Gopal Sapkota - Using protein missiles to take down disease-causing proteins from cells

Professor Gopal Sapkota - Chair of Disease Signalling

Accumulation of altered (e.g. through mutations) or misfolded proteins cause many human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. We need new strategies to try to get rid of these proteins from diseased cells and tissues.

Gopal’s lab has developed a new technique, called the Affinity-directed PROtein Missile (AdPROM) system, which can target specific proteins inside cells for destruction by harnessing the cell’s own waste disposal machinery. Gopal discussed the use of this technology in studying the role of specific proteins in cells and its potential in therapeutics.

This presentation was part of the 2022 Discovery Days celebrations at the University of Dundee.

www.dundee.ac.uk/discoverydays/