Designing flexible peptides to block harmful protein interactions
Identifying favorable regions of the conformational landscapes of peptides and peptidomimetics
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11173659
Researchers are creating compact but flexible peptides to block disease-related protein interactions, which could help make cancer treatments work better for people whose tumors resist chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11173659 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project looks for peptide and peptidomimetic shapes that can bind harmful proteins without being so rigid that they cannot enter cells. Scientists will use computer modeling and laboratory experiments to map how these molecules fold and how their shape affects binding and cell permeability. The team will focus on interactions such as MAGE-A4 with RAD18 that may make cancer cells more tolerant of DNA damage and resistant to chemotherapy. The aim is to discover compact, partly flexible scaffolds that could be developed into new therapeutics.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers that show resistance to chemotherapy, especially tumors that express MAGE-A4, would be the most likely future candidates for therapies from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions do not involve the targeted protein interactions, or who have non-cancer diseases, are unlikely to benefit from this specific line of work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new medicines that help overcome chemotherapy resistance in some cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous methods like peptide stapling have produced potent binders but often suffer poor cell permeability, so the compact-yet-flexible approach builds on known advances while applying a relatively new design idea.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KNIGHT, ABIGAIL — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: KNIGHT, ABIGAIL
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.