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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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.
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
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.