RESEARCH: CANCER
FOLDING PROJECT #17636 PROFILE

This project looks at how the drug Dasatinib (Sprycel) attaches to Abl protein, which is important for some blood cancers. Scientists want to see if computer simulations can find new ways Dasatinib works, which could help develop better cancer drugs.

This is a project studying the binding of Dasatinib (sold as the drug Sprycel) to Abl kinase, the target of many leukemias.

While the binding of Dasatininb-Abl has been observed in other contexts, it remains unclear if parallel simulations will a) observe it more efficiently and b) observe other binding pathways that may be useful for leveraging in drug discovery projects.

This project therefore serves as both a technical test and scientific project.

Dasatinib

A tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia.

Dasatinib is a medication used to treat certain types of blood cancers, particularly chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It works by blocking the activity of specific proteins involved in cancer cell growth and proliferation.

Sprycel

The brand name for the drug Dasatinib.

Sprycel is the brand name given to the medication Dasatinib. It's a commonly prescribed drug for treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL).

Abl kinase

A type of enzyme involved in cell signaling and growth.

Abl kinase is a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating cell growth and division. When it becomes overactive due to genetic mutations, it can contribute to the development of certain cancers, particularly leukemia.

Leukemia

A type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.

Leukemia is a group of cancers that start in the bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. It causes an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells, which can crowd out healthy cells and disrupt normal blood function.