Structural Characterization and transcriptional regulation of Cypin

ISBN-13: 9783838367644 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 192 str.

Jose Fernandez

Opis

This work focuses on the identification of specific structural properties of cypin that lead to the multifunctional roles in guanine metabolism and dendrite development. We first employed phylogenetic analysis and computational structure modeling techniques to construct a three dimensional structural model of cypin. In addition, we used a combination of protein structure analysis, experimental kinetic studies, and cell culture tests to uncover novel potential ligands for cypin. We obtained a list of compounds that demonstrate higher binding affinity to GDA than does guanine. Our results provide evidence that an in silico drug discovery strategy coupled with in vitro verification can be successfully implemented to discover compounds that may have therapeutic value for the treatment of diseases and disorders where GDA activity is abnormal. The discovery of intrinsic regulators of cypin expression aids in our understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying dendritic patterning, and hence, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory.

O autorze

Jose R. Fernandez obtained a BS degree in Industrial Biotechnology from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and PhD in Molecular Pharmacology and Bioinformatics at Rutgers University/UMDNJ. His interests are signaling pathways, gene and protein expression, protein structure-function studies and computer-aided drug design and delivery.