Research group Pål Stenmark's research group
The botulinum neurotoxins are the most toxic substances known. Despite this, their therapeutic properties are becoming increasingly evident. We study these toxins using a variety of methods, including X-ray crystallography, to understand their mechanism of action, thereby enabling the development of their therapeutic properties.
Group description
These are the two main projects that our group is currently working on:
- The botulinum neurotoxins
The botulinum neurotoxins are one million times more toxic than the cobra toxin. In spite of their extreme toxicity there has been a rapid expansion of the medical applications for the botulinum neurotoxins, with new applications constantly being discovered. This line of treatment is becoming the standard procedure for many conditions. The toxins are possible agents for bioterrorism and the development of countermeasures and vaccines are of high priority. We are studying the toxins using a wide variety of methods, including X-ray crystallography, to understand toxins basic mechanism and to improve their therapeutic properties.
- Structure based drug design
We also study enzymes involved in the nucleotide metabolism. One example is MTH1, this protein is important for clearing oxidative damage from the nucleotide pool. Many types of cancer cells have high levels of oxidative damage and depend on MTH1 for survival. We use X-ray crystallography to study the binding of MTH1 to natural substrates and potent inhibitors that we are developing in an interdisciplinary research collaboration. We use structural based drug design to refine these inhibitors into novel cancer drugs.
Group members
Group managers
Pål Stenmark
Professor of Biochemistry
Members
Maria Nowakowska
Postdoc
Ellen Walse
Student
Julian Marius Ludäscher
PhD student
Saher Shahid
Researcher
Annica Saaret
Postdoc
Ajda Krc
PhD student
Sara Persson Kosenina
Postdoc
Geoffrey Masuyer
Researcher
Emma Rose Scaletti
Researcher