Enzymes

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.

Researchers identify promising drug target for Huntington’s disease

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

Researchers have found the TBK1 enzyme regulates the degradation and clearance of the huntingtin protein, making it a drug target for Huntington's disease.

Researchers develop first synthetic inhibitor of coagulation factor XII

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

A new FXII inhibitor has been developed that efficiently blocked coagulation in a thrombosis model without increasing the risk of bleeding.

Researchers identify sEH enzyme as novel Alzheimer’s drug target

27 July 2020 | By Victoria Rees (Drug Target Review)

A team has shown that inhibiting the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) enzyme in murine models can prevent the cognitive deterioration associated with Alzheimer's.

Novel CRISPR enzyme could expand the range of targets for gene therapy

20 July 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

The novel CRISPR-CasΦ enzyme, isolated from bacteriophages, can target a wider range of genetic sequences, say the researchers.

Natural killer cells aid in breast cancer metastasis, reports study

10 July 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Researchers found breast cancer cells reprogrammed natural killer T cells, altering gene expression and receptor expression so they help cancerous metastases spread.

Blocking cholesterol storage halts pancreatic cancer growth

10 July 2020 | By Hannah Balfour (Drug Target Review)

Scientists identified a novel, highly specific drug target in the enzyme (sterol O-acyltransferase 1 (SOAT1)) cancer cells use to store cholesterol.

Targeting SARM1 to protect vision across retinal degenerative diseases

23 June 2020 | By Dr Ema Ozaki (Trinity College Dublin), Dr Sarah Doyle (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Sarah Doyle and Dr Ema Ozaki outline their research into SARM1 and why it presents an attractive target for treating retinal degeneration.