DNA-guided tools to find chemical probes for cancer proteins
Harnessing the In Vitro Selection for Activity-based Proteomics and Chemical Probe Development
This work uses DNA-tagged chemical libraries to find small molecules that bind cancer-related proteins, aiming to help develop better cancer treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251229 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team attaches DNA 'barcodes' to large libraries of small molecules and uses those barcodes to see which molecules stick to specific cancer-linked proteins like CBX family members and bromodomains. They also build DNA-linked probes that report enzyme activity so biochemical signals can be converted into readable DNA sequences. Most work is done in the lab with purified proteins and biochemical selection steps rather than enrolling people. The goal is to create selective chemical probes and early drug leads that researchers can use to understand how these proteins drive cancer and to guide future therapy development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The grant does not enroll patients, but people with cancers involving chromobox (CBX) proteins or bromodomain-driven tumors might benefit from future therapies that arise from this work.
Not a fit: Patients without cancers tied to CBX proteins or bromodomain biology are unlikely to benefit directly from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce new targeted drug leads or research tools that speed development of better cancer therapies.
How similar studies have performed: DNA-encoded library methods have successfully discovered binding molecules and launched early drug programs, though selective inhibitors for CBX and many bromodomains remain a developing area.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krusemark, Casey John — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Krusemark, Casey John
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.