STRUCTURE |
Researchers have determined the STRUCTURE of the functional domain of MATRIPTASE – the first such structure obtained for a CANCER-associated TRANSMEMBRANE SERINE PROTEASE, the class of enzymes to which matriptase belongs. The findings have potential implications for the development of BREAST & PROSTATE cancer drugs that target serine proteases. Researchers “intend to use matriptase as a target itself & as a model protease for this gene family to accelerate the rational design & optimization of drugs to treat solid tumor cancers. “Both groups have already generated several 3-D structures of matriptase bound to small molecules, which may represent lead compds for the development of matriptase inhibitors.
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