Structural study of human CDK9 and its interaction with ligands by low-resolution techniques

• Grant number: 21/06505-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: May 10, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Canduri
• Grantee: Isabel Miranda de Santis
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The cyclin-dependent kinases, known as CDKs, are proteins that act in the regulation of the cell cycle and gene transcription. As catalytic subunits, these kinases have their activation depending on their bonding with regulatory subunits, the cyclins. The human genome is capable of codifying 21 types of CDKs, which can be separated into two groups, according to what process they regulate: CDKs1-6, 11, e 14-18 act directly or indirectly in the cell cycle regulation, whereas CDKs7-13, 19 e 20 regulate direct or indirectly the transcription process. The CDK9 is inserted in the transcription regulation group and acts as a regulator in the transcription of oncogenes, which can be developed into cancer. Therefore, the structural characterization of CDK9 and the study of its bond with possible inhibitor ligands that this project proposes are of great importance. (AU)