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Artificial molecules that mimic DNA

Artificial molecules mimicking DNA's surface features have been successfully synthesized, demonstrating the ability to inhibit activity of several DNA-binding enzymes. These findings pave the way for new medicines by inhibiting DNA-protein interactions.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Chemistry·DateApr 3, 2018

Study yields more than a million new cyclic compounds, some with pharmaceutical potential

Scientists have generated a vast library of unique cyclic compounds that can bind to their targets with stability and effectiveness. The new compounds have the capacity to interrupt specific protein-protein interactions that play a role in disease, offering potential therapeutic agents for various conditions.

A near-universal way to measure enzyme inhibition

Researchers at McGill University have developed a new technique for measuring enzyme inhibition, offering a universal approach to drug discovery. The method uses isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to measure heat generated by enzyme activity, providing a direct window into the mechanisms of enzyme inhibition.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 1, 2018

Measuring molecular interactions

Researchers have developed a new method to quantify protein-metabolite interactions, discovering hundreds of new interactions and binding sites. The approach has the potential to identify new regulatory mechanisms, enzymes, and metabolic reactions in cells.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalCell·DateFeb 1, 2018

The making of biorelevant nanomaterials

The authors propose a scalable and cost-effective preparation protocol for low-dimensional polyion complex nanomaterials with tunable morphologies. The protocol, called PIESA, enables the synthesis of biorelevant nanostructures with controllable shape and charge state.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 3, 2018

Discovery of unsuspected flexibility offers new pathway to cancer drug development

Researchers at the University of Illinois found that cross-system signaling activity between growth factors can direct blood vessel growth and influence cancer progression, stroke recovery, and other disorders. This discovery offers a new pathway to developing effective therapies by promoting or inhibiting this signal.

Individual receptors caught at work

Researchers used single-molecule microscopy to study receptor-G protein interactions, finding specialized sites called hot spots where they meet and interact. These hot spots play a crucial role in regulating intracellular processes and may enable more precise therapeutic approaches.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature·DateOct 18, 2017

Completing the drug design jigsaw

Researchers developed a new approach to analyze drug-protein interactions, revealing the specific amino acids involved in binding. This allows for more precise chemical requirements and stronger, selective drug candidates.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 5, 2017

New bioimaging technique is fast and economical

A new approach to optical imaging allows for fast and economical tracking of multiple molecular interactions in large areas of living tissue. The method, developed by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers, can capture interactions in mere billionths of a second and simultaneously track 16 colors of spatially linked information.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalNature Photonics·DateAug 18, 2017

Side effects not a major problem for new class of breast cancer drugs

The cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor class of oral drugs has been found to be generally well-tolerated in treating hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer. The most common side effect is a temporary and dose-dependent decrease in white blood cells, which usually returns to normal with dosage adjustments.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Oncologist·DateJul 13, 2017

Treatment benefits patients with thalassaemia and HCV

A new study shows that sofosbuvir and ledipasvir single pill therapy leads to a sustained virological response in 98% of patients with thalassaemia and HCV. The treatment is expected to be limited by drug-to-drug interactions, but offers a significant benefit for these patients.

SourceWiley·JournalAlimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics·DateJun 29, 2017

Status epilepticus: An overview

Status epilepticus is a neurologic emergency with neuronal damage and systemic complications, emphasizing the need for timely treatment. The latest ILAE classification of epilepsy seizures and underlying etiologies are discussed, along with management guidelines and anticonvulsant drug therapies.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalCurrent Drug Metabolism·DateJun 12, 2017

Investigators examine the relationship between pain and opioid abuse

A new review investigates the relationship between pain and opioid misuse, revealing that pain can drastically change the brain's natural opioid system. The study aims to understand how pain affects addiction treatment, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective treatments for chronic pain.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·DateJun 11, 2017

A CLOUD of possibilities: Finding new therapies by combining drugs

Scientists have created a library of 308 compounds to test drug combinations for new therapies. A study found a synergy between flutamide and phenprocoumon that efficiently killed prostate cancer cells, targeting the androgen receptor. The CLOUD library is ideal for discovering new applications for approved active ingredients.

Designing better drugs to treat type 2 diabetes

Two studies have shown how new potential anti-diabetic drugs interact with their target in the body, reducing blood sugar by increasing sensitivity to insulin and changing metabolism of fat and sugar. Researchers are now designing modified drugs that will work even more efficiently.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateMay 17, 2017

Machine learning lets scientists reverse-engineer cellular control networks

Researchers have developed a machine learning model that can predict the outcome of cellular interactions and design new cancer treatments. The Stampede supercomputer enabled the team to run billions of simulations, allowing them to identify patterns in the data and create a system capable of predicting laboratory results.

How do metals interact with DNA?

Researchers developed a protocol to detect high-precision how, where, and why drugs interact with DNA biomolecules. This method uses X-ray radiation and advanced simulations to rationalize drug preferences, revealing new insights into the mechanism of platinum-based drugs like Pt103.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMar 22, 2017

Taking aim at a key malaria molecule

Scientists have created a way to measure the heme levels within malaria parasites, which could help develop more effective treatments. The discovery could provide insights into how the parasites control their own heme levels and may lead to the development of new antimalarial drugs that target these mechanisms.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 27, 2017