Czech Republic (the)
Faculty of Science, Charles University| The award | How you will study | Study duration | Course start | Domestic course fees | International course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | Full-time | find out | find out | 0 | 0 |
Kinetoplastids encode no homologues of canonical decapping enzymes. Instead, we identified the ApaH-like phosphatase ALPH1 acting as essential mRNA decapping enzyme in trypanosomes. We have characterized the enzyme, belonging to a family absent from mammalian systems, both biochemically and in the cellular context, with the conclusion that ALPH1 is meeting key criteria of a robust drug target.
With this target in hand, it is now possible to conduct a screening campaign to identify inhibitors with potential as highly selective next generation drugs. Thus, to build upon this breakthrough, we have assembled a team combining expertise in first stage drug discovery (Charles University in Prague), trypanosome biology (University of Wuerzburg), and structural biology of mRNA interacting proteins (University of Warsaw).
We will identify specific inhibitors of ALPH1 activity by high-throughput compound library screens followed by assessment of validated hit compounds for potency in trypanosome culture and Leishmania intramacrophage assays. In parallel, collaborators will subject these inhibitors to in situ decapping assays and structural characterisation of ALPH1 co-structures guiding rational design for compoud derivatisation. Ultimately, we aim to develop these compounds into preclinical candidate drugs for sleeping sickness, the leishmaniases and Chagas disease and to harness their potential as chemical biology tools.
Five relevant publications of the research group:
Kramer S, Karolak NK, Odenwald J, Gabiatti B, Casta
Contact Faculty of Science, Charles University to find course entry requirements.
Below are some suggested courses at other providers that you may also be interested in:
Bachelor in Transportation Design Bachelor Degree
IAAD. - Institute of Applied Art and Design
Find out more
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course then consider one of these postgraduate preparation courses from another institution:
Graduate Diploma of Engineering (Safety, Risk and Reliability)
Engineering Institute of Technology
Find out more
There are 136 other courses listed from Faculty of Science, Charles University. A selection of these are displayed below:
A postdoctoral position to study thermal effects in landslides Postdoc
Faculty of Science, Charles University
Find out more Activation of STING signaling in tumors associated with human papillomaviruses PhD
Faculty of Science, Charles University
Find out more Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques for the Characterization of Tunable Zeolitic Architectures PhD
Faculty of Science, Charles University
Find out more Amphiphilic Peptidomimetics Containing Metallacarboranes as a Design Strategy for Future Antibiotics PhD
Faculty of Science, Charles University
Find out more See other universities in Prague
Find out more about studying in Czech Republic (the)
