Researchers find mechanism involved in novel drug design with potential to treat tuberculosis

Researchers find mechanism involved in novel drug design with potential to treat tuberculosis
M. tuberculosis phosphatase structure with cysteine residues 11 and 16, that together with a network of water molecules (red) constitute an anti-oxidative shield. Credit: Gonçalo Bernardes Lab, iMM Lisboa

A team of researchers from Instituto de Medicina Molecular (iMM) Lisboa successfully used a new method to chemically modify a protein's components. Their results have potential medical applications and impact in the fight against tuberculosis.

To design , it is essential to understand the that make up proteins of pathogenic bacteria. The team, led by Gonçalo Bernardes, used an innovative methodology that allows protein alteration in its native state, combining organic chemistry, biological computation, biophysics and biochemistry techniques to modify proteins involved in infectious diseases.

Researchers identified a novel molecular mechanism that works as a shield in a family of phosphate proteins that are present in . In particular, the team observed the presence of a structural water molecule in a specific area that protects the protein from being inactivated by oxidative processes.

These results may impact the fields of medical chemistry and molecular medicine because they reveal a novel defence mechanism used by these pathogenic proteins. These findings may prove essential in drug design, particularly to increase specificity, potency and efficacy of future clinical tests.

Highlighted are the amino acids and water molecules presents in the protein's catalytic center, involved in anti-oxidative mechanisms. Credit: Gonçalo Bernardes Lab, iMM Lisboa

More information: DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2017.07.009

Provided by Instituto de Medicina Molecular
Citation: Researchers find mechanism involved in novel drug design with potential to treat tuberculosis (2017, October 13) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-10-mechanism-involved-drug-potential-tuberculosis.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Mini-protein rapid design method opens way to create a new class of drugs

0 shares

Feedback to editors