Enzymes

Inhibiting acetate metabolism shows promise in breast cancer model

8 January 2021 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Inhibiting the ACSS2 enzyme with a molecule called VY-3-135 caused a significant reduction in the growth of breast cancer tumours in vivo.

New drug target for non-small cell lung cancer identified

6 January 2021 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

A new study has suggested that the enzyme GFPT2 could be a useful target for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Researchers reveal how coronaviruses use protein vibrations to enter cells

23 November 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

Using atomistic simulations, a team has demonstrated how coronavirus Spike proteins move and vibrate to let the virus through cell walls.

Furin cleavage motif makes SARS-CoV-2 more aggressive than other CoVs, find scientists

12 November 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

A specific furin cleavage motif on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, not present on other coronaviruses (CoVs), could be targeted by novel COVID-19 therapies.

SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease could be a novel drug target

19 October 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Scientists suggest targeting the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) with inhibitors could prevent the spread of infection.

Researchers identify a potential remdesivir resistance mechanism in SARS-CoV-2

8 October 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Exploring how the Ebola virus develops remdesivir resistance has highlighted a mutation that could allow SARS-CoV-2 to do the same.

Build-up in the lungs could be targeted by future severe COVID-19 treatments

7 October 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Breaking down or slowing the production of a hyaluronan jelly which builds up in the lungs of some severe COVID-19 patients could reduce respiratory distress and prevent death.

Researchers target previously “undruggable” enzyme to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy in cells

14 September 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

By targeting a previously undiscovered allosteric site on a DMD-associated enzyme, researchers found muscle cell conditions improved.

Guide: Navigating hit prioritisation using biochemical assays

7 September 2020 | By BellBrook Labs

So you have performed your screen. What’s next? This guide is focused on how biochemical assays are used for characterising and prioritising compounds.

BellBrook Labs

Innovations for next-generation antibody-drug conjugates

3 September 2020 | By Dr Amrik Basran (Avacta), Dr Matt Vincent (Avacta)

Dr Amrik Basran and Dr Matt Vincent discuss various developments for antibody-drug conjugates to treat cancer.

Novel small molecules inhibit cancer-associated enzymes in cells

1 September 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

A drug-like compound that can inhibit a key family of enzymes associated with several types of cancer has been developed and tested successfully in cells.

Method to synthetically produce terpenes developed by researchers

18 August 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

Scientists have developed a synthetic biology process using enzymes to create three families of terpenes, potential starting points for new drugs. 

Novel molecule effectively treats arthritis in mice, study shows

12 August 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

A molecule called TPPU has been shown to inhibit an enzyme that plays a key role in inflammation, successfully treating arthritis in mice.

Raman technique developed for high-throughput discovery of enzymes

10 August 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

A flow mode Raman-activated cell sorter called FlowRACS has been created by researchers for high-throughput discovery of enzymes and their cell factories.