Research project

Development towards clinical application of the anticancer peptide Pep3 for reactivation of p53 (DSB.AD001.135)

Thematic area

Biomedical sciences

Project area

Oncologia e Immunologia (DSB.AD001)

Structure responsible for the research project

Istituto di Biochimica e Biologia Cellulare (IBBC)

Project manager

FABIOLA MORETTI
Phone number: 0690091470
Email: fabiola.moretti@cnr.it

Abstract

Hypothesis: Future application of Pep3 requires detailing of its activity and improvement of its physicochemical properties. Specifically, the different sensitivity of subcellular MDM2/MDM4 heterodimers to Pep3 indicates the existence of various heterodimer complexes, whose nature is presently unknown. Uncover the features of these complexes is essential to understand the Pep3 efficacy and foresee possible resistance mechanisms. Furthermore, Pep3 induces selectively p53-mediated oxidative stress; this is most likely the main reason for its selective activity in tumor cells and inefficacy in untransformed cells. Ascertain this and evaluate Pep3 activity in the presence of antioxidant and pro-oxidant drugs will give insights about Pep3 toxicity in normal cells and guide combination therapies. Finally, clinical application of Pep3 requires the development of effective delivery and stability properties.
Aims: This project aims to increase the knowledge about Pep3 activity and to improve its pharmacodynamics properties in order to evaluate the efficiency and feasibility of its application. We aim to:
1) Define the molecular features of MDM2/MDM4 heterodimers that underlie Pep3 activity

Start date of activity

02/01/2019

Keywords

cancro, sviluppi terapeutici, peptidi

Last update: 28/03/2024