Project Summary
To determine how drugs bind to hERG channels and then develop a computer program to predict drug modifications to reduce affinity for hERG channels
What is the issue for NSW?
Inadvertent drug block of hERG channels can affect all drug classes and all people so it is a universal problem rather than NSW specific. Our development of a more rational approach to designing out hERG drug block will facilitate development of new drugs for everyone.
More generally, drugs that bind to membrane proteins represent more than 50% of currently prescribed drugs and is a burgeoning area of drug development. The pharmacology and structural basis of membrane protein function, however, is an area where NSW is under-represented compared to Victoria and Queensland. This project will help to remedy this shortcoming.
There is also the potential to develop intellectual property that could bring economic benefits to NSW.
What does the research aim to do and how?
We will use single particle Cryo Electron microscopy to determine high resolution structures of HERG channels in both drug-bound and drug-free states. This information will be used to constrain computer models that can predict how drugs bind to hERG channels and how we can modify drugs to minimise their binding to hERG channels. This computer model should enable a more evidence-based approach to improving drug discovery pipelines that ensure safer drugs in the future.