DEZNIT - Design of zinc metalloenzyme targeted drugs using an Integrated Technology approach (Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health) (2007-01-01 - 2009-12-31) (»add to infobox)

The objective of DeZnIT is to develop and apply new methodology for the rational and accelerated design of novel drugs targeted against zinc-containing enzymes. These enzymes are key modulators of many serious human diseases including cancer, glaucoma, obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite some successes, many major technological challenges remain in the development of effective drug therapies against this enzyme family. The main challenges are: 1. Selectivity of drugs: The inhibition of a particular family member is required but structures are numerous and highly similar 2. Drug developability: Potent inhibition of an enzyme is often achieved at the expense of other desirable properties 3. Availability of accurate structural data for target enzymes: This is a real challenge for certain classes of Zn-enzymes 4. Rational design of drugs: The involvement of a transition metal in the binding site presents special challenges in work on Zn containing enzymes DeZnIT will address these challenges by developing and integrating key technologies from pharmacogenomics, computer modelling, structural and molecular biology and chemistry, combined with drug discovery infrastructure and expertise. In particular, highly novel computational approaches taken from the field of computer science will be applied to drug design for the first time. The consortium members combine all the necessary competencies to achieve the goals and objectives of DeZnIT. DeZnIT is highly focused on the identification of novel and more effective drug candidates, which will be further developed for serious human diseases. The other outcomes of DeZnIT are improved methods for computational drug design and other platform technologies such as, crystallography, molecular biology (including development of biomarkers) and chemical synthesis. Success of DeZnIT would lead to significantly reduced cost and timelines for drug discovery processes, with consequent health and economic impacts.

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RELATED THEMATIC AREAS (1/1)