RESEARCH: CANCER
FOLDING PROJECT #16948 PROFILE

This project relates to understanding how small proteins fold into specific shapes. By changing tiny parts of the protein and adding special links, researchers want to learn how to design proteins that can latch onto cancer cells for treatment.

These simulations are designed to test our understanding the folding mechanism of alpha-helical hairpins.

We are trying to study how disulfide cross-linkers and sequence variants affect the folding thermodynamics and kinetics of these proteins, to learn how we might better use molecular simulation methods to design effective protein binder scaffolds, for use as "affibody" cancer therapeutics, for example.

alpha-helical hairpins

A type of secondary protein structure.

Alpha-helical hairpins are a specific shape that proteins can fold into. They consist of a short stretch of alpha helix, a loop connecting it to another alpha helix, and then another alpha helix. These structures are important because they influence how proteins interact with each other and their environment.

disulfide cross-linkers

Covalent bonds between cysteine amino acids in proteins.

Disulfide cross-linkers are strong chemical bonds that form between two sulfur atoms found in certain amino acids called cysteines. These bonds help to stabilize the three-dimensional shape of proteins and make them more resistant to changes in their environment.

sequence variants

Variations in the order of amino acids in a protein.

Sequence variants refer to changes in the DNA code that leads to different versions of a protein. These variations can affect a protein's function, structure, and stability. Researchers often study sequence variants to understand how they contribute to disease or to design proteins with improved properties.

protein binder scaffolds

Structural frameworks for binding to specific targets.

Protein binder scaffolds are designed to create stable structures that can bind to specific molecules, such as proteins or small molecules. These scaffolds are often used in drug development to create targeted therapies that bind to and block the activity of disease-causing proteins.

affibody

A type of protein-based therapeutic.

Affibody is a brand name for a class of engineered proteins that are designed to bind tightly and specifically to target molecules. They have several advantages over traditional antibodies, such as smaller size and faster tissue penetration. Affibodys are used in various applications, including cancer therapy, diagnostics, and imaging.