Using a novel light activation technique, Scripps Research Institute scientists have been able to turn molecules with only a modest ability to fight specific proteins into virtual protein destroyers.
The new technique, which uses a “warhead” molecule capable of inactivating nearby proteins when triggered by light, could help to accelerate the development of new therapies by providing researchers with a new set of research tools and options.
The study was published March 14, 2010 in an advanced, online edition of the journal Nature Chemical Biology.