Obiettivo Most proteins exert their biological function by interacting with other proteins in complex macromolecular assemblies. Modulating protein:protein interactions (PPIs) using small drug-like molecules has the potential to unlock new horizons for chemical biology and developing novel therapeutics. However, this task has proven difficult because of the diverse, complex and dynamic nature of PPI interfaces. This project aims at investigating the plasticity and druggability of PPI interfaces within multi-protein assemblies by an innovative approach combining fragment-based chemical tools, biophysical and structural methods, using the von Hippel Lindau (pVHL)-Cullin Ring type E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL) complex as a model system. The pVHL-CRL is responsible for the recognition, poly-ubiquitylation and subsequent degradation of HIF-1α, a key regulator of cellular oxygen sensing. This interaction is impaired during the hypoxic proliferation of tumours and as a result of pVHL mutations in the VHL disease, a human syndrome predisposing to cancer. By characterizing the binding of fragments to wild-type and disease mutants of this multi-subunit complex, this project will provide novel insights on the important features for small molecule targeting to PPI interfaces and on how to modulate PPIs not only directly by targeting the interaction hot spots, but also indirectly e.g. through binding to distant allosteric sites. Such knowledge will also be harnessed towards developing novel drug like small molecules, by applying NMR techniques for the detection of fragment binding to adjacent sites and developing dynamic combinatorial X-ray crystallography to in situ linking of these fragments. By improving our understanding of how to discover small molecule enhancers/stabilizers as well as inhibitors/disruptors of PPIs this fellowship will contribute to European research efforts on understanding and targeting protein:protein complexes in chemical biology and drug discovery. Campo scientifico medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug discoverynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologymineralogycrystallographynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology Programma(i) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Argomento(i) FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Invito a presentare proposte FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinatore THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Contributo UE € 199 549,60 Indirizzo TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS CB2 1TN Cambridge Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Regione East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contatto amministrativo Renata Schaeffer (Ms.) Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato
