(DX) CHEMISTRY, MEDICINAL

Understanding mechanisms of action of small proteins and peptides in biological systems. As a part of a large international (Poland, South Korea, USA, Argentina, France, Sweden) informal research group we participate in a project to develop what is called a coarse-grained (simplified) model of polypeptide chain called UNRES (UNited RESidues). (www.unres.pl)

Search and study of short peptide sequences having a defined spatial structure and showing the ability to catalyze chemical reactions.

The main objectives of our research are to describe the mechanisms of action of a wide variety of toxic substances, to search for protective compounds and to reveal their mechanisms of action, to develop new effective methods to modulate the activity of drugs with particular emphasis on drugs used in anticancer therapy and antibiotics.

Human Cystatin C - conformational studies using NMR techniques and molecular dynamics
Study of the interaction of human cystine C with antibodies as potential amyloidosis inhibitors
Peptide antibiotics and peptidomimetics - design, synthesis, conformational studies
Peptides with pro-regenerative and neuroprotective properties - design, synthesis and physicochemical research
Design, synthesis and research of peptides with potential anti-cancer properties
Peptides and peptidomimetics in viral diseases

Our research group focuses on diseases related to the aggregation of polypeptides and proteins. We study the aggregation process itself using fluorescence and electrophoretic methods, size-exclusion chromatography, and LC-MS coupled with enzymatic digestion. We are also deeply involved in the search for aggregation inhibitors as well as in studying the role that the 20S proteasome, stimulated by the activators we design, may play in removing toxic soluble oligomers.