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Event Details

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

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Seminar Title: Chemical Tools to Study Membrane-Bound Hydrolases

 

Abstract:

The cleavage of chemical bonds by hydrolase enzymes is a nearly universal component of metabolic pathways in the human body. Because of their roles in a variety of physiological processes, members of the hydrolase family are targets for medicinal compounds used to treat a number of health disorders including type II diabetes and obesity. Despite the demonstrated importance of hydrolases, our understanding of these proteins is still quite limited, and new tools are required to characterize currently understudied members of this class of enzymes. To address this need, we have developed novel chemical probes that can be used to study hydrolases, particularly those found in biological membranes. We have employed these probes to assign functions to proteins that previously eluded classification. A focus of our recent work has been the development of inhibitors for rhomboid intramembrane proteases, enzymes with membrane-embedded active sites. We envision that our studies will not only provide insight into the fundamental biology of members of this enzyme family but may also uncover new medicinal targets for the treatment of disease.