Our research focuses on developing protein modulators in order to study structure-function aspects of cellular protein networks and to develop new drugs targeting protein-protein interactions (PPIs) with both small molecules and optimized protein variants. Drug discovery is a multidisciplinary science by nature and requires the understanding and application of biology, chemistry, pharmacology and biophysical tools.
Small molecules
Small molecules are chemical entities with the size of about 500 Da and with additional drug-like chemical and physical properties. These type of molecules is an important part in the arsenal of therapeutics. The discovery of small molecules targeting PPIs is a challenging scientific path. Unlike enzymes, PPIs have a large and shallow interface and do not result in an outcome assay.
Among the different approached for the discovery of small molecules targeting specific protein, the integration of computational and biophysical tools is a promising path to the discovery of PPI inhibitors.
Peptides/protein design
A different approach to modulate protein-protein interactions is to rely on nature itself. For that purpose, one of the partner proteins or a fragment (peptide) of it can be further optimized using lab-evolution tools. These entities are much larger than the former small molecules where peptides range 1-5 kDa and protein are usually larger than 10 kDa.
Some optimized proteins interfering with PPIs show better activity profile than antibodies and thus pose a promising therapeutic path.
Current projects in the lab are dealing with:
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Discovery of small molecules targeting new Protein-Protein interactions
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Design of anti-inflammation and anti-fungal optimized peptides for wide range of applications.
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New immune-suppression solutions targeting the calineurin-NFAT interaction
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Developing an optimized proteins as Triple-Negative Breast Cancer markers for MRI applications
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Optimized proteins as a novel non-antibody biologic immunotherapy drug