Actions of Protein Glues Revealed by MS


Interactions between proteins underpin all biological cell functions, including those of disease, so interventions that can control protein-protein interactions have significant potential for disrupting the progress of various diseases.


While in many cases, drugs are required to interrupt the processes that connect proteins together, there are also occasions when the intervention is needed to restore an interaction, or to make it function correctly.


Researchers at the University of Birmingham, together with partners at the University of Leicester and the Eindhoven University of Technology have used mass spectroscopy (MS) to analyse candidate glues for these processes and assess their relative strengths.


Picture Credit: University of Birmingham


A commonly used screening technique in drug discovery has now been successfully applied to yield important details about the actions of molecular ‘glues’ that are emerging as powerful therapeutic tools with capability to stick proteins together in the body.


Dr Aneika Leney, of the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham, explained: “Often when we are designing new drugs, it is to stop harmful protein interactions in the body, such as those that lead to tumour cell growth in cancers. Sometimes, however, the disease is caused by protein interactions falling apart and in these cases finding the right glue to hold them together could be extremely beneficial.”


In a study* focused on one particular molecular glue


MG1, the research team used MS to unravel the different mechanisms through which the glue bound to the proteins and stabilised the protein interaction. The MS method also allowed the researchers to elucidate the relative time taken by the different processes involved.


Dr Peter Cossar, from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology further explained: “Understanding how molecular glues stick proteins together enables scientist to better design and build the next generation of molecular glue drugs. Mass Spectrometry provides a tool to do so, by providing high fidelity information on how these unique molecules behave in real time.”


The team expect that the research will provide a robust framework for testing a wide range of molecular glues, offering a significant advance in drug discovery understanding in this area.


*Published in Chemical Science. More information online: ilmt.co/PL/38nv


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Investment to Address Needs for Responsible AI


its net zero targets. Projects will look at developing AI technologies for more sustainable land management; accelerating energy efficient carbon dioxide capture, improving resilience for natural hazards and extreme events, potentially leading to reduced energy bills for UK energy consumers; and accelerating selection of biofuel crops with high yields that are climate resistance and will minimise environmental impact.


Outcomes will help to develop new ways of reducing the UK’s carbon footprint, and potentially leading to reduced energy bills for UK energy consumers.


UKRI has also awarded 38 million for two new Turing AI World Leading Researcher Fellowships to Professor Michael Bronstein and Professor Alison Noble, both based at the University of Oxford.


A series of new investments into AI announced during this year’s London Tech Week, (10- 14 June), aim to boost the UK’s position as a pioneer in the field, supporting projects for the public good and in pursuit of global challenges.


Provided through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund and Turing AI World Leading Researcher Fellowships scheme, £31 million has been awarded to to Responsible AI UK, a large consortium focused on creating a UK and international research and innovation ecosystem for responsible and trustworthy AI that will be responsive to the needs of society.


Led by Professor Gopal Ramchurn, University of Southampton and working across universities, businesses, public and third sectors and the general public, multidisciplinary research will increase our understanding of what responsible and trustworthy AI is, how to develop it and build it into existing systems and the impacts it will have on society.


In addition, £2 million will be awarded to 42 projects to carry out feasibility studies in businesses as part of the BridgeAI programme, which aims to accelerate the adoption of trusted and responsible AI and machine learning (ML) technologies. Projects will look at developing a range of tools to facilitate assessment of AI technologies with regards to: governance, fairness, accountability, transparency, explainability, safety, interpretability and privacy and security.


Successful projects will go on to receive a share of an additional £19 million to develop these AI solutions further.


A further £13 million will be used to fund 13 projects led by universities across the UK to help the UK meet


Professor Bronstein will develop a novel mathematical framework for geometric and graph machine learning (ML) to help address problems in the domains of drug and food design. This includes developing new therapeutic molecules or mapping the ‘dark matter’ of food-based bioactive ingredients.


Professor Noble’s research will work towards new AI for shared human-machine decision-making in healthcare imaging including studying ethics of AI and its trustworthiness (explaining decisions).The research will also develop human skill models of clinical tasks by applying ML-based analysis to video and other sensor data, encouraging greater interaction between UK academia and industry in healthcare imaging and allied areas as well as explore implications on how AI adoption is changing expectations on human skills.


Kedar Pandya, Executive Director, Cross-Council Programmes at EPSRC, said: “The UK’s expertise in the field of AI is a major asset to the country and will help develop the science and technology that will shape the fabric of many areas of our lives. That is why UKRI is continuing to invest in the people and organisations that will have wide-ranging benefit.


“For this to be successful we must invest in research and systems in which can have trust and confidence, and ensure these considerations are integrated in all aspects of the work as it progresses. The projects and grants announced today will help us achieve this goal.”


Further details on the Responsible AI UK can be found on the link below.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/Lelo 60594pr@reply-direct.com


ACHEMA 2024: Call for Papers


ACHEMA 2024, the World Forum for Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering and Biotechnology and the world’s leading show for the process industries, will take place in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, from 10 to 14 June 2024. The Call for Papers has now opened with submissions possible until 6 October 2023.


The ACHEMA Congress brings together researchers, developers, expert users and visionaries, who will be able to discuss and share knowledge and expertise on the latest technical developments and solutions for the current and future challenges of the process industries. The range of topics extends from ‘Digital transformation of the process industry’ to ‘(Bio)Pharmaceutical production’ and ‘Linking the lab with production and quality’. In a total of five highlight sessions on the topics of ‘Digital’, ‘Green’, ‘Hydrogen’, ‘Pharma’ and ‘Process’, thought leaders and industry representatives will set additional accents. Thus, none of the topics that are driving the process industries will be left out.


To find out about submitting contributions follow the link below. More information online: ilmt.co/PL/nqWo


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