High-throughput analysis of Protein Kinase inhibitors in animal cancer cell lines

• Grant number: 24/01420-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Heidge Fukumasu
• Grantee: Jessielen Rodrigues de Moura Fe
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/09378-5 - Development of innovative therapies and diagnostic tools for veterinary oncology, AP.TEM

Abstract

The human genome encodes more than 500 protein kinases, of which the majority remain to be explored for their structure and function. Also, there are at least 91 protein kinases that represent likely cancer drivers 1 and dysregulation of kinase function is a hallmark of most human cancers. As a result, kinase inhibitor development has been one of the major focuses of drug development during the past two decades 2. The canine, feline and other domestic species "kinomes" are expected to be very similar to the human and possible human kinase targets could also be animal targets for cancer treatment. Therefore, our objective in this project will be screen potential PKI as antineoplastic agents from a library of compounds with about 70 well-characterized protein kinases inhibitors available for testing by the collaboration with Sr. Susanne Muller Knapp from the Structural genomics Consortium. Next, an in vitro characterization of the top 3 candidates will be performed by the student using molecular and cell biology techniques as well as in silico tools for docking and similarity of the kinases.