ScienceDaily (2011-08-05) -- Scientists have developed small molecules that inhibit the internalization of important signalling molecules but also of pathogenic organisms such as the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and bacteria into cells.
Function of Scaffold Proteins
These compounds inhibit the function of the cellular scaffold protein clathrin and could thereby serve as a starting point for novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer, viral or bacterial infections, or neurological disorders.
Clathrin is involved in the production of small only about 100 nm sized vesicles (a nanometer equals as little as 1/billion meter). These vesicles shuttle signalling molecules into the cell interior or serve as storage sites to be trigger released of transmitter in the nervous system.
Clathrin D6 Coat
The scientists used small molecule compound libraries comprising about 20,000 different substances paired with medicinal chemistry-based synthesis to identify small molecules that specifically inhibit binding of clathtrin to its partner proteins.
These compounds termed pitstops are able to prevent within minutes the uptake of signaling molecules, which stimulate cell growth and division, or the entry of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into cells.
Using shiny fluorescent proteins the scientists could identify impaired dynamics of clathrin and its partners as the underlying reason for the internalization block.
This research may lead to development of new era in treating and preventing diseases.
Function of Scaffold Proteins These compounds inhibit the function of the cellular scaffold protein clathrin and could thereby serve as a starting point for novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer, viral or bacterial infections, or neurological disorders.
Clathrin is involved in the production of small only about 100 nm sized vesicles (a nanometer equals as little as 1/billion meter). These vesicles shuttle signalling molecules into the cell interior or serve as storage sites to be trigger released of transmitter in the nervous system.
Clathrin D6 Coat The scientists used small molecule compound libraries comprising about 20,000 different substances paired with medicinal chemistry-based synthesis to identify small molecules that specifically inhibit binding of clathtrin to its partner proteins.
These compounds termed pitstops are able to prevent within minutes the uptake of signaling molecules, which stimulate cell growth and division, or the entry of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into cells.
Using shiny fluorescent proteins the scientists could identify impaired dynamics of clathrin and its partners as the underlying reason for the internalization block.
This research may lead to development of new era in treating and preventing diseases.
