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How do we design small molecules to target diseases?

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© Barth van Rossum

How can one interfere with thrombosis and cancer cell migration by small molecules?

The lipid kinase PI3KC2a is a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of thrombosis and, possibly, cancer. Work published in Nature Chemical Biology now reports highly specific inhibitors of its activity. Screening a compound library of more than 30,000 chemical compounds combined with medicinal chemistry approaches and previous work on the structure of PI3KC2a led to the identification of compounds termed PITCOINs that were highly selective toward PI3KC2a. The researchers were able to show in cells that PITCOINs impair endocytic membrane uptake and platelet aggregation and interfere with breast cancer cell spreading. The findings could open new possibilities for the treatment of thrombosis and cancer.

Haucke Group

Nazaré Group


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Portrait Volker Haucke

Prof. Dr. Volker Haucke

Head Haucke Group,

  • Member NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence
  • Professor for Molecular Pharmacology Freie Universität Berlin
Portrait

Prof. Dr. Marc Nazaré

Head Nazaré Group,

  • Honorary Professor University Bielefeld

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