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- Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a potential drug target that could allow scientists to modulate the activity of a key cellular process involved in various diseases,...
- O-GlcNAcyltransferase (OGT) is an enzyme that adds a sugar molecule, N-acetylglucosamine, to proteins.
- According to a study published in Nature Chemical Biology on November 29, 2023, Johns Hopkins researchers discovered a binding pocket on OGT that could be targeted by small...
Johns Hopkins Medicine Researchers Identify Potential Drug Target
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Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a potential drug target that could allow scientists to modulate the activity of a key cellular process involved in various diseases, including cancer adn neurological disorders. The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health (R35GM154904), the Searle Scholars Program, and the diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation, focuses on the enzyme O-GlcNAcyltransferase (OGT).
O-GlcNAcyltransferase (OGT) and its Role in Cellular Regulation
O-GlcNAcyltransferase (OGT) is an enzyme that adds a sugar molecule, N-acetylglucosamine, to proteins. This process, called O-GlcNAcylation, regulates numerous cellular processes, including gene expression, protein stability, and signal transduction. Dysregulation of O-GlcNAcylation is implicated in a wide range of diseases.
According to a study published in Nature Chemical Biology on November 29, 2023, Johns Hopkins researchers discovered a binding pocket on OGT that could be targeted by small molecule drugs.“Structural basis for inhibition of O-GlcNAcyltransferase by a covalent fragment” details the findings.
Funding Sources and Research Grants
The research was supported by several grants and programs. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provided funding through grant number R35GM154904. NIH RePORTER provides details on this grant. Additional support came from the Searle Scholars Program and the Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation. The Searle Scholars Program website details their mission and grant recipients. The Diana Helis Henry Medical Research Foundation website outlines their funding priorities and past awards.
Potential Applications and Future Research
Targeting OGT with drugs could offer therapeutic benefits in several disease areas. Such as, inhibiting OGT may disrupt cancer cell growth, while enhancing OGT activity could protect neurons from damage in neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers are now working to develop small molecule inhibitors and activators of OGT.
In a press release issued by Johns Hopkins Medicine on November 29, 2023, researchers stated that the discovery opens new avenues for developing therapies for diseases where O-GlcNAcylation plays a critical role.Johns Hopkins Medicine Newsroom provides the full press release.