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Lecture by Prof. Yibo Wang «Drug Discovery Targeting Transmembrane Protein-Protein Interactions»

Prof. Yibo Wang from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry will deliver a lecture entitled «Drug Discovery Targeting Transmembrane Protein-Protein Interactions». Date and time: Mon 26 August 2019 11:30. Location: Conference hall at 5th floor BON IBCh.

August 26, 2019 (This event is over)

LMP1, protein-protein interactions, membrane proteins, drug design, drug discovery

Goncharuk S.A.

Yibo Wang, Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

According to the Human Genome Project, only ~3000 druggable targets were predicted in human body. The amount of  targets can be dramatically increased to 65000 if protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are also considered. PPIs play vital roles in membrane protein assembly, coordinating a variety of cellular processes. These interactions within the membrane are therefore important potential targets for the development of therapeutics. However, transmembrane PPIs have long been regarded as “undruggable” targets since they have vast surfaces with high hydrophobic properties and few well-defined features and recognition motifs. Here, we discovered several small molecules and one rationally designed peptide to inhibit the oligomerization of latent membrane protein 1 of Epstein-Barr virus by targeting transmembrane PPIs. It may lead to a generally applicable strategy to treat diseases, regulated by transmembrane interactions.

august 20, 2019